USA > Texas > Washington County > Brenham > The history of Brenham and Washington County > Part 5
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1896-Sadie Harrison of New York, Lucile Tarrant, Fay Bowers, Melissa (Bowers) Hale, Lula (Felder) Cox,* An- nie Haubelt, Sadie (McIntyre) Garrison of Plainview (cer- tificate), Mary (Healy) Bates of Corsicana, Nelda Russi, Mamie Stein, Mary Tumlin, Frank H. Dever of Dallas, Albert L. Haynes and Hal C. Thomas of Arizona.
1897-Emma (Amsler) Koch, Kate Brennan, Ada H. (Becker) Carlisle, Mattie Giddings, Mollie White (Harri- son) Astin of Bryan, Lelia Clay Robbins,* Edna Earle (Rouse) Fagg of Greenville, Bessie (Thornhill) Hughes, Fannie C. Thomas, Hattie (Tiemann) Schiller, Tooley (Williamson) Lusk, Robert W. Haynie of Abilene, Henry A. Luhn of Taylor, L. Tarver Wilkins,* Edwin C. Zurcher.
1898-Belle (Beauchamp) Gackenheimer, Annie Busse, Lizzie Eldred, Minnie Fowler, Mamie Glass, Lucy Hill, Mamie (Creekmore) Cather, Nettie (Graber) Meerscheidt of San Antonio, Ettie (Bowers) Becker of Bellville, Daisy Burch, Julia (Epstein) Epstein of Atlanta, Georgia; Alita (Gardner) Vann, Erna Giesecke of Houston, Emma Rob- ertson, Winifred Morriss, John Kirkland Harrison of Hous-
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ton, Ravenal Luhn, Ernest A. Robbins of Houston, J. Lester Wroe of Austin, Harry Pennington of Houston, Lou (Jack- son) Booth*, Louis Giddings, August Lindemann, Louis Rial, J. R. Williamson, Jr., Ralph Mudgett, Henry S. Thornhill and Mary Sallis.
1899-Mattie (Shepard) Amsler of Dallas, Selma (Tie- mann) Dippel, Ella Werner, Nellie (Abbott) Wilkins, Hat- tie Mae Allcorn,* Mamie Haubelt, Willie Creekmore of St. Louis, Bessie (Eldridge) Gillespie of Houston, Flora Fow- ler, Bessie (Wilkins) Farley, Jerry J. Marek, Albert Gid- dings, Elsie (Garrett) Townes of Beaumont, Louise (Good- lett) Ellis of Temple, Loula (Healy) Fehrentz of Chicago, Annie Lemm, Lillian (Lindemann) Meyer of Sealy, Mary Liebrook, Rosa (Langhammer) Sanders of Somerville, Sadie Miller, Fannie Pace,* Katie Stein, Hugo Tautenhahn and George S. Wright.
1900-Annie Marie Affleck,* Addie Louise Clonts, Mary (Dever) Price of Georgetown, Elizabeth (Dobert) Schmid, Musadora Irby, Esther Lewis, Annie (Shepard) Winston of Smithville, Byron Couch Beauchamp, Louise Vlasta Wotip- ka, Netta Botts, Loula Hackworth, Mattie (Harrison) West of Uvalde, Annie (Hermann) Wheat of Galveston, Francis Haubelt, Selma Schramm, Thetis Clay (Thornhill) King of Dallas, Edward Luhn.
1901-Mabel (Carrington) Brown of Austin, Ione Chil- dress, Bessie (Goodlet) Curry, Isabel Haring, Ida Mae Lind- emann, Myrtle McFarland, Ida Pflughaupt, Jennie Tarrant, Lillian Carrington, Mary Childress, Maude Hardy, Annie Portia (Healy) Smith of Corsicana, Elise (Lockett) Wil- liamson, Jonnie Mae (Pennington) Smither of Huntsville, Susan (Shepard) Wood of Houston, Erma (Tiemann) Som- er, Edward Lewis Marek, Sarah Gross of New York City (certificate), Thomas Bowers and Henry Mueller.
