New-York daily tribune., 1844-08-09
THE TRIBU N E.
For The New-York Tribune.
HISTORY OF TEXAS. No. III.
BY 4 TEXAN LADY.

| constitution-now they asked themselves OF what
avail would be The words of q Constitution. They
cav the Constitution Of "a and all the de'ences
.fthe States merged into splendid military des
,osm Of which Santa Ana was the chief. For
lighter causes their fathers had walked the thun-
ds,s of Bunker Hill. This iron rule might DO
or the dcscendcnts of Montezuma, but never for
the children of the Declaration of Independence.
They would have no Dictator. Come with what
excuse it might, any Mexican army that ap.
nroached their borders must be met as an enemy
and repu!sed at the threshold. They would op-
pse force to force, and relying on God and the
avmpa,hy of their Anglo American brethren,
Tes.s should be free-or depopulated.
The citizens of the United States responded to
the call; arms, ammunition and volunteers began
10 come at need. Cos was advancing upon San
Antun;o-the Western gate Of Texas-and had
already demanded of the Texans the patriotic
zavta and other distinguished citizens. Threats
were mingled with promises which it was Possl-
bic might have been kept in good faith, but such
was not the belief of the Texans. They demand
ed definite certainties. Ia answer to the mani
festocs of Cos, the citizens, now completely or.
ganzed into Committees of Safety, resolved 10
seize the Alamo, the citadel of San Antonio, and
drive the Mexicans back to the Rio Grande. l.
must be remembered that at this time the frontier
posts of Guliad and San Antonio were still held
by Mexican garrisons. They the keys Of
Texas, and the idea Of the colonists mastering
the strength and euGacity to take them was In
conceivable to the Mexican chief If held by
the Auglo Americans and sustained with energy,
the tide of war could never roll by them to DESC
late The heart OF the country. The settlements
thus protected would always be in situation To
feed, recruit and sustain those important deftnces
And this was Austin's-indeed the popular, plan.
Before the consultation could meet party of for
ty eight men from the Colorado and Caney dash.
cd across the country to Goliad and took by storm
that commanding fort on the night of the 9th
October. The public mind had simultaneously
turned to the conquest of San Antonio, and Aus,
tin was summoned to lead the daring enterprise.
The genius Of Austin fitted him to plan 10 coun-
sci, to endure, but hardly to marshal battles and
lead assaults, but he never withheld his body
from painful labor" and at the call of his peo-
pie he left Gonz a!es with handful of volunteers,
to bcs,eee Cos with upwards Of thousand well
appointed men in the strongest, but happily for
Texas, also the last hold of Mexican power
On the Goth of October, Austin and his band
were at the Saado, FIVE miles from the town oil
San Antonio, which Cos was strengthening in
every possible way. Here he entrenched and
waited few days for recruis-and with good
reason, for on the 9th he numbered 600 cnthu-
siastic soldiers. On the next day was fought the
fierce and unequal battle of Conception An ad-
vance party of one hundred Texans, under Fan
min, had taken up an excellent position, we'll cov-
cred by timber and steep bank, at the Mission
OF Cones ption, about mile from the walls of San
Antonio. The next mornr. was veiled in mist
and tho Mexicans, aware of their vicinity, pro.
posed to overwhelm them. When the mist rosc
the Texans, not unprepared however, saw them.
selves surrounded by five or SIX times their num-
Der. SkiIiully awaiting themselves of the advan
tages of the ground, the Texans met the charge
CALAMITY, though with that economy in firing auc
taking sight which always had given such odd'
in their favor. A brass ourpounder, which thu
Mexicans brought up was three times cleared o
its defenders, and finally taken by the Texans
The long line of fire which had opened upor
them wavered, broke, and scattered in fight be
fore the steady, Calling aim of the Texans. The
Mexican loss in killed and wounded was equs
to the whole count of Texans in the afiay. l,
h., hnd,- h,,t lat I,
press their victory. A little sooner and the,
might have contended with the retreatng foe 70
admission into the gate Of their fortress.
After the splendid advantage at Conception
many ii not the most Of the volunteers were eager
to storm San Antonio at once but Austin thought
it safer to wear out Cos, who was three hundrec
miles from Mexican aid, by cutting off his sup
Plies and conhning hun closely within the town
With insufficient cannon and half the force OF the
garrison. it seemed too large risk to attempt The
assault of well fortified place.
" hen The Consultation met at last, so many o
its members were with the Army that it wa:
thought cxpedent to unite with it the Committee
of Safety ut San Felipe under the name of tht
General Council of Texas. This body appointed
Austin Commissioner TO the United States, ant
named Gen. Edward Bureson TO the commanC
OF the force before San Antonio. Bur!eson, prac
teal, persevcring, and of undsunted courage, Wa
soldier by nature. When he assumed the com
mand, late in November, the citizen soldiers o
Texas were almost as Tired bcsieging Cos, as Co
was tired Of being besieged. They were impa
tient 10 scale the Alamo. and from the top Of 1t
walls proclaim the campaign is finished" Mi
lam, who had borne leaders part in the captur,
Of Goliad, just then came Up from the conquered
fon; and even the heroes of Conception enviet
his laurels, end wished TO emulate his reckless
exploits. Buresou hailed the kindred spirit
Who will help storm the Alamo Z" Milan ask
ed Of the assembled ranks; and $50 men s,eppeo
iorth az to festival Burleson saw the hour hsc
come, and with willing heart disposed the re