28 
INDIANOLA 
shed its red glare on the few clouds that flitted across 
it, the scene 'assumed an aspect of peculiar solemnity 
and interest. We lingered long to enjoy the fairy-like 
vision, and until the fatigues of the day warned us that 
it was time to retire. 
The sword has truly given place to the plough- 
share here ; and the inclosure which has been the scene 
of many a bloody fight, is now employed by the Judge 
as an experimental garden, in which he has demonstrat- 
ed the capacity of the soil and climate to produce any 
of the great Southern crops of cotton, corn, and sugar, 
as well as the choicest garden vegetables. The church 
is especially notorious as having been the place where 
Fannin and his men were confined and massacred. We 
were fortunate enough to meet with a gentleman. 
Judge H,, who was one of the prisoners, and whose 
singular escape may be worth relating. 
After the battle of Perdida Creek, between Fannin 
and 275 men on one side, and Urrea with 900 Mexi- 
cans on the other, articles of capitulation were signed, 
according to which, those who surrendered were to 
be treated as prisoners of war, and either released 
on parole or sent to some port upon the bay. The 
articles were drawn up within the Texan lines, and all 
was arranged in good faith. The prisoners were con- 
fined within the fortress of Goliad, where they met 
others of their countrymen, sufficient in number to 
make up four hundred. When Santa Anna was in- 
formed of their capture, he sent orders for them to be 
shot. The officers in command remonstrated, but the 
order was repeated peremptorily. The massacre took 
place upon the 27th March, 1836, eight days after the 