1902-Bessie (Barber) Gilbert, Ella (Giesecke) Muery, Emily Hardy, Anna Mulhern, Leonora Tautenhahn, Mary Goldie Fink, Bessie Sloan, Lizzie (Irby) Blanks of Edna, Minnie (Sonnenberg) Dobert, Bozena Wotipka, Lena Sus- nitsky, Kleberg Langhammer, Rufus Nicholson of Hous- ton, Thomas B. Botts, Frank Leo Minkwitz, Robert Lee Young.
1903-Aileen Brown, Esther Gross of New York City, Hattie (Parks) Stone, Lillian Quebe, Annie Houston Tar- rant, Bessie Lee (Williamson) Moore of Houston. Marjorie (Harrison) Coale of Chicago, Louise (Langhammer) Hill of Somerville, Minnie Lee (Sloan) Bettis, Norma (Tie- mann) Lehmann, William H. Campbell of Beaumont, Reyn- old Luhn of Taylor, O. A. Seward, Jr., of Beaumont, and Ernest Farmer of Beaumont.
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1904-Velaska (Heinecke) Adams of La Grange, Kitty Buchanan, Mabel (Wright) Blake, Henrietta (Teague) Kanady, Lessie Meyer,* Mary Bielefeldt, Annie (Dawson) Becker, Kenneth E. Krug, Emil Marek of Galveston, Solo- mon Harrison Endel, U. S. N .; Thomas Buchanan, Forrest Bettis and Walter Minkwitz of Sugarland.
1905-Miladi (Haubelt) Seidel, Lena (Marek) Malina, Mamie (Searcy) Kleberg of Kingsville, Ethel (Tucker) Smith of Taylor, Millie Wotipka, Nettie Griffin, August Heinecke of Seguin, William J. Embrey, Clay Seward and Louise Giddings.
1906-Carolyn Heinecke, Dessie Lagle, Spencer Tarrant, Elsie Quebe, Mattie (Colbert) Wood of Granger, Benita Minkwitz of Richmond, Amelia (Hyman) Stubblefield of Houston, Winnie (Davis) Rogers, Irene Reynolds, Ludelia Wallace and Fred Heinecke.
1907-Bertha (Schuerenberg) DeWare, Nettie Mae (Ral- ston) Booth, Dora Seidelmann, Myrtle Matthews, Myra (Barnett) Krug, Esther Brewer, Adele Lindemann, Flor- ence Stulken, Gertrude Hermann, Vera (Van Hutton) Stuckert, Emma Mueller, Jessie Dawson and Ernest Seel- horst.
1908-Florence (Seward) Denson, Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands ; Minnie Lee Gehrmann, Belle Hyman, Alfred Buch- anan, Carl Niederauer, Robert Stuckert.
1909-Belle Hyman (post-graduate), Ella Boyce McCor- mick, Robert Stuckert (post-graduate), and Gerald Wag- non of Cameron.
1910-Marion Barnett of Davis, Oklahoma; Alma Herbst and Eva Susnitsky.
1911-Dorothy Chisolm, Mamie Schmid, Allyne (Jaeggli) Thompson, Benita Hoffmann, Louise (Styles) Pier, Ira O. Pier, Julia Rankin, Robert P. Thompson, Henry Tucker and Hermann L. Zschappell.
1912-Oscar R. Hoffmann, Gus Fink, Bessie Hill Burnes. Flora Susnitsky and Ione Kenney.
1913-Will M. Giddings, Schuerenberg Zschappell, Mar- zee Thiel, Laura (Styles) Schmid, Emily (Sallis) Herbst, Della Niederauer, Blanche Beaumier, Mary Simmons, Mary Louise Williams.
1914-S. D. W. Low., Jr., Gustav Heinecke, Eugene Tie- mann, Thelma Amsler, Ella Suter, Clarence Stuckert, Win- ona Prinzing of Victoria, Julia Wade, Pauline Sallis, Ethel Collins and Rosa Levine.
1915-Mattie Reeves Wood, Gladys Griffin, Ileane Beau- mier, Tina Grebe, Mary Patterson, J. P. Buchanan, Jr., George Hoffmann, Rheinhardt Jahnke, Herbert Fischer and Ernest Schawe.
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W. D. NOTLEY.
