"The War For Texas Independence: James W. Fannin, Jr., In The Texas Revolution." by Ruby Cumby Smith is a short biography of a largely unsung Texas Revolution commander.
James Walker Fannin, Jr. (1804-1836) was a 19th-century Texas Army leader during the Texas Revolution of 1835-1836. After being outnumbered and surrendering to Mexican forces at the Battle of Coleto Creek, Colonel Fannin and nearly all his 344 men, were massacred several days after they surrendered under Santa Anna's orders that all Texan rebels be executed. Fannin's force was massacred near Goliad, Texas where they were being held as prisoners. Ironically his command had been dispatched by the Texas authorities, to attempt to relieve the Texans surrounded in the Alamo. The Alamo Massacre is well remembered, probably due to the presence of Travis, Crockett, & Bowie, while the Goliad Massacre is largely forgotten. At the time though, the slogans "Remember the Alamo" & "Remember Goliad "did much to galvanize Texas resistance & led to their ultimate victory. Ruby Smith's brief, stirring account of Fannin's short, glorious career in the Texas War for Independence sheds much interesting light on a nearly forgotten episode of Texas military history.
