The above-mentioned circumstance, exhibiting the appearance of a hostile mission from Santa Anna, was the first indication, direct and decisive from him, of an intention to invade the country. On the night of the sixth of March I arriv<>d at La Bahia de Goliad, having travelled seventy miles alone, through a country so beset with Indians, as to make it necessary to ride by night. Here I found Col. Fan- ning, to whom I reported myself, he having, at the approach of the enemy, fallen back to the fort at the above place. On the morning of the 19th, in pursu- ance of an order from Gen. Houston, we commenced a precipitate retreat, in the direction of Guadaloupc Victoria, for the purpose, if possible, of reaching the camp of the general army. But after having marched nine miles, we were overtaken and surrounded by a Mexican force of eighteen hundred, most of whom were mounted. Our situation was very unfortunate, being in the midst of that large prairie, in a place where the ground was much lower than that around us. We were also without water, which is the greatest of necessities, especially for the wounded. The enemy having closed around us, upon every side, made a general charge but were repulsed with great slaughter. They rallied and charged again and again; but at every succeeding charge with less vigor, until night came and pnt an
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