Col James Neill

Today in Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. Mar 8, 1836 - Col. James Fannin receives the news of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Gen. Sam Houston orders Fannin with his command at Goliad, and James Neill with his command at Gonzales, to go aid the Alamo defenders. Mexican Generals Antonio Gaona, Adrián Woll, Vicente Filisola, and Juan Arago arrive at the Alamo with artillery and the remainder of the First Brigade. Santa Anna Releases Survivors. General Antonio López de Santa Anna individually interviewed each of the Alamo's noncombatant survivors at the home of Don Ramon Musquiz. It was reported that Santa Anna was impressed with Susanna Dickinson, the young widow of Alamo Artillery Captain Almaron Dickinson. The General offered to adopt her infant daughter, Angelina, and have the child educated in Mexico City. Susanna refused the offer. Others interviewed include Ana Salazar Esparza and her children (Gregorio's Family), Concepcion Charli Losoya (Toribio Losoya's Mother), Juana Losoya Melton, and Victoriana de Salina, with her three children. Each woman was asked to make a declaration and then be given $2 and a blanket and allowed to go free to forewarn the ruin that awaited those who opposed his government. Finally, Santa Anna ordered the Tejano civilian survivors to be allowed to return to their homes inside San Antonio. Santa Anna had more effective plans for Susanna. Since she had been shot in the calf during the battle, she was given a horse and a dispatch for Sam Houston. Santa Anna instructed Susanna to "Ride to Gonzales and give this letter to General Houston." Susanna and Ben, a former slave from the United States who served as Mexican Colonel Juan Almonte's cook, were ordered toward the Anglo settlements at Gonzales. They were escorted down the road that led to Gonzales. Before releasing Joe Travis (Travis' former slave), Santa Anna commanded the surviving members of the Mexican Army parade in a Grand Review, hoping Susanna, Ben, and Joe would be impressed and deliver a warning to the remainder of the Texian forces that his army remained invincible. Susanna was last seen with the two former slaves, traveling down the road that leads to Gonzales this evening. Their heads hung low. Pictures: Col. James Fannin, Gen. Sam Houston, Col. James Neill, Den. Antonio Gaona, Gen. Adrián Woll, Gen. Vicente Filisola, Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna, Don Ramon Musquiz, Susanna Dickinson, Capt. Almaron Dickinson