Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-03-12
From Biacdwood's Magazine.
ADVENT URES IN L E X A
RATTLE OF SAN JAcINTo.

The MexcanS advanced SO rapldIy, tnal
they were upon US before we were aware
of it, and we were compelled to retreat,
leaving the garrison Of the two forts to their
fale, and right melancholy one it proved
10 be.
One morning news was brought to Coli
ad that number of country people, prin-
cipally women and children, were on theil
way 10 the fort, closely pursued by the
Mexcans. flaming, losing sight Of pru-
dence in his compassion for these poor poo
pie, Immediately ordered battalion o. FIVE
hundred men, under the command Of Ma
)"r Ward, TO go and meet the fugitives and
escort them in. The major, and several
alIIcers Of the garrison, doubted as 10 the
propriety Of this measure; but Tanning,
full Of sympathy for his unprotected coun-
try-women, insisted, and the battalion
moved out. They soon came in sight of
che fugtiyes, as they thought, bat on draw
ing nearer, the latter turned out to be Mex
lean Dragons, who sprang upon the: hors-
es, which were concealed in the neehbor-
ing islands Of trees, and desperate fight
began. The MexiCans, far superior in
numbers, received every moment acceS-
sions to their strength. The Lous-Potosi
and Santa Fc cavalry, fellows " no seem
born on horseback, were there Our I'M
fortunate countrymcn were hemmed in on
all sides. The fight lasted two days, and
only two men out o. the five hundred cs-
tcaPed with their lives.
Before the news Of this misfortune reach
ed us, orders had been sent to Tanning to
evacuate the fort and join Us with six PIE
Ges Of artillery. He received the order,
and proceeded to execute it. But what
might have been very practicable for eight
hundred and sixty men, was mpo sbIe for
three hundred and sixty. Nevertheless,
flaming began his marcn through the prai-
r,. His lltlle band was almost immcdi-
ately surrounded by the enemy. After a
galIapt defence, which lasted twelve hours.
they succeeds in reaching an island. but
scarcely had they established themsely es
there, when they found that their ammuni
tion was expended There was nothing
left for them, but to accept the terms Of
fered by the Mexlcans, who pledged them
selves, that if they laid down their arms,
s&ey should be permitted TO return to their
homes. But The rifles were no sooner
piled, than the Texans found themselves
charged by their treacherous foes, who
butchered them without mercy. Only an
advanced post ot three men succeeded in
escaping.
lne five hundred men whom we had left
in San Antonio de Bexar, Jared no be ter.
Not being sufficiently numerous to hold out
ths town as well as the Alamo, they re-
treated into the latter. The Mexican ar
ljIcry soon LAID a part of the for, in ruins
Still lis dc enders held out After eight
Days lighting, during which the loss OF the
besiegers was tremendously S, we're, the Al
Hmo was takeH, aud not single Texan
left alive.
We thus, by these two cruel blows, Jos
two-thrdS of our army, and little more tran
seven hundred men remained to resist the
nnmegous legions of our victorious foe
fine prospect before Us, was one well cal
cUIaled To duunt the stoutesl heart.
Inc Mexican general, Santa Anna,
moved his army forward in two d visions,
one stretched along The coast toward We.
}asco, the other advancing toward San Fe-
Iipe de Austin. lie himself, with Il small
force, marched in the ce1ire. I For
Bend, tw mtg miles below San Feline. he
crossed the Brazos, and shorty alterward
established himself with about fifteen hun
dred in an intrenGhed camp. Our army,
under the command Of General Houston,
was in front of Harrisburg, 10 which place
the congress had retreated.
It was on the night OF the twentieth Of
April, and our whole disposablo force, some
seven hundred men, was bjvouacIlirg in
and about an island of sy camores. It was
a cloudy, stormy evening; high wind was
blowing, and tina branches of the trees
groaned and creaked above our heads
The weather harmonizcd well enough with
our feelings, which were sad and despoud
ing when we thought o the desperate state
Of our cause. We the officers were sit.
ding IN circle round the neral and Al
calde. both OF whom appeard uneasy and
anxious. More than once they sol Up and
walked backward and forward, seemingly
impatient. and as they were waiting for or
expected something There was a deep
silence throughout the whole bivouac; some
were sleeping, and those who WATCHED were
IN no humor for idle CHAT
"Mho goes thcre!" suddenly shouted
one OF the scntries. The answer we did
not hear, but twas apparently satisfactory,
for there was no further challenge, and a
fs~ seconds alterward an orderly came up,
and whispered something in the ear of the
Alcalde. The latter hurried away, and
presently returned, spoke few words in
low tone TO the general. and then to us
officers. In an instant we were all upon
our feet. In less than ten minutes, the
hIyoqac was broken up, and our little army
on the march,
All our people were well mounted, and
armed with rifles, pistols and bowie knives,
We bad SIX field pieces, but we took only
four, harnesscd with twice the usual num-
Der of horses. We marched al a rapid trot
me whole night, led by a tall, gaunt figure
oil man who acted as our guide, and kept
some distance 10 front. more than once
askea Inc Aicalde who this was. ..You
will know by and by" was his answer.
Before day break we had ridden fv. and
twenty miles, but had been compelled 10
abandon two more guns. As vet no ono
knew the object of this forced ,,,..L IN,