44
TEX.as 8TATE LrnRARY
ing·officer, which I did-On hearing Morris' statement Genl. B. coun- termanded the order for attack-This created great dissatisfaction in camp. The next morning the troops were paraded and General Bur- leson addressed them stating the information received from Morris as the cause for the countermand and tendering his resignation-He advised a retreat to Goliad, and said he was willing to continue the command until the arrival of the army at that place-The order to retreat to Goliad was accordingly issued and caused the almost entire dispersion of that portion of the army which was composed of f~iti- zens of. the Country-large numb€rs left in squads on their return to their homes-All discipline was at an end, except among the Volun- teers from the United States, who having no homes in the country were in a measure forced to remain embodied-Late in the afternoon the troops that had determined to obev the order of the General, , took up the line of march for Goliad-My company being the most ad- vanced and nearest the enemy, was the last to leave our encampment. On arriving opposite the General's tent, I halted the men and was informed that a deserter from the enemy (a leutcnant) had just come in and was then with the Genl.-1 immediately proceeded to the tent of the Genl. and found the information to be correct-He stated that the Mexican troops were in a destitute condition and would soon sur- render if we would attack the Town, offering to act as our guide-- Mr. Jno W Smith and S A Maverick who had been detained as prison- ers in town also came in. I returned to my company and addr~sed them in a few words to ascertain whether thev would follow me into town even if we were not sustained b_v the balance of the troops- With a unanimous shout they answered in the affirmative-We were immediately joined by the other volunteers from the United States, Commanded by Capt. Breeze and Peacock, and I then marched them .up and down the lines calling on volunteers to unite with us-We succeeded in raising about 300. I then marched them to Head quar- ters and halted them, and proposed the name of Benjamin R. Milam as the leader in the attack-He was elected unanimously-We then proceeded to make arrangements for the attack, which was to ta~e place at day break-The troops were formed into two divisions, one under the command of Col. Milam, guided by Messes S A Maverick and Jno. W. Smith, with two pieces of Artillery under the charge of Col. (then Capt.) T. W. Ward was to take possession of Garza's House; the other commanded by F. W. Johnston, 11ssisted by Wm T Austin, & Wm Grant and Cameron, guided by Erastus Smith (deaf) were 01- dered to attack Beremendi's house- To this last mentioned division my company was attached and placed on its right-Col. J. C. Neil was ordered with one piece of Artillerv across to make a feint on the alamo and draw off the attention of the enemv from our division- Genl. Burleson remained in Camp with a few· men who were rein- forced by the return of man~· of the men who had left for home, but cha:qged their minds on hearing of our intended attack-'.l'he attack was made about day break-When within a few yards of the house of Beremendi we were discovered by the General who fired upon us, & one of them was immediately shot down by Deaf Smith-Shortly afkr getting possession of Beremendi's hous<> a tremendous fire was opened upon us from the town and Alamo-The fire from our artillery an-
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