The Struggle for Independence, 1835-1836
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condition bordering on disintegration-a box of charred bones, par- ticles of coals, rusty nails, shreds of military uniforms, buttons, and crushed skulls. Mayor C. K. Quin, Postmaster D. J. Quill, Mrs. Leita Small, custodian of the Alamo Museum, Frederick C. Chabot, local historian, and many others examined the evidence and were convinced the remains accidentally dug up were those of the heroes of the Alamo. 51 While the tragedy of the Alamo was being enacted, Colonel Fannin was in Goliad with his men trying to decide what to do. Johnson and 'the other three survivors of San Patricio ar- rived on February 28 to warn him of the rapid advance of Urrea. Two days before, Fannin had received a call for help from Travis, sent the day he locked himself and his men in the Alamo. Yet, Fannin remained inactive, although he had about four hundred men, who, with the ex- ception of a dozen Texans, were volunteers from the United States." During the next six days messengers from the Alamo came almost daily to urge him to march to San Antonio. T lee Goliad Massacre. On February 28 Fannin reluctantly prepared to abandon Goliad and go to the rescue of Travis. Leaving a guard of eighty to one hundred, he started with approximately three hundred men and eight or ten ox- carts. But after crossing the river and going only a few hundred yards, and while still in sight of Goliad, one of the carts broke down, the ex- pedition halted for three hours, a consultation was held, and it was decided to return to Goliad. The excuse for this strange decision was that they found they did not have bread I This decision sealed the fate of the garrison of the Alamo and the men of Goliad. Every move of Fannin hereafter led to disaster. Just as Travis was sending out his last call for help on March 3. Lewis Ayres, from Refugio, came to Goliad to ask for aid to remove his family and others to safety. Disregarding the advice of his officers and men not to heed the request since the families in Refugio had been given ample wam~ng. Fannin sent Captain Aaron King several days later with about ·twenty-five men. King arrived in Refugio on March 12. He could have withdrawn with the families at once, but he chose SlFor a detailed account of the finding of the charred remains in San Fernando Cathedral, see Arthur J. Drossaerts, Tl,e Tf"flll, About //,e Burial of /1,e R,maw of tl,e Alamo Heroes. For arguments against, see L. Kemp, T"4 Burial of t.u Heroes of t!,e Alam(). "Clarence Wharton, Remember Goliad, 36. Fannin knew since February 16 of Urrea's advance from Matamoros. He could have supported Johnson and gone to the rescue of San Antonio, or marched east. His irresoluteness is puzzling.
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