The present superintendent of the Brenham public schools is W. D. Notley. He was born in Lamar County, Texas, near the village of Brookston, where he received his early school- ing under the excellent instruction of Prof. J. P. Cooper and wife. He was induced at the age of 11 to study for the profession of teaching. With that one great aim, he set about studying with a gladness, and a zeal and determina- tion seldom found in a youth yet so young, to fulfill a mission which to him seemed greatest of all.
His schooling, extended over many years of hard study and diligent application, has assured his success as a school man. His education was received at Brookston High School, the North Texas State Normal, University of Chicago, and Columbia University, New York City.
His experience in teaching has extended over a period of twelve years, during which time he has served as teacher of rural schools, principal of ward and high schools, county superintendent and city superintendent. Mr. Notley came to his present position, the choice of seventy-three appli- cants, July 1, 1911.
During the four and one-half years he has been superin- tendent of the Brenham public schools he has proved him- self a safe and sane leader and a man of broad visions. He immediately proved himself worthy of the esteem and confidence of his board of trustees, who gave him freedom in the choice of his co-workers, to the extent that Bren- ham today has one among the strongest faculties in the South for her public schools.
The schools have improved in thoroughness, and con- tinue to grow in the esteem of the leading universities and colleges, where the Brenham students attend in increasing numbers. The curriculum has been widened, admitting of a broad elective system in the selection of studies. The community, too, has been committed to a broad educational policy, advocating a balance of practical and cultural sub- jects. Manual training, agriculture, domestic science, do- mestic art, music and drawing, have been added to the curriculum along with foreign language, English, mathe- matics, history and science. Increasing attention is being given to physical education also, a physical director having been recently appointed.
Student life has been greatly enhanced, by means of athletic associations, glee clubs, literary societies and Boy Scout and Camp Fire organizations.
Public opinion and school and community co-operation have been secured through the Brenham Home and School
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W. D. NOTLEY
Association, now with a membership of more than 200. A lecture course and a monthly school social have been ยท instituted, thus supplying pleasure, and giving the public contact with brilliant minds.
For upwards of forty years learned men have superin- tended the Brenham public schools, and their growth has been steady and sure. The administration of the present superintendent has been an era of wonderful progress, the enrollment has increased, the work of the teachers and student body has been very gratifying, and the schools have risen to their highest degree of excellence. These great improvements are the results of the well directed efforts of the man at the head. He is a brilliant scholar. has quick and generous sensibilities and most gentlemanly characteristics; is thoroughly familiar with all modern school methods ; and, as an educator, stands in the foremost place among the very best superintendents in Texas.
Mr. Notley is true to his youthful ideals, and the ambition which urged the 11-year-old boy to become a teacher is fully realized in the man, for he is devoting his life to the education of children. In the wide field of educational endeavor he faithfully guides the student-laborers; he teaches the little people to sow the tiny seeds of knowl- edge; he encourages those older grown in the cultivation of the young and tender plants of learning, and when there is full fruition of the hopes of the toilers, he rejoices in the educational harvest of the youthful men and women.
OTHER SCHOOLS.
J. R. Hollmey taught an excellent private school for a number of years. Miss Mary Rial founded the "Mary Rial High School," which grew and flourished during the closing years of the last century. The German-American Institute was established and successfully conducted for ten years by C. Klaerner.
The Lutheran College, originally the Phillip Bickler school, now at Seguin, was located in Brenham for a short while. In 1909 the Dominican Sisters came from Galves- ton and opened the Sacred Heart Convent in the old public school building which had been purchased from the city authorities, and from the beginning this educational venture has been a success.
BLINN MEMORIAL COLLEGE.
Beautiful Blinn Memorial College, situated on one of the highest hills in Brenham, is the especial pride of Brenham- ites. This fine educational institution for boys and girls had its beginning at the annual session of the German Confer-
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BLINN MEMORIAL COLLEGE
GIRLS' DORMITORY-BLINN MEMORIAL COLLEGE
ence of the Methodist Church, held in Seguin November 30 to December 4, 1882, when Rev. Carl Urbantke was author- ized to establish a school in this city. Its first session began in March, 1883, and its first name, Mission Institute, sug- gested its purpose of training young men for the ministry. However, other demands made upon the school led to the ad- dition of other departments, until now it offers instruction in all the branches usually taught in schools and business colleges. The first enrollment was three students, and from this small number the enrollment has gradually increased until there are over 200 boys and girls from various places in Texas in attendance.
