Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-03-12

oioW, anu AeaaS MI gut yet be Tree. There
was not moment 10 lose, nor was one
lost. The general addressed The men.
"Friends! Brothers! Citizens! General
Santa Anna is within a mile of us with ff-
teen hundred men. The hour that is to
decide the question Of Texan liberty is now
arrived. What say you? Do we a'tackw
awe doo' exclaimed the men with one
voice, cheerfully and decidedly.
In the mos! perfect stillress, we arrived
within two hundred PAGES Of the enemy's
camp. The re-eillee of the sleeping Mex
leans was the discharge of our two field
pieces loaded with canister. Rushing on
to within twenty-five PAGES of the intrench-
ment, we gave them a deadly volley from
our rifles. and then. throwing away the lat
ter, bounded up the breastworks, pistol in
each hand. The Mexicans, scar ed and
Supplied by this sudden attack, were run
ming about in the widest confusion, seek
ing their arms, and not knowing which way
10 turn. After freing our pistols, we
threw them away as we had done our rifles,
and drawing our Lowie-knives, fe |, with q
shout, upon tie masses OF the terrified
foe. 1t was more like the boarding of a
ship than any land fight had ever seen or
imagined.
My station was on the right Of the line,
where the breastworh, ending in a redoubt,
was steep and high. made two attempts
to climb up, but both times slipped back
On the third trial nearly gained the sum
nit; but was again slipping down, when a
hand seized me by the collar, and pulled
me up on the bank. In the darkness and
confusion did not distinguish the face of
the man who rendered me this assistance.
| only saw the glitter Of bayonet which
a Mexican thrust into his shoulder, at the
very moment he was helping me up. He
neither flinched nor let go his hold Of me
till | WAS fairly on my feet; then, turning
slow y round, he leyelIed pistol at the
soldier, who at that very myment, was
struck down by the Alca'de.
mo thanks to We, squirrel exclaimed
the man, in n voice which made me start
even at that moment of excitement and bus
tie. | looked at the speaker, but could OH
~ see his back, for he bad already plung-
ed into the thick Of the fight, and was en-
gagged with party of Mexicans, who de-
Tended themselves desperately. He fought
like man more anxious to be killed than
TO kill, striking luriousy right and left, but
never guarding a blow, though the Acalde,
who was by his side, ward off several
which were aimed at him.
BY this time my men had scrambled up
after me looked round to see where
our help was most wanted, and was about
to lead them forward, when | heard the
voice Of the Alcalde.
Are lou badly hurt, BoJ?" sail he in
an anxious tone.
4 glanced at the spot whence The voice
came. There lay Bob Rock, cove ell with
blood, and apparently insensible. The Al
calde was supporting his head on his arm
Before | had time to give ii second look |
was hurried forward with the rest toward
the centre of the camp, where the fight
was at the hottest.
About five hundred men, the pick of the
Mexican army, had collected round kno,
OF statl,oilicers, and were making a most
gal ant defence. General Houston had at
lacked them with three hundred of our pei
pie, bat mad not been able to break their
ranEs. Ills charge, however. had sh ,ken
them IA ll,t'e, and, betore they had tine TO
recover from ii, came up Giving wild
hurrah, ny men fred their pistols, hurled
them at their enemies heads. and then
sprlnglng over the catcasscs Of the fallen,
dashed like a thunderbolt into the broken
ranks Of The Mexicans.
A frighttul butche'y ensued. Our men,
who We're for the most part. and at most
times, peaceabe and humane in disposit on.
seemed converted into perfect fends.-
Whole rauks of the enemy fell under their
knives. Some idea may be formed of the
horrible slaughter from the fact, that the
fight, from beginning to end, did not last
above ten minutes, and in that time nearly
/ eight hundred Meylcans were shot or cat
down. mo quarter" was the cry at the
Inturjated as$aitants: remember Alamo
Remember Golod Think of Tanning.
WardW The Mexicans threw themselves
on their kness, lmploring mercy. Mise
r'cordid! Cudntct. por 81 amor de Dios ~
shrlcked they in heart-rending tones; bu1
their suppcations were not listened to, and
every man of them would inevitably have
been butchered, had not General Houston
and the officers dashed in betwcen the vic.
tors and the vanquished, and with the
greatest difficulty. and by threats OF cut
ting down our own men if they did not de-
S'st, put an end TO this scene of bloodshed,
and saved the Texan character from the
| stain OF humanity cruelty.
When all was over, hurried back to the
place where had left the AlcaIde with
Bob. The latter lay. bleeding from six
wounds, only a few PAGES from the spot
where he had helped me up the breastwork.
The bodies of two dead Mexicans served
him for pillow. The Alcalde was kneel-
ing by his side, gazing sadly and earnestly
into the face of the dying man.
For Bob was dying; but it was no longer
The death Of the despairing murderer. The
expression of his features was calm and
composed and his eyes were raised 10 hea-
ven with look of hope and duplication.
| stopped down and asked him how he
felt himself. bu, he made no answer, and
evidently did not recollect me. After a
minute or two,
"How goes it with the ight7" he asked
in broken voice.