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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
the time of the retreat 6 or 7 or 8 women and 5 or 6 children. Ward would not allow them to be wakened, for fear that they would com- mence screaming From these women it was afterwards ascertained, that the wounded & Wood also were put to death. The wounded were only Weeks, Ray, & Ayres' brotherinlaw - - when the retreat commenced, Ward aimed for Copano; but never could ,:trike the right road. They wandered all night; and in the course of their rambles came back upon the enemies fires 3 times. About an hour before day break they found themselves at a Creek in some few miles of the mission They found a Bridge across the Creek & then for the first time ascertained where they were. At this Bridge they saw by si [gn] s that the enemy· had crossed it in pursuit of them. They then had to change their direction; and instead of making for Copano, struck through the prairie, aiming for Victoria - The first day they marched on slowly, without interruption; on the second day the same; but on the third day in the evening, they suffered greatly for the want of water. David Hott Dick Rutchles, Butler, Bright, & a dutchman,. in advance in search of water. They were to go to some ·timber in sight; and if water was there, they were to hoist a signal. This was 1 or 2 oclk the eYening. The advance made no signal; but that evenig the men found wa~er near where they had halted to rest; they remained there all that night. The next being the fourth day, they took up their, 1ine of march. (The dutchman who had gone in search of water; the others went on, & escaped)- On the fourth night, Ward encamped on the Santonio river, below Fagan's Ranch; on the 5th mornig they started up the river; 5 or 6 miles trying to cross; but failed; went again to Fagan's rancho; killed some cattle there; went down in the swamp to cook, & found at Fagan's ranch 2 irish boys; who told that their fathers were about one mile off. Ward sent a file of men after them; the boys going along; in a short time they re- turned; and agreed to pilot Ward to Victoria; but desired that they might be allowed to visit their families & say good bye; this was al- lowed them; but they never returned. and Ward had to proceed alone - On the night of the 6th they reached the Guadalupe, Wadworth Sam llays, Jos. ·wilson, and Jos. Tatum, went up to Mexican houses & Tatum brought some provisions back to Tichnor, the balance, ( Mays, Wordsworth, & Wilson) went on to victoria, & was captured; Wilson being killed in the fight - On the 7th day Ward, hearing of this & that the foe was in Victoria, retreated back into the Guadaloupe timber there, they lay, until night, when he started for Labaca; travelled all night; at 9 oclk in the monig searched for cattle They came running in announcing the approach of the enemy - Council was held. \Yard was for fight; but the most were for surrernlering; the Mexicans hoisted a white flag - The surrender was made. They were to be treated as prisoners of war; & were to be sent back to the U S - They were marched to -Victoria; thence to Goliad, where they met with Fannin & his men all prisoners - At Victoria Tom Smith Columbus Geo; Pierce Hammoch :\lacon Geo; Cubelo Wilkinson, Macon Geo; Jno. C. P. Kennimore, Columbus Geo; Jas. B. F l\fordica Saninnah; Jas. Xaily \Yonl:-nror'.h Com. Thos. 8tcwart, and others were taken out as carpenters and thus saYed -
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