James Fannin

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James Fannin

James Walker Fannin, Jr. (January 1, 1805 – March 27, 1836) was a 19th century U.S. military figure and Texas leader during the Texas Revolution of 1835–36.

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Early life

Fannin's birth was unplanned and considered a scandal, for Fannin's mother was not his father's wifein his charge. He tried to institute regular army discipline, but his irregular volunteers would not accept it. Many of his men felt he was aloof and several historians believe that he was an ineffective commander because of it. The majority of the men serving under Fannin had only been in Texas a short time and this frustrated Fannin who wrote acting Lt. Governor James W. Robinson "..among the rise of 400 men at, and near this post, I doubt if 25 citizens of Texas can be mustered in the ranks...".

In early February, Fannin sailed from Velasco and landed at Copano with four companies of the Georgia Battalion, moving to join a small band of Texans at Refugio. When Mexican reinforcements, under General Jose Urrea, arrived at Matamoros, thus complicating the Texan's plans to attack that city, Fannin withdrew twenty-five miles north to Goliad. He quartered his troops at Presidio La Bahia. Now Lt. Colonel of the First Artillery, Fannin began strengthening defenses at Goliad, and sent out his captains to find recruits for the army. "Enlist all you can.." ..." fill up your companies, and be ready for the field soon".

Appeals from Travis at the Alamo (via was little or no food to take, some men were barefooted and over night, the oxen to pull the wagons wandered off.

On 12 Marc confronted an advance party of Gen. Urrea's cavalry in Refugio failed and he withdrew to the old mission. A local boy managed to sneak out of town and alerted Fannin of the skirmish. Fannin sent Lt. Col. William Ward and about 120 men to King's aid. Ward managed to drive the small Mexican forces away and decided to stay the night to rest his men. On 14 March 1836, Ward and King were attacked by Urrea and over 200 Mexican soldiers as they were about to depart back to Fannin. The same day, Gen. Houston ordered Fannin to retreat to Victoria.

Battle of Coleto Creek

On 19 March, about 9:30am, Fannin began his slow retreat from Fort Defiance[1] and destroyed everything he did not take with him. Fannin took nine cannon and over 500 spare muskets and was heavily ladened with supplies and baggage. The column traveled about six miles when Fannin ordered a halt to rest his animals. At about 3:00pm Mexican cavalry appeared near Fannin's troops. The Texans immediately formed a hollow square with their wagons and cannon were placed in each corner for defense as Gen. Urrea's forces attacked. After a fierce battle that cost the Mexicans about 100-200 killed and wounded; Texan losses were seven to nine killed and sixty wounded, Fannin and his troops, facing overwhelming odds, surrendered at the Battle of Coleto. They were marched back to Fort Defiance and were imprisoned.

Mexican Gen. Urrea appointed Col. Jose Nicolas de la Portilla in command of the La Bahia garrison while he was away at Victoria. On 26 March 1836 a courier arrived with orders from Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to Portilla: " I therefore order, that you should give immediate effect to the said ordinance in respect to all those foreigners who have yielded to the force of arms." Portilla answered with the reply that the prisoners would be shot the next day. On 27 March 1836 Fannin's men were marched out in three columns and shot point blank and massacred. Fannin was shot before a firing squad while seated and blindfolded.

See also

• Timeline of the Texas Revolution

External link

• James Walker Fannin, Jr. from the Handbook of Texas Online

Further reading

• Brown, Gary; James Walker Fannin-Hesitant Martyr in the Texas Revolution;Republic of Texas Press;ISBN 1-55622-778-7
• Davis, William C.; Lone Star Rising-The Revolutionary Birth of the Texas Republic;Free Press; ISBN 0-684-86510-6
• Hopewell, Clifford; Remember Goliad-Their Silent Tents; Eakin Press; ISBN 1-57168-195-7