The Fall of the Alamo ~ page 9
Between three and four o’clock P. M. I started,
as requested by Colonel Travis, for Gonzales. I first rode down the river
a short distance, thinking to meet Dimmitt, but he had gone, taking the
main Goliad road. On coming near the ford I fell in with J. W. Smith, also
on his way to Gonzales. We halted and were paralyzed for a moment when
we saw the enemy march into Military Plaza in regular order. While we sat
on our horses for a moment watching their movements, Captain Nat Lewis
came to us on foot. He too, was bound for Gonzales with as much of his
valuables as he could carry in his saddle bags thrown across his shoulder,
leaving the remainder of his storehouse a contribution to the enemy.
We soon parted, Captain Lewis taking one direction,
Smith and myself another. Thinking the Mexicans might have seen us going
off and pursue us, we took the old Goliad road which runs directly south
for some distance. After going about half a mile we turned due east into
mesquite and chaparral brush, following the winding paths that lead through
it. We crossed the Gonzales road between the city and Powder House Hill,
about one mile East of town. Turning eastward over the hill we saw three
men riding in the distance across the Salado; about a mile and a half from
us. We suspected that they might be a scouting party of the enemy attempting
to cut off any one leaving the city and kept on our course, rather bearing
around them to the left.
On reaching the Salado, my injured leg began
to stiffen and to give me such pain that I thought of turning back and
should have done so if Smith had not urged me on, believing that the enemy
had by that time surrounded the fort, for a few minutes had passed since
we had heard a cannon shot. After resting a moment and filling our gourds,
bought from a Mexican whom we met, for a dollar, we went on, continuing
parallel with the road and about a mile from it. After riding about sixteen
miles, dark came upon us, when my pains became so acute that I was forced
to stop. We spread our blankets upon the ground, and ourselves upon them,
and being somewhat relieved of my suffering, I was soon asleep.
By daylight on the morrow we were again in the
saddle and on our way to Gonzales where, after a hard days ride, and anything
else but an agreeable one to myself, we arrived about four o’clock, P.
M.
So soon as we entered the town we made known our mission
and sent notice to all the neighboring settlements with the news of the enemy’s
arrival, calling upon the citizens to come immediately to the relief of the
besieged. This was on Wednesday, the twenty-fourth. By Saturday we succeeded
in getting twenty-five men who were placed under the command of Ensign Kimble.
These were principally from the town of Gonzales, men of families and her
best citizens. They started for San Antonio on Saturday about two o’clock
P. M., with John W. Smith acting as guide. On the Cibolo they increased their
force to thirty-two, which number reached Bexar about one o’clock A.
M. on Tuesday, March the first. On reaching the suburbs of the city they were
approached by a man on horseback who asked in English, "Do you wish to
go into the fort, gentlemen?" "Yes" was the reply. "Then
follow me," said he, at the same time turning his horse into the lead
of the company. Smith remarked, "Boys, it’s time to be after shooting
that fellow," when he put spurs to his horse, sprung into the thicket,
and was out of sight in a moment, before a gun could be got to bear on him.
Some supposed that this was General Woll, who was an Englishman
6
in the Mexican service.
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Second Flying Company of Alamo de Parras © 1996-2004