239
PAPERS OF Mm.\BEAU BuoNAPARTE LAllL\.R
one wounded - The next morning, the Mexican had left this encamp- mt, when Ward went out to see what damage had been done to them by Tichnor, and found 22 killed; amongst whom was the Captain to whom Fi11111in had given a p:issport at Goliad - 80$ was found in his pocket - The Mexicans tied, at the attack of Tichnor leaving their horses still tietl. These horses saddle bridles &c were brought to the mission - The Enemy, however kept augmenting that day, and at 8 [ ?] or 9 oelk commenced their first attack on the mission - King hnd withdnnrn from the mission at sunrise; 8 or 9 oclk The Mexicans assailed it - fight lasted 1 to 2 hours; King coming to the mission was assailed; fought 2 hours or more; was captued; they then (after resting awhile) assailed the mission a second time - fought 4 hours; the enemy was repulsed; in one or two hours more, they came to a third charge on the mission; this attack resulted in nothig - the enemy squandered about charging va[rious lo]cations- In the first attack on the mission, no loss by the Texans; in the second Weeks, a lad from :Mississippi, was mortally wounded in the breast; & Hall, from Hall County Geo wa1, wounded in the leg; it hap- penig when he had gone out to cut the saddle off a horse; & Ayres brother- inlaw was wouded in shoulder - In the third, no damage done; Ward being only slightly grazed 011 the head - This attack lasted until night, when the foe withdrew, and placed fires all round the Mission about 100 yds apart, & 400 yds from the mission. All this night Ward waited in suspense to hear from Fannin, to whom he had sent for reinforcemt - About 12 oclk this night, An irishman came to Ward, and gave him [a] paper. He said that he was a prisoner in Urea's army, and that Urea had sent him to Ward with that pnper. The paper on being read, proved to be Fannin's answer to Wanl's application for ai-sistance - The Irishman said that the despatth had been captured from the bearers, who were killed. This paper was read - the purport of it was this - that he Fannin had just ree<l. orders from Genl. Houston to blow up the fort at Goliad and retreat to Yictoria where he Houston would meet him; and in con- sequence he Fannin could send no help to Ward, and that Ward must make his retreat in the best way he could. The Irishman told ward that l1e was ini<tructed by Urea to say that he would he reinforced the next day with heavy artillery, and would batter down the mission, & shew no quarter if Ward did not surren- der - \\'anl dislmiss]ed the Irishman telling him to say to Urea that he woul<l not surrender, & that he could sell his life as dear as Urea coul<l his '&e - The Irishman was dismissed - soon after he left, one of King·,; men, who had made his escape, appeared and came into the mission - A cornmltation was now held; and was determed to force a rc•treat. It was a difficult task to perform inasmuch as the enemy had their fires all arountl the mission - ~eeing, however, that no aid was to be had from Fannin, they had no other alternative left hut to attc>mpt a retreat; and they succeeded to their utmost astonish- ment - Learing the mission through one of the windows, they marched in si lenee bet\\·een two of the fires unmolested by the foe; meeting with Centinel. 'fhey had to leave their wounded Also another man by the 11ame of \Yoods; who belieYing that he was only waked to be placed on guard refused to get up; he was left. There was in the mission at Google
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