La Grange in Fayette County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Men of the Dawson Massacre
September 18, 1842
Photographed by James Hulse, October 5, 2021
1. The Men of the Dawson Massacre Marker
When Mexican General Adrian Woll attacked San Antonio on September 11, 1842, Nicholas Mosby Dawson and the men who joined him reacted so quickly to the alarm that a muster roll was not taken. Only eighteen men survived the Dawson Massacre, which occurred near Salado Creek, within present San Antonio (not at Salado, Texas, as stated on the tomb). The following corrected list names the thirty-six men who are known to have been killed, and whose remains were here entombed on September 18, 1848:
____Adams Jerome B. Alexander James Alley Robert Barkley John Beard David Berry Francis E. Brookfield Thomas J. Butler T. John Church Robert Cummins John Dancer Nicholas Mosby Dawson Lewis W. Dickerson Robert Eastland Lowe(?) Farris Charles S. Field Elijah Garey Joe Griffin Harvey W. Hall George A. Hill Asa Jones John F. Jones Patrick Lewis William Linn Winfield S. Lowe Richard McGee John Wesley Pendleton Thomas Rice William Savage Elam Scallorn John Wesley Scallorn Thomas Simms Richard Slack Edward Trimble Norman Miles Wells Zadock Woods
No evidence has been located to verify that Zed Barkley (listed on the tomb) joined the Dawson Company.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, Mexican-American • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1842.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Drawing of the Black Beans (here, next to this marker); The Deaths of Dr. Richard Fox Brenham and Ewen Cameron (here, next to this marker); The Survivors of the Dawson Massacre (a few steps from this marker); The Final Resting Place (a few steps from this marker); Kreische Complex (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Monument Hill Tomb (about 500 feet away); The Faison House (approx. Ύ mile away); Fayette County Jail (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in La Grange.
Also see . . . Dawson Massacre.
After a vigorous but futile resistance, the severely wounded Dawson sought to surrender. The Mexicans continued to fire, however, striking Dawson several more times. Seeing surrender to be impossible, he gasped out his dying words, "Let victory be purchased with blood." Alsey S. Miller took up the white mackinaw that Dawson had waved in token of surrender and rode with it toward the Mexican lines, only to be fired(Submitted on October 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)upon in his turn. Miller then galloped through the enemy toward the town of Seguin. Source: The Handbook of TexasPhotographed by James Hulse, October 5, 20212. The Men of the Dawson Massacre Marker and tomb
Additional commentary.
1. Zed Barkley
I am a direct relative of the Barkleys. Zed and Robert are the same person. His full name was Robert Xenophon Zed Barkley. he went by Zed a lot of the time especially when he signed his name. His brother survived the Texas revolution.
— Submitted February 25, 2026, by Taylor H Mccarthy of San Antonio, Texas.
2. Missing survivor
My ancestor Milvern Harrell survived this massacre. Why is he not listed on the memorial?
— Submitted February 16, 2026, by Kasey Poaletta of Sanford, Maine.
Photographed by James Hulse, October 5, 2021
3. The Memorial for the martyred Texans
Photographed by James Hulse, October 5, 2021
4. Closeup of the tomb text
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,894 times since then and 110 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Flower Mound, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
