New-York daily tribune., 1844-08-09
VOC. Ev. NO. HOG.

On the morning Of the 5th of December, ths
volunteers entered the suburbs Of San Antonio
in two divisions under Coils Milan end Johnson
The ii at roofs and massive walls of the Spanish
| built buildings made them tenable defences; ano
step by step, and house by house, did the hIcxi
cans dispute the hostile advance, while the can
non of the Alamo, which from the left command
cd the area Of strife, Numbered night and day in
their behalf. In vain, in the face of triple num-
bers for fur days the storm Of war ragged on
street after street was won in despite of the un.
ceasing hail Of artillery; and each desperate
struggle narrowed the limits of the besiegcd, and
broush, the Texans closer the gates of the Ala
mo, until, hcmmcd in, exhausted, hopeless o
timely aid, and without motive for farther blood
shed, Gen. Cos capitulated on the 9Th OF Deccm.
ber Tho terms of cspitulaton were honorable
and honoraby observed. Cos retired beyond the
limits OF Texas, and The Anglo Americans closed
their three months campaign and the year 1885
richer than they began by two important posts
and all the beautiful country on and beyond the
San Antonio River. Not an enemy was left
within their territory.
While the soldier. Of Texas were sweeping the
country Of armed enemies, the General Council
proceeded to organize a pro tenn. Civil Govern
ment for the preservation Of domestic order. A
Governor, Lieut.. Governor and General Council
were appointed Judicial system ard an Army
organization were arranged; and State iadc-
pendence almost equivalent to distinct National
existence was formally asserted. The Texans
were unanimous and enthusiastic for Govern
mcnt on the basis of the institutions Of their be-
loved Mother-land. The Consultation not hay.
ing been specifically elected with those views
deemed it necessary that new Representatives
should be chosen by The People, with special pow
crs to act upon the question of Constitution and
absolute Independence. There was some diver,
sity of opinion as to what was possible and cxpc-
dent, but none as to the great principles for
which they had rushed to arms. The sympathy
of their kindred in the United States was loudly
and literally expressed. Men, money and arms
were pouring in from their friends "at homo.''-
They were not ignorant Of the danger; they
knew that Cos was but the haIbinger of more
powerful foe ; they knew President Santa Ana
the boldest, most gifted, as he was the highest
and mcst terrible Of the Mexican chieis-was ap-
preaching their borders, with force five-old
greater than that which they had defeated under
Cos, but they had also five fold strength to meet
it. In Goad and The Alamo they held the mas
tel. moves of defensive game, and they had SOL
diers who had practised victory; they only want
cd union and an able General, and ihe!e-fatally
for Texas and some of her bravest children--was
deficiency.
When lS36-the Year of Blood-opened upon
Texas her hopes were high, her faith strong
The United States had watched with kindling in
terest her onward step from victory to victory,
and wondered why Santa Ana carried his laurels
to withcr on SO bootlcss field. IT'S true his
force, the best Mexico could array, 5000
s,rong-but the best of his rank and file in
ert fragments Of the great but easily broken, mil.
itary machDe-while each man of the Texans
was desperate, energetic, sell-helping man. a
thousand volunteers, with ample supply Of warlikc
munitions, had como from the United States to
strengthen their hands. Goliad and San Anto
Mo, which they had so boldly wrcsted from tho
Mexicans, were held-the first by 400 q. S
volunteers under Fannin, the latter by half thai
number under Travis. Tnc mass was united be-
yond precedent in deep, infsxible, uncompro
missing hostility to Mexican rule Up to tho time
Gen. Sam. Houston was called 10 the command
by the Consultation, one hundred killed woul,
have covered the battlelosses of the Coonists-s
sad and mournful contrast to coming evcnts--bu
they were far from anticipating how bloody shoulc
be the dawning of their Lone Star.