The charred and sun-dried skeletons scattered about the ground were gathered together and reverently laid in a pit dug for the purpose. The army was paraded inside the fort, and from thence, slowly and with reversed arms, to the beat of muffled drums, the soldiers marched to the chosen spot. With the procession walked several of Fannin’s men who had escaped death on that fatal Sunday. [Illustration: Map of Texas at the Close of the War of Independence.] Red River Trinity R. Brazos R. Colorado R. Nacogdoches San Augustine Old San Antonio Road Guadaloupe R. San Antonio Nueces R. Rio Grande del Norte Presidio of San Juan Bautista Sabine R. Neches R. Washington San Felipe de Gonzales Austin Anahuac Harrisburg Columbia Brazoria La Vaca R. Golita Cr. Victoria Goliad Refugio San Patricio Matamoros Galveston I. Velasco GULF OF MEXICO Matamoros General Rusk began an address, the troops standing around him. “But in truth he did not finish what he intended to say, for he was overpowered by his feelings, and the tears rolled down his cheeks, and he had to stop speaking. There were but few dry eyes on that occasion.”[28] So powerful was the impression produced on the men who assisted in this mournful ceremony that General Andrade (An-dra′dā), who was bringing up the rear of the Mexican army, was advised by Rusk that it would not be safe for him to attempt to pass through Goliad, as he could not answer for what his own men might do. Andrade was therefore obliged to cut a crossing seven or eight miles long through the chapparal thickets, in order to reach the main road. The Mexican army marched slowly westward with trailing banners. San Antonio and other places held by Mexican garrisons were given up. At length the Rio Grande was reached and crossed. The independence of Texas was achieved. VI. HOUSTON. (1836-1842.) 1. ON BUFFALO BAYOU. The treaty between Santa Anna and the Texan Congress was concluded at Velasco (May 14), and to the written paper was affixed the seal of the Republic. The choice of this seal was the result of an accident. When the declaration of independence was adopted at San Felipe, Governor Smith, having no other seal, used one of the brass buttons from his coat. Its device chanced to be a five-pointed star encircled by a wreath of oak leaves. The Lone Star with its wreath thus became the official signet of the Texas Republic. [Illustration: Flag of Texas Republic.]