DT-41-Robert-4

DUNHAM FAMILIES of TENNESSEE

FOURTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

41. ROBERT HOLMES 4 DUNHAM (Daniel A. 3 Daniel 2 Joseph 1) born in Tipton Co., TN abt 1810-13; d. at Hacienda Salado, Tamauilipas, Mexico 25 March 1843. [1]

The Mier expedition was the last of the raiding expeditions from Texas into the area south of the Nueces River during the early days of the Republic of Texas. It was also the most disastrous of the expeditions from Texas into Mexico.

As members of the defeated Mier expedition were being marched from Mier to Mexico City they attempted a mass escape at the Hacienda Salado, on February 11, 1843. One hundred and seventy-six of these men were recaptured by the Mexicans and Mexican dictator Santa Anna ordered that one in ten of the prisoners be shot. The victims were chosen by a lottery in which each man drew a bean from an earthen jar containing 176 beans, seventeen of which were black. All those who drew a black bean were shot at Dusk, 25 March 1843. 1 of the 17 survived, (recaptured and shot the shooting, the remaining 16 were buried at the Hacienda but later the remains were returned from Mexico to the Monument Hill Cemetery, La Grange, Fayette Co., TX for interment, 18 September 1848. [2]

A few of the doomed men had time to write letters home. Robert Holmes Dunham was one of these men. In an article which appeared in Dunham Dispatch in July 1995, a copy of the letter from R. H. Dunham to his mother was printed. The letter follows:

“Dear Mother,

I write to you under the most awful feelings that a son ever addressed a mother, for in half an hour my (doom) will be finished on earth, for I am doomed to die by the hands of the Mexicans for our late attempt to escape the (word missing) of Santa Anna that every tenth man should be shot. We drew lots. I was one of the unfortunate. I cannot say anything more. I die, I hope, with firmness. Farewell, May God bless you and may he, in this my last hour, forgive and pardon all my sins. A. D. Headenberg will, should he be able to, inform you. Farewell.

Your affectionate son,

R. H. Dunham.”

References:

1. DSFC Newsletter Vol. 2, Issue 4, Oct. 15, 2005, p. 12, The Unhappy Fate of Robert Holmes Dunham by Sam E. Dunnam;

Dunham Dispatch Volume VII, No 6, July 1995, p. 1 Tragedy in Mexico 1843

DUNHAM DISPATCH Volume VII, No 10, November 1995, p. 4, More on Victim of Black Bean Episode, Information submitted by Mrs. H. K. McMahan

2. Find a Grave Memorial: Monument Hill Cemetery, La Grange, Fayette Co, TX. 49289941