In March, 1887, the Rev. Christian Blinn, of New York, visited the school. Before he left he had interested the citizens of Brenham in the little school, had built a two-story building now used as a boys' dormitory, paid the salary of an additional teacher, and contributed to the endowment. The total amount contributed by Mr. Blinn and his family is $20,000. It was in gratitude for these gifts that the Con- ference in 1889 changed the name to Blinn Memorial College.
The school at present owns property and endowment valued conservatively at $175,000. The Main Building and the Girls' Dormitory are each valued at $30,000. It has seven teachers-six men and one lady. It gives instruction in the following courses: Preparatory, Academic, Commer- cial, Stenographic, Theological, Music, Voice. It is affili- ated with the State University. Its graduates and former students have an enviable reputation for efficiency in vari- ous walks of life.
The citizens of Brenham have always looked with pride upon its progress and have contributed liberally to the funds for the purchase of grounds and the erection of buildings.
Its present president is J. L. Neu ; treasurer, Rev. W. A. Moers, and financial agent, Rev. J. Streit.
JACOB LORENZ NEU.
Jacob Lorenz Neu was born in Brenham in 1873. He received his elementary education in private schools and is a graduate of the Brenham High School of the class of '89. He holds the B. A. degree from the State University and has attended the theological classes in Blinn Memorial College for a term and the summer sessions of Baylor University and of the Summer School of the South.
His teaching experience began with public school work. In 1896 he was elected a teacher in Blinn Memorial College, being in charge of the Preparatory classes. Later he was put in charge of the English Department. He is also inter-
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--
J. L. NEU
ested in the study of American History, especially of Texas history, and is librarian of the school.
For nineteen years J. L. Neu has been connected with Blinn Memorial College, serving for the past six years as the capable and efficient president. Under his careful guidance the school has grown and prospered until it is on an equal footing with the best colleges in the State. He is an ideal educator, scholarly, hard-working, courageous, hon- est and sincere, and is devoted to his profession from the love of it. One of the supreme elements of his character is force, and this, added to earnestness, is the secret of his suc- cess in the management of the affairs of Blinn Memorial College.
RELIGION.
When the liberty loving men came to settle Texas they brought their Bibles with them, and they came with the full determination of worshiping God according to their own consciences.
METHODIST CHURCH.
Methodism was established in Brenham in 1844, in the "Hickory Grove" school house, under the leadership of J. D. Giddings. Some of the names on the first church roll were J. D. Giddings, Mrs. A. M. Giddings, Mrs. Arabella Harrington, John Elgin, Mrs. Elgin, Prosper Hope, James Clemmons, John G. Heffington, E. D. Tarver, Rev. John W. Kenney and R. B. Wells. A Sunday School was organ- ized, and J. D. Giddings was the first superintendent. On July 1, 1848, the church purchased one acre of ground where the Christian Church now stands, from Jesse Farral, for a consideration of $100.00. It took time to build the church, as the cedar logs had to be felled and hauled, and sawed with a whip-saw. All the timbers, weatherboarding and ceiling were hewn, sawed and planed by hand, and it was in 1851 or 1852 before the sacred edifice was finally completed. It was 30 by 50 feet, had two doors in front, three glass windows on each side and two in the north end. The pulpit was high and had to be reached by two or three steps; it was boarded round, so that when the preacher sat down he was almost out of sight of his congregation. A spire and a sweet-toned bell completed this house of wor- ship. Robert Alexander, B. H. Peel, John W. Kenney, filled regular appointments, and Rev. Lewis was the local pastor. J. D. Giddings was the superintendent of the Sunday School from 1844 to 1878, the year of his death. The Texas Con- ference was held in Brenham in 1868, and F. C. Wilkes was the local pastor at the time. He was succeeded by
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F. A. Mood and B. D. Dashiell. Giddings Memorial Meth- odist Church, so named in memory of J. D. Giddings, was erected in 1879, when F. A. Mitchell was pastor. The present pastor is Ernest G. Cooke. The presiding elder of the Brenham district is S. W. Thomas.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
