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WILLIAM E. JONES & Co. AUGUSTA, Ga. SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 20, 1839
. __ ’ * Voi. lII.—No. 82.
THE CHIIONICIiG AND SENTINEL.
PUBLISHED,
DAILY, TRI-WEEKLY, AND WEEKLY,
At No. Broad-street.
. terms:
' Daily paper, Ten Dollars per annum, in advance.
Tri-Weekly paper, at Six Dollars in advance or
Seven at the end of the year.
Weekly paper, Three Dollars in advance, or Four at
the end of year.
CUIIONICLK AND SKNTINEL.
AUGUSTA.
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 19.
We said yesterday, in some remarks upon the
declaration of the Savannah Georgian that Judge
McDonald is opposed to a National Bank, that
we could produce the record to prove tha l he was
not formerly so; even so recently as 1834. He
was that year, the Senator frmn Bibb county.—
Early in the session a preamble and resolutions
declaring the U. S. Bank to be both unconstitu
tional and inexpedient, were introduced into the
Senate by Mr. Wofford, for which substitutes were
offered by Messrs. Cleveland and Nisbel. Dr.
Reese, the Senator from Jasper, a distinguished
member ofthe Union party, and universally known
as a Bunk man, moved to lay the original and all
the substitutes on the table for the balance of the
session. On this motion the yeas were 33, and
the nays 50. Among the yeas wc find the name
of Judge McDonald. Only two other Union
Senators voted in the same way, to wit. Dr. Reese
of Jasper, and Mr. Wonn of Heard. By thus
voting to lay these resolutions on the table the
balance of the session, Judge McDonald virtually
opposed the principles they contained.
But wc are not left with only this amount of
proof. The resolutions of Mr. Wofford were
amended after the motion to lay them on the
table, above referred to, and made to read as
follows: —
By the Senate and House of Representa
f fives of the State of Georgia, in General Assem
bly met, That the Bank of the United Stales
ought not to be rechartered on any terms, and
that our Senators in Congress be, and they are
hereby instructed, and our Representatives re
quested to vote against the recharter of said Bank
in any form or shape in which it may be presented.
In this shape the vote was taken on the final
passage of the resolution, and Judge McDonald
voted against it. No others of the Union party
voted with him, except the same two referred
to above, Messrs. Reese and Wood. The reso
lution as adopted, expresses no opinion as to the
constitutionality of a Bank, but merely declares
that it ought not to be rechartercd, and instructs
our Senators and requests our Representatives in
Congress, to oppose its rechaiter in any shape.
Thus it will be seen that Judge McDonald, first
voted to lay resolutions on the table for the balance
of the session, which declared a National Bunk
to be unconstitutional and inexpedient; and
secondly, after the resolutions were so modified
as to express no opinion upon the constitutional
question, he voted against merely declaring
that it ought not to be rechartered, and against
instructing our Senators, and requesting our
Representatives in Congress to vote against its
recharter ! What is the natural and necessary
inference from this I Why clearly that Judge
McDonald it unconditionally and unqualifiedly a
Bank man—a U. S. Bank man !
In addition to all the above, we are informed
upon good authority, that as recently as the win
s ter of 1837, Judge McDonald declared himself
, / K. be a Bank man, when speaking in reference
to a National or U. S. Bank.
We do not disapprove of the Judge’s senti
ments thus expressed upon this question—on
the contrary we perfectly agree with him ; but
we wish to expose the duplicity of a party, in
supporting a long and consistent advocate of a
National Bank, and at the same lime professing
to give that support on the ground of his oppo
sition to such an institution.
We believe that Judge McDonald, if ques
tioned at this time upon the subject, would give
an opinion in favor both of the constitutionality
and expediency of a National Bank under proper
modifications and restrictions.
From the New-Orlcms Bee.
Mexico.
We translate from the Diario del Gobiarno, of
the city of Mexico, the substance of the corres
pondence between Colonel Bee, the Texian En
voy, and Mr. Gorisliza, the Mexican minister of
foreign affairs.
“To the minister for foreign affairs,
On board the U. 18. Culler, Woodberry, in the
port of Vera Cruz. May 9, 1839.
Sin—Being charged with important commu
nications to your government, I have demanded
of his excellency the commandant at Vera i ruz,
\ the necessary facilities for their transmission to
\ the honorable Secretary of State. As lam not
I rare that General Victoria will grant me the
rraission I have asked, I profit by the mail
rich leaves for Mexico, to inform you that I am
3 bearer of such propositions from Texas, as, 1
ve no doubt, will be accepted by the mother
□ ntry. I should he happy if you would have
b kindness to make it known to H. E., the Pre
lent of the Republic, the fact of my arrival here,
luring him of the high consideration in which
jold him, and ofthe pain I have felt at learning
e loss of his leg. General Santa Ana will pro
rly appreciate these individual sentiments on
count of the relations formerly existing between
i. I have the honor, &c.
B. E. BEE.
a Mr. Bernard E. Bee.—Private and strictly
lj confidential.
