398 .
TEX.AS ST.\TE LJBR.\RY
I am entirely ianorant of it. With regard to the que tion you put t[o] me concerning the execu- tion of the prisoner at Bahia I have to observe that my station in the mexican army as an Officer of Engineers, commanding the Artillery, did not allow of any intervention on my part in such operations; for it did not correspond with my ituation and it was only after the event had taken place that I wa informed of it; as you however, · request my private opinion I will manife t it with the frankness and candor peculiar to a Soldier; for notwithstanding that I was on the theatre of action, yet I had no part in it, directly nor indirectly, nor was it incumbent 011 me to have any, under no pretext, whatever. When we stated to Col. Fanning that the Government of 1\Iexico ·had ill-treated no one, for political acts, who had trusted to its clemency, we sincerely believed that in behalf of humanity, General Urrea would have used his influence with the former as he had promised, so that when acquainted with the affair of the surrender and its circum tances, it might be disposed to act according to the dictates of compassion. I do not know if General Urrea did, or did not use hi influence in that manner, but, if he did so, 50 days at· least were nece sary for the answer to arrive, and in the mean while the minds of men might alter. I moreover believe that if General Urrea bad acquainted the Commander-in-chief, Santa Anna, with what he had individually promised through us, to Colonel Fanning, the President would never have consented that the Commandant of Bahia should carry into execution the law of the General Congress of 1\Iexico against those who come armed to wage war 011 the territory of lex. 'Though Gen- eral rrea has behaved with humanity towards some prisoners, yet I have observed that 011 the whole [be] and his aids were far from shewing the noble sentiments of an Officer of honor towards a fellow enemy. I have likewise to accn e the Commandante of La Bahia of ha\'ing allowed themselves to be carried away by the populace to act inhumanly towards the unfortunate Texian. who fell into their hands; and it i probable that their violent, cruel and -fatal reports ·contributed to the mi fortunes of the prisoners: finally, I believe that the Lamentable affair of Fanning and his me[n] arises from General Urreas not making out the reports he sent to hi uperior with proper incerity an<l frQm the want of energy in the acting Commandant to oppo c the will of the b1nbaron populace. For, certainly, if the Genl Govern- ment, or our President had been informed that Fan11i11g's forces had surrendered at discretion, under an individual promise, he would hn\'e required its punctual fulfilment; but a.c; the Govermncnt and Pre i<lcut · were far from the Scene of action, they could only take for their iruidc the reports or the ommanders: when tho e act ill gally mi - fortunes are sure to ensue. This is my private opinion, nothing more.
Powered by FlippingBook