H. N. Pierce of New York organized St. Peter's Parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church prior to November 1, 1848. He received a pledge, from Trinity Church of New York, of $2,000 for an Episcopal Church building in Bren- ham, conditioned on the fact that the citizens would raise $2,000.00 more. The public spirited citizens gave the requi- site amount. H. N. Pierce was the first rector. He after- wards became Bishop of Arkansas. The second rector was L. P. Rucker. The old church building of brick gave way in 1901 to the present church. The lot was bought May 6, 1852, from A. G. Compton, for a consideration of $1,100.00. For the past eleven years S. Moylan Bird has served this church faithfully and well as rector.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Interest in the Baptist Church was aroused in November, 1848, by Rufus C. Burleson, who held a very successful revival in the "Hickory Grove" school house. Many people joined the church, but until 1851 the Brenham Baptists were known as "an arm" of the Mill Creek Baptist Church. In December of that year the First Baptist Church of Bren- ham was organized, and Rufus C. Burleson preached the first sermon. Among the early preachers who filled appoint- ments were Z. N. Morrell, William Melton Tryon, Elder Noah T. Byars and Elder Hosea Garrett. The lot upon which the present church stands was acquired by purchase from a free negro named "Enos"-the price was $25.00. The original church was built in 1852 on this lot, and noth- ing but cedar was used in its construction. In 1884 a new church was erected, largely through the efforts of Mrs. Myra Graves. The old cedar edifice was sold to James A. Wilkins for $100.00. W. R. Brown is the pastor at the present time.
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1890 by G. Langner, who served as its pastor until 1913, when he resigned. The first church building was constructed in 1891, but was de- molished by the 1900 storm, and the present edifice was built immediately afterwards. Edward A. Sagabiel, the present pastor, organized the first Luther League in Texas
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in Brenham in 1913. This league has a membership of about 175.
GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH.
Carl Urbantke organized the German Methodist Church in 1873 and was its first pastor, in which capacity he served until his death about 1909. He assisted in the construction of the first church building, which was built by F. B. Wiebusch, one of the most devout members. In 1913 a new church was erected, when W. A. Moers was the pastor. Today A. A. Leifeste has charge of this church.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian Church was established during the '80s, and the first services were held in the old church which was bought from the Methodists and was situated upon the lot where is standing the present church. The burning in 1884 of the building necessitated the construction of the new sacred edifice. For a long term of years A. D. Milroy has been doing a wonderful work for the Master in this religious organization.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
In 1870, Bishop N. A. Gallagher of Galveston purchased the ground upon which is located St. Mary's Catholic Church; and it was about this year that the church was organized and a church building erected. Some years ago a new church was built. Father M. J. Tabor is in charge at present. For over forty-five years Mrs. Mary Dwyer Ross has been one of the most active and influential mem- bers.
The German Baptist Church was established many years ago. Rev. Voigt is the pastor.
Through the instrumentality of Mrs. J. F. Schramm the Seventh Day Adventist Church was organized in Brenham. She is one of the most active and faithful members. Sev- eral years ago the church was erected in South Brenham.
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THE GIDDINGS'
No one family in the history of Texas, from the time it was under Mexican rule to the present period, has planted a higher standard of excellence than that raised and main- tained by the Giddings; and no one family in Washington County has been more prominent and influential. Giles A. Giddings, the first of six illustrious brothers, the patriot and soldier, who was mortally wounded at San Jacinto, arrived in Texas in 1835. J. D. Giddings, the Texas Vet- eran, came in 1838. He was followed in 1848 by James J. Giddings, the civil engineer, and George H. Giddings, the Confederate Colonel. The year 1852 marked the advent of D. C. Giddings, the Confederate lieutenant colonel, the congressman and banker; and Frank Giddings, the physi- cian and surgeon. The Giddings of today is D. C., who is at the head of the vast estate and the private bank of Giddings & Giddings. He is a worthy representative of his distinguished ancestors; and, when his useful life is ended, he will be succeeded by his young son, D. C. Giddings, Jr., in whom the leading characteristics of the bold and enter- prising Giddings are very pronounced.
Brenham owes an everlasting debt of gratitude to J. D. Giddings, his brother, D. C. Giddings, and son, D. C. Gid- dings; for in every epoch-making event during the past seventy-one years they have been central figures.
JABEZ DEMMING GIDDINGS.