Mexico, June 17lh, 1839.
Sir—l have received your letter of the 9th
ay. in which you inform me of the motive
hich has induced your coming to Vera Cruz.—
1 reply I must tell you that the President ad in
rim, in entire conformity with his council, has
ready transmitted to General Guadaloupe Vic-
toria, the necessary instructions to receive the
propositions you have to make, provided these !
propositions do not relate either directly or indi
rectly to the negotiation of the independence of
Texas. II it he otherwise, you will be required
to return immediately to the United States.
I must tell you, at the same lime, that if pre
sident Santa Ana holds himself compelled as
chiel magistrate of the republic, to pursue this
course—the only one compatible with the na
tional honor—he has not forgotten the services
you have rendered him both in Texas and during
his journey to Washington, and he desires no
hing more than an opportunity of testifying to
you as a private citizen his grateful sense of these
obligations,
I have the honor, &c.
M. E. DE GOROBTIZA.
Col. Bee replied under date of the, 27th May,
that he knew that the Tcxian question was an
exceedingly delicate one for Santa Ana; that at
the period of his appointment Bustamente occu
pied the presidential chair, and that the change
which had taken place in the chief magistracy
of the Mexican government did not prevent him
from endeavoring to fulfil his mission ; that Santa
Ana ought to know that Texas is not worth the
tenth part of the blood and treasure it would
cost to reconquer it, even supposing the. measure
possible, (which, however, he denied,) and that
he diil not doubt that a favorable hearing would
shortly he given to propositions analogous to
those he was charged to make; and that he de
clined entering into a conference with General
Victoria, as he was prohibited from alluding to
the recognition of Tcxian independence.
We regret that the length of this letter has
placed us under the necessity of abridging it.
The Boundary. —The following is an extrai t
from a London letter in the Quebec Gazette, dat
ed June 12.
“I think you may take it as certain, that a spe
cial convention has either left this country, or
will speedily be sent to America, for arranging
the basis of a settlement of the disputes with the
government of the United States, relative to the
boundary question.
Her Majesty’s advocate, Sir John Dodson, has
for some time, been engaged in drawing up this
convention, which, I am told, is in strict confor
mity with the instructions sent to the American
minister at our Court. The other mentioned
facts I am not at liberty, at present, to communi
cate. But I think the knotty point is in a fair
train of arrangement.
From the New York Express.
The following table exhibits the total value
of the imports and exports of the States most
deeply engaged in foreign trade, for the year end
ing Sept. 30, 1838.
Imports into Exports into
Massachusetts, £13.300,925 £9,101,862
New V'ork, 68,453,206 23,008,471
Pennsylvania, 9,360,731 3,177,151
Maryland, 5,701,869 4,524,576
Virginia, 577,124 3,986,228
South Carolina, 2,318,791 11,042,070
Georgia, 776,068 8,803,839
Alabama, 524,548 9,688,244
9,496,808 31,502,248
The following are the principle articles of im
port with their value:
Cotton goods, £6,599,330
Woollen goods, 6,967,530
Silk goods 9,812,338
Linen, 3,583,540
Iron and Steel, 7.418,504
Sugar, 7,586,825
Teas, 3,497,156
Wines, - 2,318,202
The principle exports were the following:
Cotton, £61,556,811
Tobacco, 7,392,029
Rice, 1,721,819
Flour, 3,603,299
Fish, 819,003
Furs, 636,945
Lumber, 3,116,196
Manufactures, 8,397,078
The export of domestic manufactured cotton
goods in 1838, amounted to £3,758,755, against
£2,821,473 in 1837—showing an increase of
£927,282. The chief exports were to the follow
ing countries:
China, £532,097
British East Indies, 140,762
Dutch East Indies, 133,350
Manilla, 79,531
Peru, 97,713
Chili, 640,831
Argentine Republic, 104,254,
Brazil, 536,416
Mexico, 597,330
Cuba, 157,621
Cape De Verd Islands, 66,555
Turkey, Levant, &c. 111,937
The following table exhibits the relative im
portance of our trade during the year 1838, with
the following countries:
Imports from Exports to
Great Britain and
dependencies, £49,051,181 £58,843,392
France & depen
dencies, 18,087,149 16,252,413
Spain & depen
dencies, 15,971,394 7,684,006
Netherlands & de
pendencies, 2,436,166 3,772,256
China, 4.764 536 1,698,433
Mexico, 3,500,709 2,164,097
Texas, 165,718 1,247,880
It will be seen by this last table, that the bal
an e of trade between the United Stales and Great
last year, was nearly ten millions in our favor.
From the Hertford Enquirer,
Narrative of the Escape of Capt. John
Ilollida y.
lit THE KEV. HAY.NAHD 11. HALL.
