On March 27, 1836, Colonel Nicolás de la Portilla and his men at Goliad executed Fannin and more than 300 of his men following orders issued by José María Tornel in Mexico City. General Antonio López de Santa Anna sent the orders to Portilla to be followed.
This document contains several letters. The first is a letter from Portilla to General José Urrea that he has received orders from Santa Anna to execute the prisoners and that he will do so the following day. The next letter contains a letter that he has followed the orders but did not feel it was right to kill in cold blood, but he did it because he was told to. The third letter, which appears to be written by another person, states the location of Gen. Urrea at Guadalupe Victoria and that approximately 150 men escaped.
These letters provide a glimpse into Colonel Portilla's struggles in following the order to execute Fannin and his men.
