The Texas Almanac, for 1860, with Statistics, Historical and Biographical Sketches, &c., Relating to Texas. Page: 48
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4 TEXAS ALMANAC.
to demolish the fortifications of the Alamo, of no use at any time." So the
veteran Felisola dissented from the novice Houston in estimating the importance
to Mexicans of that untenable fortification.
We have omitted to record the arrival of the company of Red Rovers from
Courtland, Alabama, under the lead of Capt. (Dr.) John Shackleford, whose
name is affectingly identified with our history. That company was composed
of young men of respectability. On the 19th January, 1836, they landed at
Matagorda, and pursuant to general orders, were marched to the fatal West,
and eventually swelled the hecatomb of Goliad. They came to battle for the
freedom of their national brethren, not for any specific time, but "so long as
there was an enemy to be found in Texas." Dr. Shackleford was happily pre-
served from the general massacre in consequence of his professional usefulness
to the Mexicans, and died at home universally regretted.
On the 18th Jan. our Commissioners Austin, Wharton, and Archer, succeeded
in negotiating a loan in New-Orleans for 200,000 dollars, ten per cent payable
in cash, the balance in installments, and redeemable in not less than five, nor
more than ten years. This aid was seasonable. The Commissioners rendered
further and important services by animated public addresses, giving intensity to
the enthusiasm already excited in that mercurial city. They proceeded north-
ward, sowing the lively seeds of sympathy for our supposed perilous condition.
Those seeds quickly germinated, yielding a rich harvest of benefits to Texas.
Their labors were arduous, unintermitted, and successful.
As early as December 22d, 1835, Capt. Philip Dimitt, a bold patriot then in
command at Goliad, with a number of other persons, issued a formal declaration
of independence, in a spirited proclamation, which was printed and circulated.
This was decidedly premature. Capt. Dimitt was afterward, in 1840, betrayed
to the Mexicans at Corpus Christie, dragged off, and perished in one of their
loathsome prisons, probably at Monterey. That declaration was the first pub-
-lie enunciation of a policy which soon became predominant in Texas, and is
now happily illustrated in the flourishing condition of the State. In accord-
ance with the then common sentiment, the provisional government passed a
resolution on 13th December, 1835, to summon a new Convention with plenary
powers to meet at Washington on the Brazos, on March 1st, 1836. The re-
spective elections were held on 1st February ensuing, and 56 delegates were
chosen from the three municipalities. (Kennedy, ii. 156.)
CoL W. Barrett Travis had been placed in command of the Alamo, subsequent
to the order for its demolition. He remained there in tranquillity, until it was
formally invested by the forces of Mexico, the President-General commanding
in person. Travis had, when first besieged, about 140 men, among whom were
Col. James Bowie, David Crockett, of eccentric fame, and Col. John B. Bonham,
a gallant and accomplished young gentleman from South-Carolina. The melan-
choly fate of these earliest victims to the declared independence of Texas, will
be related in the sequel, but with a brevity disproportioned to the magnitude
of their exploits. A well-engraved tabular monument within the walls of the
Alamo would form a more enduring and appropriate record, and furnish some
little evidence that " Republics are not always ungrateful."
Santa Anna, whose highest military quality was celerity, having pushed Gen.
Urrea forward to intercept and destroy Dr. Grant and his followers, of whose
adventure he was early apprised, advanced to the Rio Grande on the 12th Feb-
ruary, where he halted until the 26th. On the 6th February, Col. Fannin was
advised of the enemy being on the march, with a strong force, by Don 'Placido
Benavides, a Mexican patriot, and he dispatched the intelligence to the provi-
sional government forthwith, the Commander-in-chief not being within reach.
Fannin expressed a just surprise at the apparent apathy of the colonists, a very
small number of whom were in his ranks. He stated that the volunteers from
the United States, who composed nearly his entire force, had been a long time
in service, and were then in want of clothing and especially of ammunition; a
fatal want in such emergency as then beset him.
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The Galveston News. The Texas Almanac, for 1860, with Statistics, Historical and Biographical Sketches, &c., Relating to Texas., book, 1860~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123766/m1/50/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.