The. following narrative was given to the wri
ter, at his request, by Capt. John Holliday of the
Texian army, during his recent visit to his rela
tives at Bedford. The account, especially of his
own perilous adventures ought not, in the opinion
of many estimable persons, to be confined w ithin
the circle of the Captain’s friends and connex
ions; it is therefore, now placed before the pub
lic, affording another illustration of a frequent re
mark, “ that nothing is often more unlike the
truth, than the truth itself.”
On the first day of the year 1836, after the sur
render of the Mexican General Cos at Alamo, a
division of the Tcxian troops under Colonel
Grant and Maj. Morris, marched down the San
Antonio and encamped at Goliad. Remaining
here one week for orders, they set out for the
main object of the expedition—the siege of Mata
moras on the Rio Grande; but informed that
Col. Fannin would land at Copano Bay with
valuable reinforcements they halted at the Mis
j sion Refug oon the Mission River. Here arose
j an unhappy dispute, a leading cause of all the
i , disasters that followed. One parly with Col.
1 Johnson and Col. Grant at their head wished to
! proceed to Matamuras without any rcinfoice
mcnts, whilst another party wished to await the
arrival of Fannin ; so that finding themselves un
able to agree, the forces were about equally divid
ed, half setting off for the Rio Grande, and the
other half remaining at the Mission Refugio.—
Capt. Holliday, then a private, belonged to ;hc
latter number.
At the arrival of Fannin he was elected Colo
nel of the combined division, now amounting to
about 450 men. Hut his troops were not destin
ed to march to the siege of Malamoras ; for when
Johnson and Grant arrived at St. Petricio on the
Neuccs River, they found the enemy approach
ing in so great force, that they deemed it prudent
to request Col. Fannin that he should send a de
tachment to guard the artillery back to his post.
Among the three companies that performed this
service was young Holliday.
i he siege of Malamoras was now abandoned;
and Col. Fannin returned to Goliad, where he
strengthened the fort and was by reinforcements
able to muster about (U)0 soldiers. Ho received
orders, however, on the 15th of March from Gen.
Houston to reticat to Victoria; but as his in
structions loft him at liberty to obey or not, he
believed under all the circumstances that it was
better to await the Mexicans at Goliad, About
this time, too, he had sent Captain King with 28
men to rescue an unfortunate family ofTe.xians
left at the Mission River; and although in conse
quence of fresh orders from Houston, he felt in
clined to retreat to Victoria, he would not com
mence that retreat until the return of the rescuing
party.
'Phis delay was fatal. The Mexicans, having
killed the whole party under Grant and Johnson,
with the exception of Col. Johnson himself and
three privates, were now advancing upon Goliad
(lushed with repeated victories, and with contin
ually augented forces. Copt. King was imme
diately attacked at the Mission and driven into
the church; when he was beseiged with his
small band by a large body of the enemy. Col.
I'annin at this information, determined on re
treating, would not leave the fort until he had
brought oil Capt. King. He accordingly de
spatched Lt. Colonel Ward with the Georgia
battnlhon to rescue King; giving orders not to
risk a battle with the enemy. These orders how
ever, were most improperly disobeyed; and in
consequence, Ward with 100 men were taken
prisoners, all of whom perished in the subsequent
massacre at Goliad, whilst King and his party
were captured about twelve miles down the river,
being tied elbow to elbow were butchered on the
spot.
The situation of Col. Fannin became then ex
ceedingly critical, his numbers being greatly less
ened, and the Mexican cavalry having now reach
ed his immediate vicinity. With these Capt.
Horton of the Teaxian cavalry had a slight skir
mish on the 18th of March ; hut he. was compell
ed to retire by the superior force of the enemy.
On the same day an unsuccessful attempt was
made by Col. Fannin to cross the San Juncinto;
which however he effected on the morning of
the 19th without any molestation, the enemy not
then being even in sight.
He had marched about eight miles towards the
river Colctto, when the small division of the cav
alry,constituting the rearguard, gave notice of
the approach of the enemy; w ho, at the same
time, were seen by the infantry advancing with
rapidity; their force amounting to nearly 1000,
whilst that of tlie Tcxians amounting to only
8f 0.
The Colonel now attempted to reach a small
strip of oak timber about two miles to his left;
hut soon found from the tardiness of the oxe.n
harnessed to the artillery that if he expected to
reach the timber, it must bo with the loss of his
cannon. It being then resolved to fight in the
praiiie, the small and gallant band was formed
into a hollow square; the baggage in the centre,
and the cannon so disposed as to do the greatest
execution.
The enemy having surromidecd the Texians
and having tired several discharges of musketry
at 600 yards distance, at length rushed onward
at full speed, with their cavalry on the south, and
their infantry and Indians on the three other
sides, as il to crush the diminutive company by a
single onset; but in this expectation they were
effectually baulked by a simultaneous and mur
derous fire from all sides of the square poured
forth with a fair aim and at a little more than 100
yards.
In the same way every successive attack was
checked; till about sunset, the battle having
commenced at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the
Mexicans retired ; having lost in killed and
wounded about 500 men, whilst the others had
lost only 6 killed and 50 wounded.