Many bright men helped to form, inaugurate and wield the affairs of Brenham in the constructive period of its history ; but to J. D. Giddings, more than to any other man, must be given the credit of having founded the City of Brenham.
Primarily, it owes its very existence to him; for it was through his efforts that it became the county seat in 1844. His experience as a teacher guided him in the promotion of Brenham's educational interests. He helped the cause of religion by assisting in the establishment of Methodism. With the aid of his brother, D. C. Giddings, he virtually built the Washington County Railroad. Upon his advice Brenham was incorporated. He was a member of the legislature in the reconstruction days, and introduced meas- ures that were beneficial to Brenham. In 1866, in copart-
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nership with D. C. Giddings, he established the first bank. He aided in the removal of the Federal soldiers from Camp- town. He was a leading lawyer.
J. D. Giddings was born in Susquehanna County, Penn- sylvania; James Giddings and Lucy Demming Giddings were his parents. His father first entered the merchant marine, and at 21 was a captain with the full charge of a cargo. A shipwreck off the Carolina coast destroyed the labor of a lifetime. He abandoned the sea and went into the wilderness of Western Pennsylvania and established a farm. His mother was a beautiful character, and her life was spent in rearing her sons and training them to walk in the paths of honor and virtue. She laid the foun- dations of the excellent educations of her children.
In the spring of 1838, J. D. Giddings came to Texas, seeking information about his brother, Giles A. Giddings, who died from wounds received at the battle of San Ja- cinto. Giles A. Giddings, being a civil engineer, came to Texas in 1835, to survey a land grant for the purpose of establishing a colony. Twelve days before Sam Houston met Santa Anna his patriotism caused him to abandon the surveying and Indian fighting, in which he was then en- gaged, and enlist in Company A, Captain William Woods commanding, of the First Regiment of Texas Volunteers, of which Edward Burleson was colonel. The night before the engagement at San Jacinto Giles A. Giddings wrote his parents a loving letter indicative of sublime courage and an inborn love of liberty. This valuable document reads as follows :
Texas, Four Miles from Head-quarters. April 10, 1836.
Dear Parents :- Since I last wrote you I have been en- gaged in arranging an expedition against the Indians, who have committed many depredations against the frontier. On my return to the settlements, I learned that our country was again invaded by a merciless horde of Mexicans, who were waging a war of extermination against the inhabit- ants. A call was made for all friends of humanity to rise in arms and resist the foe. Men were panic-stricken and fled, leaving their all behind them. I could not reconcile it to my feelings to leave Texas without an effort to save it. Accordingly, I bent my course for the army and ar- rived last evening at this place. I shall enter camp this morning as a volunteer. The army, commanded by Gen. Houston, is lying on the west side of the Brazos, 20 miles from San Fillippe. The enemy is in that place waiting an attack. It is reported Houston will attack them in the
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morning. What will be the result, or the fate of Texas, is hid in the bowels of futurity. Yet, I think we are engaged in the cause of justice, and hope the God of battles will protect us. The enemy's course has been the most bloody that has ever been recorded on the page of history. Our garrison at San Antonio was taken and massacred; so an- other detachment of 700, commanded by Col. Fannin, and posted at La Bahia, after surrendering prisoners of war, were led out and shot down like bears. Only one escaped, to tell their melancholy fate. In their course they show no quarter to age, sex or condition-all are massacred without mercy. If such conduct is not sufficient to arouse the patriotic feelings of the sons of liberty, I know not what will. I was born in a land of freedom, and taught to lisp the name of liberty with my infant tongue, and rather than be driven out of the country or submit to be a slave, I will leave my bones to bleach on the plains of Texas. If we succeed in subduing the enemy and establish- ing a free and independent government, we shall have the finest country the sun ever shone upon, and if we fail we shall have the satisfaction of dying fighting for the rights of man. I know not that I shall have an opportunity of writing to you in some time, but shall do so as often as is convenient. Be not alarmed about my safety. I am no better, and my life no dearer, than those who gained the liberty you enjoy. If I fail you will have the satisfaction that your son died fighting for the rights of man. Our strength in the field is about 1,500. The enemy is reported 4,000 strong; a fearful odds, you will say; but what can mercenary hirelings do against the sons of liberty ?
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