The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-02-14
MIslc@IcAiE,..,ll 4. !.
IFrom BlacKwoods Magazihe.l
ADVENTURES IN TEXAS.
BATTLE on SAN JAcINTo.

I The .Mexicans advanced so rapidly
that theywere upon US before we were
aware of it, andiwe were compelled to
retreat, leaving the garrison Of the two
forts to theirfate, and arightmeIancho-
lyone il proved tolbe.7 iaiss 9iil "
+ One morning news was brought to
Goliad that asnumber ofJcouhtry peo-
pie, principally women and children,
were on their way to the fort, closely
pursued by the Mexicans. Tanning
losing sight Of prudence in hiscompas-
sion for these poor people Immediately
ordered battalion of five hundred men
under the command Of Major Ward, to
/ 60 and meet the lugitives and escort
them in. The major and several ofthe
officers of the garrison doubted as TO
the propriety Of This measure; but Fan
ming, full Of sympathy for his 'unpro-
jtected country women, insisted. and the
battalion moved out. They soon came
in sight the fugItyes, as they thought,
but on, drawing nearer, the latter turn
ed out to be Mexican dragons, who
|sprang upon their horses. which were
concealed in neighboring island Of
trees, and a desperate fight began.
| The Mexicans, far superiori in numbers,
received every moment accessions to
theiristrength. The Louis IPotosi and
Santa Fe cavalry, fellows who seem
born on horseback, were there. Our
unfortunate eountrymen were hemned
on all sides. The fight lasted two days.
and only two men out of five hundred
Iescaped with their lives.
! Before the news of this misfortune
reached US, orders had been sent to
Tanning to eyacuate the fort and join
us with six pieces Of artillery. He re-
ceived the order, and proceeded to ex-
ecute it. But what might have been
prac ticable for eight hundred and sixty
men, was impossible for three hundred
land sixty. Nevertheless, Tanning be-
gan his march through the prairie. His
| little band was almost lmmediatel j sur
rounded by the enemy. After a gal
liant defence which lasted twelve hours,
| they succeeded in reaching the island {;
but scarcely had they established them
selves when they, found their ammuni-
ton was expended. There was no.
thing lett for them but to accept the
terms offered by the Mexicans, who
p edged themselves, that if they laid
down their arms, they should be per-
mitted to return TO their homes. But
the rifles were no sooner piled, than the
Texans found themselves charged by
| lheIr treacherous foe, whu butchered
them without mercy. Only an advan-
ced post Of three men succeeded in es-
Gaping. er
The FIVE hundred men whom he had
left in San Antonio de Bexar, Jared no
Better. Not being sufficiently numer-
Gus 10 hold out the town as well as Al
amo, they retreated into the latter.
The Mexican artillery soon laid part
OF the fort in ruins. Still its defenders
held out. After eight days fighting
during which the loss of the besiegers
was tremendously severe, the Alamo
was taken, and not u single Texan
left alive.
We thus, by these two cruel blows.
lost tWo.thtrds Of our army, and little
more than seven hundred men remain.
ed to resist the numerous legions Of our
victorious foe. The prospect before
US was one well calculated to daunt the
stoutest heart. ra.,.
The Mexican General, Santa Anna,
moved his army forward. in two diyi-
sions, one stretched along the coast to-
ward Valasco, the other advancing to-
wards San Felipe de Austin. He him
self, with small force, marched in the
centre. Al Fort Bend, twenty miles
below San Felipe, he cross ed the Bra
zos, and shortly afterwards established
with about fifteen hundred men in an
intrenched camp. Our army, under
command of Gen. Houston, had retreat
ed to Harrisburgh, TO which place the
Congress had retreated. 81
1t was on the night OF the Goth o.
April, and our whole disposal force
some seven hundred men, bivouacking
in and about an island OF sycamores.
1t was cloudy, stormy evening; nigh
wind was blowing, and the branches ot
the trees groaned and creaked above
our heads. The weather harmonized
well enough with our feelings, which
were sad and desponding when we
thought cfthe desperate state of our
cause. We (the officers) were sitting
| in circle around the General and Al
cade, both ofwhom appeared uneasy
and anxious. More than once they
got up and walked backwards and for
4 wards, seemingly impatient, and as il