Throwing up some hasty entrenchments the
Texians prepared for an attack in the morning,
although they would have retreated all night,
had it not been from the earnest supplication of
their wounded; and yet, it is questionable wheth
er at this juncture any regular retreat could have
been continued, as the enemy during the night
were so greatly reinforced as to make their effec
tive number nearly 2000. It appeared, too, that
tlie enemy had received some cannon, as the first
salutation upon the morning of the 20th, was the
roar of artillery and whistling of balls over the
Texian entrenchment. And to this no suitable
answer could he made by the artillery of the lat
ter, as all the water necessary to swab the pieces
had been previously exhausted, and, indeed, their
ammunition nearly expended.
In these circumstances the enemy hung out a
(lag of truce; and as the Texians despaired even
of any opportunity to cut away with their weap
ons, or to sell their lives at a high price because
of the caution of the foe, it was, in council of war,
agreed to surrender upon honorable conditions.
A parly was therefore held; and at length a treaty
was written both in Spanish and English, was
signed by Col. Fannin, and by Urrea the Mexi
can General; according to which, among other
matters, the I’exians upon surrendering as pris
oners of war, were to retain their side arms, and
to be either released or exchanged. This sur
render was on .Sunday morning the 20th of
March.
The prisoners were guarded hark to Goliad,
i And here commenced a treatment designed un
j doubtedly, to crush the spirits and debilitate the
bodies of the victims, that there might he no re
sistance in tlie execution of the tragedy already
meditated.
Contrary to express stipulation, the prisoners
; were required to surrender their side arms and
[ threatened with death in case any knife should,
j upon searching lie found to have been concealed;
they were then all forced, at the point of the bay
onet, to engage in severe and incessant labor;
and even compelled to cat raw, the only suste- 1
nance, a scanty portion of had beef. This con- '
tinued until the Saturday closing the week of
their imprisonment. On this day no food what
ever was allowed, and the miserable victims of
barbarian cruelty, without any suspicion of
treachery, actually employed in cleaning their
own muskets and bayonets, to be used the next
morning in the butchery.
Sunday morning, the 27th of March, came;
a day written in letters of indelible blood on the i
memory of (he very few who almost mi arulouxlv drums Hie.,. „■
yet survive to look back on the hortot. ofGoliad. ria . Just however !! '''lT"'"' "Z ,cto '
Dunns Hu- previous night, two ennm n were sc ibinkin.. „f t,....,;, ' ‘,l 8 U " lul ,1 "'- v
crctly place,l, one on each side .he main entrance the r fee/a IV ,st ol \‘’.""“V “" l
of the fort, so as to intimidate the prisoners, if n U,r , viv J , V ""T ’TI"" 8
they should, suspecting foul play, endeavor to lor their labm l! Xwhh n1 n ' Um
resist; and then the whole com) any, with the few hours old' ,-anip ' .‘ 0 P'S B on •> 11
exception of the wounded in the hospital, who SJhv 7""T" /’.."T
were separately destroyed, the whole‘company wen•^lorhn‘a e t 1 .T°. “T ’
comprising those captured with Cel. Ward and uncooked and even ml. .T " ,V t,, v l ‘ ,ur “ l
amounting to about 420 men were all drawn up \oihio r , 1 °"‘' a " ml ‘'"'rails,
in double files, extending across the yard of ihe , v , V T'‘ I’"'" 1 "' >"“•
fort.from the cannon a,"the main gatet ,1 elp S us 'nX ,ml " """ "■‘‘l’"-
three nearly equal divisions, and then on being cross a small nrniri,. i„;„ ', , . ,i • V
ordc.Ml to march, tiny were informed that their also by woodland, the parly perceived a/o'sho!
service was necessary lo driven large herd of cat- distance several l„„. , ’ 1 ,
J* '“'■"‘."“'l l"™»" i...1«e0"S ctaTlK la IT-mS
dreamed that they themselves were like cattle, „,„i „„t„. > nuy louti in caught
i !• . . ’ niid roue, hut upon ct> 111 ill siillicrmlv iirnr wlmi
only proceeding lo a spot more convenient ior were ilip tumr iiii rt «.-* ~ V
slauchter , , lne P°. or allows surprise and alarm to find
mil f . |. . . . . . horses tied to a tree by hnir rones, indieatinu
The first division as l passed the gate march- Mexican owners. The parly instantly . rent aw, v
cd directly onward; but the middle division as it tbrouub the muss , ■ , ,
... i . I * i . . . . uiiuugii me glass amt concraled themselves in
passed, was made to wheel to the right, and the the pmirie, Brown ami Duval in the grass I„t
rear division to the loft, on hues at right angles Holliday, fortunately, in the hushes In „ few
with the lineof the lirst division; whilst the Mox- minutes an old iMcvicm .... ~ • ,
ican infantry with loaded muskets, us each divis- KOS , a „d discovering a t,ail lolhiwrd'L d meUo'n
ton came out from the fort, fell in on di.lbrcn. till he came suddenly, and ,o .“;!Le X,h
sides ol it in single files, and at the same time parties, t.pon Drown and Duval. The Mexican
dismounted horsemen with swords drawn, fell in in Spanish JomnruW u .lm tl. .x ... , • . .
mrull.,l uriti, i: i- i . ii ii i m • piimsnm mantled who lliev were, und instanl
paiaiiel with each line ot mnsketeors. Holliday, lv iiitiirpil ilu»m *!*.«;«« #*. . i i- i
wlirtumoi.. I* • i • . * utilised UK in oi a design lo steal his horses,
wno was m the right division, and somewhat sur- andwhilsi Dnvni ...i,,. i . i «i ,
♦.l • , . . '"KMvmi.si i/uvai, who couhl speak the same lan
pnsed at the previous arrangements, began toleel ,rn a ,r r wns trvimr # n .riw.r t , 4
irroitlv oinrmn.l ~ , i . ii i T i i i was trying lo given suhstartory account ol
ft " M J ’ *T 'e SUddC u y ‘l'" “'O.nsHvcs, the obi man seized Drown who was
I fnii x,c,,, ? s co,l * ,llinct ;d «*'"« bayonets; hut nearest to him, and raised a most horrible yell
before he had time to exchange a word or scarce a Upon this Duval ran hack towa.ds the La IWa ■
■oflLm I I T rCS 7 mr v‘’ S ’ r I>C |* ° ." rR “T Wl,ilst in nnswcr die cry. a young and a.hh-tir
followed by loud and mm he shrieks from the Mexican armed with a gun and sword came to
prisoners in the middle division, revealed too the assistance of the old one: and then ho,l, going
P a "‘ly,. lhe dee P P crfil y thc ir captois and the offwith the unfortunate Drown, left Holliday half
bloody death to he endured. dead will, terror undiscovered in thebuushes.
As H waiting for the signal, the Me,can soldiers In t |, is ,’ r ...j u , aiUmtiori rpl „ a i„ed about an
on one side passing hy a step or two through the hour, scarcely daring to breathe, when the mdse
intervals ol the lex.ans to the other, brought Q f cautious footsteps stealing towards his hiding
her guns to touch the points almost grazing the plil , lmuU . him believe that his comrades being
hod.es ot the prisoners; and almost as soon Hol t- murdered, the enemy was sea.cl.ing for him. He
clay, man mdescr.hahle and almost ineoncc.vable i lly lls ifdestilute of life. Nearer and nearer, hut
agony would dose us eyes upon the torn ying yet as if afraid of discovering lumself, someone
scenedhe groans and shrieks ol the devoted vie- approached the hiding place and then a timid
tm* were answering to the fire ol the muskets and voire whispered a low call. It uttered his name,
the thrusts of the bayonets. He ventured lo stir—his name wns again called
He opened his eyes; the dead and the dying _j, wag ,| 1( . To i,. e 0 f | !rovvn . H o ||iJay answer
nut his view. Sick and faint, yet did he not fall; e d, and two of (ho comrades were once, more uni
he was even unharmed. A single moment lie l( , (li w l, cn each had supposed they should meet no
hesitated whether he had better sink to the ground nioro#
and counterfeit death, the next, he was flying |i,account of his escape or rather release
with instinctive love of hie and energy of despair j, briefly this. He was carried by bis captors to
towards the bank of San Antonio. \V ill, the last a p i ace where they had kindled a fire to cook a
hope of escape, about ..() or 60 atlnghted wretch- pnrt 0 f ,heir provisions plundered from some de
cs, some with, and others without wounds, were scrto ,i hollHe( and thcrc waH tied tl) „ tro(!) e .
rushing towardsdilferent points ol the same river par ations being apparently made to kill him. Dut
pursued hy the infuriated soldiery, hy whom after some conversation between themselves, they
many were ovectaken and murdered, whilst the rciinquiuhed their purpose, and then eating a
vain criesland pleas lor quarters were drowned in h ,. arty aappprf w itl«.ut, however, offering anv
tuyelo thelrarbanans thing to the famished prisoner, they released him
Holliday with 18 or 20 more dropping: as they from tre e, and dragged him after them for a
ran their knapsacks (previously ordered to be f rw hundred yards, when suddenly freeing the
earned, doubtless to delay any flight,) and such prlHom . r they made signs for him to begone. He
clothes as could he hen got off, in spttc ol their hurried away accordingly as fast as his feebleness
eager pursuers reached the San Antonio in sale- W()uld admit , and „„ rc-passing the place where
ty, and instantly plunged into its stream All the fire was still burning, found to his great joy
d.d not, however arrive at the opposite bank sev- ,; )llr thllt ha j been overlooked hy the Mcxi
eral being killed with balls as they swan,, so that cans . T wo of these he instantly eat, nobly reser
ou _of the whole number that entered the water vi ng the other two to refresh i.is starving com
with Holliday, himself and six others only lived riu]cs in ( . ase | lO sh onM succeed in rejoining them,
to conceal themselves ... the narrow strip of hush- H o || iday H ecor<lingly feasted on one egg immedi
cs and timber there skirting the river. Dut even ato | y , and when the two comrades failed in their
Hus 8r " a11 numbcr was 111 “ few to he- Kl , art .b o f J)uva |, thcy then fmisll( . d tll( , olht . r .
come ens. . (freatly emaciated and more than ever dispiri-
Some companies of the Mexican cavalry had , ed by the loss of Duval, the two reached the
been posted across the river above tins party at a Colorado. This river much swollen hy recent
ford, to intercept any who might escape the rains, and running here with a rapid current, ren
slaughter, at the fort, as , was most likely they d .. re ,, t l„. attempt to swi.n ot. the part of Drown,
when H l n t TTh v '“""Al wl '° Wil(i “ ck wi ‘ h « I'lTcsy, hazardous in any
when Ho bday and h,s men heard the cries° the W ay, hut extremely perilous encumbere.l with
men murdered ~ that quarter, they h,d as wcll us cv «vfew remaining clothes. It was, therefore.
hey could tn the etlge of the larg': pra.rtc beyond af!rced tilat J£ ( .lli d ay, who much stronger at,,l a
I onTof 11 . i . 1 t ° r ; Ver > CX P° rt should cross lirst with his
i our o| tbc little parly, too far advanced .. i * c ■> » ,
, ...i I. 1 * 7 ’ ty , own clothes, and return for Browns; when it
beyond the bushes were espied hy the troopers; t i mil . w . ’ ,
i •i* ~i * . _ .* ’ was inoualil, iieinLT freed from nil incumbrance
who riding up, put them to death before the eyes ~n . i n . .« l i U ; #l r l „ii.. oi »i i •. . . , ..
of the three others, better concealed indeed in the T ra -TA * " In . ,ffht ‘| ~d ~ ,
bushes, but supposing that all had been discover- 1 • , Wi ‘, H 1110 rlV '' r ’ ll ‘“ l 1,0 1,d , ,, y
ed and for a while awaiting the same de uction A A t" ne,rl V ? u " ~,|r of 11 ""'f *?■
They were not however seln, being, two of them " B .“' ncd U,C , u ' U,Km
at least, destined hy Providence to behold once “"'mw “nd ilKated Ilrown wr «ll not ul
mnre ih„ir ... , .• . lo w him to-return, fearing I.is strength shou dhe
more their lar distant and native homes. „..i t( ,„i , 7 ,
rn« , i | . exhausted and Ins lnend should perish in the
Ihe Mexicans having passed on to intercept r„
Aii.nr .1 • pm r . . Htrearn. in. this a lemma, separation or the
other fugitives crossing the river still farther he- pi,,,.,,, n r i .. i i 1 .i
low, the three survivors, John Holliday, ofllolli- “e. i . , r g ° "f „ UP 1
dayshurg, Pennsylvania, John C. Duval, of lorado ull > Per'^pn-'hey should (u.d still wau<a
II ilnhinurn K’aninniu i u ,• w or several hours the two thuh separated, contiri
iiairdstown Kentucky, and a Mr. Brown of Ma- i. .... . ..
/, , .ii!.,, . ued insight ol one another, till at length a forest
con (* corgi a, divested of all clothes except.shirt <■; r ”
i 4 i • i >1 | * of impervious cane forced Holliday away from the
and pantaloons, without either hats or shoes, ran bank i ,■ , *
i* A . , , ... oaiiK, anu when alter the lapse of two or three
for many miles into the prairie, and then sinkinir i i ... * . .
i ,* • ’, , “''l" hours ha again arrived at the river, ns unfortu
exhausted and affrighted into the grass they re- lln , K f r i,. lld »„. ,
_ i , . . , J iitiic iriLiiu was no where to he seen and respon
mamed without moving or conversing the remain- j tl « « rt n wi i j
der of the dav b ded to no call. Whether drowned in an attempt
fin . • \\ i . , , to swim the river, or dead from disease and fa
el Ivin 'V S .V b m r ’ ‘ hey l adv l fint " r< ‘ d lo , ,rav ' mine, or whether slain hy the Mexicans, or pin
1, lying by the next day: and so tor several sue- inR yct in captivity, Iron, that hour to the present
tcssive r ights and days, stabsist.ng on roots and be Inis never been seen or heard from,
buds; but as the nights were rainy and dark from
clouds, at the end of the third or fourth night in- Alone now ’ and 1,1 {l b‘ llf fr«n*led state, Holli
stead of being far on the way towards Victoria wenttowards the river St. Dcrnard. He now
or the Gaudeiupe, they having wandered in mere bound w onions in great plenty ; but his feet
circles, were yct in sound of the revclic at Goliad, were so swollen and lacerated, that in a whole
Greatly alarmed and dispirited at thisdiscove- night s travelling lie often advanced no farther
ry, after travelling for two other nights and still o»an half u mile. One morning about dawn as
not striking the Gaudeloupc, they determined to b ** w,kti looking for concealment, four largr bears
travel by day, hut an incident soon taught them passing in the iirmedi ue vicinity, so terrified him,
the danger and perhaps impossibility of that bo rm,( i e * or an open space in the timber,
course. Justus they left their concealment four where he found a house which like all others pre-
Mexican troopers were discovered riding along the v tously entered, he supposed was destitute of in
road about 500 yards to their left. The party habitants. Into this he cautiously, alter lung de
fell instantly down into the grass; whilst the troo- hherution, ventured, when the first thing that met
pers galloping hy were met by another, conieclu- his eyes, was a considerable store ot bacon, left
rod to be an express from Victoria to Goliad. b y the Texian family in the hurry of flight. Ol
The whole then halted, and during their conver- ’. lds bacon he devoured raw, a quantity sufficient
sation looked so often in the direction of the poor bor s ‘ v cral persons, and then unable to resist the
wretches in the grass, that more than once they Lnnptation lo repose offered by the miserable
gave themselves up as lost, especially, as with the r e'"m><ff»of a bed-in an adjoining room, he for
new horsemen, there was u small dog, by whom ( ’ ot b ' s dangers and sunk into a deep sleep. His
they feared being scented aud fenetted out. Hut deep was at fongth most alarmingly broken by
the Mexicans after awhile, separated without any persons at the bed side, for upon opening his eyes,
seeming suspicions, the four taking towards Go- bwo ne S roes an “hi a "d young one were staring
Had; yet the three Texians were too thoroughly j l * his sac cacll ' arWl d "I 1 1, 1 a formidable club—
alarmed to move from their posture for many hese were American or lexian runaways, who
hours. J addressed him in good English, and told him he
Aboutthis time they succeeded in taking a waM one lhat liad esca P cd lrom Gol ‘ad ; that a
few small fishes in a kind of puddle and devoured Mexican army of 5,000 were encamped within
them with great eagerness, having until now eaten two miles; that themselves and others had re
nothing but buds and roots ; and indeed, so fam- cei y ed or(1 ‘-' Cff ’ ° !1 pair* of death, either to kill or
ished had they become that they fain would have deliver to the Mexican army any of Fannin’s
devoured even a rattlesnake, which they shortly com P an y w *th whom they should meet, and that
after made a vain attempt to catch. Their hopes now, in consequence of these orders, and lo re
too of better sustenance were greatly raised on ve »e* 'he cruelties of their former masters, they
one occasion before they reached the Gaudeiupe, '"tended cither to kill him or curry him to the
by a cow that one day passed their place of eon- ca "T'
coalmen!, followed by a very young calf. This A violent and bloody death seemed now inevi
calf they pursued for some time: but it easily dis- table; but still as a lust hope, poor Holliday beg
tanced its followers, and they, for fear of bring ged most earnestly for mercy. For a long lime,
discovered by the Mexicans, were obliged to aban- however, he begged in vain, till at length, in an
don the pursuit. agony ho threw his arms around the old negro’s
At last on the morning of the ftth day they neck, and so e‘feetually by Ins tears and earnest
reached the Gaudeiupe just ah me Victoria, hav- cries operated on his kinder feelings, that he con
ing been so long a time in travelling only *25 sented to let the prisoner escape, provided he
I miles, their bodies being feeble, their feet swollen, would pay each five dollars. This be could not
and their minds bewildered. Here they remain- do, but he offered willingly the tattered remnants
1 ?d all day in great terror, hearing at intervals the of his thirl and trowterj, which, however were
refused. At length he was released on offering
voluntarily to give enrli >1(0 in ease he should
ever meet with them in more prosperous cirtum
stances; un agreement to which Copt. Holliday
will yet gladly stand.
At length he ventured one evening to eross a
part ol the prairie in which these soldiers had
heen encamped ; hut it was at an imminent peril
ol losing his life. Just as he was entering a small
Wood on the margin ol what seemed to he a lake,
a Mexican trooper apj caved about 600 yards to
the left, galloping towards him. Both paused a
moment; when Holliday summoning all his en
ergies, ran towards the water, happily i nly a lew
yards oil. whilst the Mexican took a diagonal di
rection to intercept hint ; hut the pursuer was inn
late, although when he readied tin lake he find
his carbine without riled, however, ns it was
nearly dark, and his intended victim was alums
wholly immersed in the water. The pursuer
now kindled a tire within a few rods ol the wretch
ed Holliday; who obliged to stand with merely
his face out of the water for nearly an hour, was
reduced to so great despair, that once or twice ho
was on the point of allowing himself to he suffo
cated ; hnt at last he contrived In find a sort of
relief and belter concealment by clinging to the
roots of a ry press near him on a small Island.—
In this posture ho remained quiet all that night,
and for several hours the next day ; when ventu
ring at last to land, the Mexican had disappeared,
supposing him to he drowned, or to procure aid
in searching tor him.
After this narrow escape his skin peeled from
his body, which was. indeed, little heller than a
mass of sores and lonises; whilst his mind be
came so disordered, that he was bewildered a
whole day in a swamp near the river St. Bernard,
crossing in the afternoon the very track he had
mode in the morning. In this swamp he spent
ton, a whole night in the trunk of a fallen tree,
almost hid with grape vines, and here for the first
lime he prayed, not indeed as could have been
wished, for the pardon of Ida sins, hut in the hor
ror and distraction ofliis thoughts for immediate
quiet death.
At last, after great sufferings he crossed the
St. Bernard, and in a desi rled house, the first in
ti which ne had ventured since his escape from
the negroes, he found not indeed fond, ol which
he was in search, hpl an old almanac, that even
in his deplorable eireniiktnnres he kept for soma
time, as he said, to amuse his mind.
When lie reached, finally, the river Brazos,
not tar Irotn Columbia, his sufferings would soon
have been ended, had he known the country was
possessed by his friends, hut the account of the
two negroes, induced him to believe all was in
the power of the enemy. Hence when he hoard'
the martial music of the Texiuns, he stilt conceal
ed himself, determined to make every exeition o
get into the United States. Having therefore,
one evening swam the Brazos a little below Mari
on, he saw persons at a distance, friends in reality,
hut taken for enemies; upon which he turned in
terror down a path on the river, almost stumb
ling in his haste, over a most loathsome object,
the putrilying corpse of a Mexican soldier.
The next day he came to a road leading to
wards Marion. Here ho abandoned all hopes of
ever reaching the United .Slates, worn ton skele
ton, and in short, weary ofhis most miserable ex
istence, he thought that ho would lie in the hush
es and surrender to the first Mexican that passed
trusting for quarter and almost ready to meet even
a violent death. He wailed not long before he
heard with a healing heart the approach of horses.
And then came—could it be possible—the sound
of a well known song of his fathers land, and
then changing (he sung to a merry whistling.—
This Tcxian was followed at a little distince by
another rider similarly armed and dressed. It
would scarcely he possible that these were friends
so unexpected and joyous was the deliverance;
and hence poor Holliday, half afraid that after nil*
these riders were only Mexican spies in disguise,
allowed the first man to pass unhailed; hut as
the second one approached, mustering his resolu
tion to meet any fate rather than lunger endure
present life, he called to the rider, mid then step
ping from his hiding place looking so like a
ghastly spectre from the grave, ns to give a mo
mentary fright to the soldier.
When mounted at length behind the horseman,
and assured repeatedly and kindly that they were
going to carry him in safety to his countrymen
at Marion, Ins feelings no longertohe controlled,
hurst into tears and cries of tumultous joy ; and
he was scarce aide to answer one of the thousand
questions of his friend. He soon reached the
town, and thus terminated all his perils, alter he
had heard of hourly death from the enemy and
savage animals, and other causes from the 2.7. th.
o A’a h the morning of the massacre, until sh»
Mih ol May, having been out more than 'll) days
and nights. Among the first to congratulate
Holliday upon his wonderful escape was Duval;
who a ter his separation from his comrades at the
La Baca, and alter many hardships and dangers
arrived sale at Columbia, many days befoie, and
was now nearly recovered.from his tarnished and
sickly condition.
Holliday after being discharged for Ids MT
months service, at the restoration, of his -health
entered the army again to serve during the war,
when he was promoted at once to a Ca| laincy
an office to which he was rightly entitled and
the duties of which, all having the pleasure of
his acquaintance, well know he is hilly comper
tent to discharge.
Our narrative cannot he better concluded than
with a brief account of Col. Fannin’s last mo
ments.
The informant was an interpreter, a prisoner
at that time in the fort, lint who succeeded in
making his escape to the Tex ana. Immediately
after the massacre ol the men, the interpreter was
ordered into thcliospital to bring out the Colonel
to a place within the l int where an officer with
a parly of soldiers was w ailing to shoot him.—
Ashe entered, the Colonel asked what was meant
by the firing; he was told, and also he himself
was now to be led to death. With some sur
prise hut without any great perturbation .he ac
companied the interpret! r u and when arrived at
the fatal spot, be first asked to see the
to whom be bad surrendered. This was defined.
Hellion delivered his watch and a purse ol gold
to the commanding officer, requesting to have
them sent to his wife, and that his body should
be decently interred.
The interpreter was then commanded to lie a
bandage arround the eyes of the prisoner. He
attempted so to do ; but ho trembled so violently
as to be incapable of the melancholy task ; upon
which the Mexican officer impatiently snatvheiii
the handkerchief and bound it himself around the*
head of his victim. The firing parly was mo
tioned forward; and just as the gallant ami un
happy Colonel hud uttered a last request that he
might not he shot through the head, but through
the heart, he fell to the earth a lifeless and man
gled corpse. His body dragged like a felon’s, was
thrown on the heap of bis murdered followers,
where instead of a decent and soldier like burial
it was with their’s burned to ashes »ud scattered
to the winds