The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-02-05

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Before day-break we had ridden five and
twenty miles, but had been compelled 10 aban-
don two more guns. As vet no one knew the
object of this forced march. The General COM
manded a halt, and ordered the men TO refresh
and strengthen themselves with food and drink.
While they were doing this, he assembled the
officers around him, and the meaning OF our.
night march was explained TO TO us. The camp
in which the Mexican President and General
in-chief had intrenched himself was within a
mile of us; General Para, with two thousand
men, was twenty miles further in the rear; Gen.
Filasola, with one thousand, eighteen miles low
er down on the Brazos; Viesca, with fifteen hun
drcd, twenty-five higher up. One bold and de-
cided blow, and Texas might yet be free.
There was not a moment to lose, nor was one
lost. The General addressed the men:
"Friends! Brothers! Citizens! General San
ia Anna is within a mile of US with fifteen hun
dred men. The hour that is TO decide the
question of Texan liberty is now arrived. What
say you? Do we attack"
"We do !" exclaimed the men with one
voice, cheerfuily and decidedly.
In the most perfect stiffness, we arrived with
in two hundred PAGES OF the enemy's camp.
The repeiHe of the sleeping MeXicans was the
discharge of our two field pieces loaded with
canister. Rushing TO within twenty-five PAGES
of the entrenchment, we gave them a deadly
volley from our rifles and then throwing away
the latter, bounded up the breastworks, a pistol
in each hand. The Mexicans, scared and stu
pifed by this sudden attack, were running about
in the widest confusion, seeking their arms, and
not knowing which way to turn. After firing
our pistols, we threw them away as we had our
rifles, and drawing our 5owle-knives, fell, with a
shout, upon the masses of the terrified foe. 1t
was more like the boarding of a ship, than any
land fight l had ever seen Or imagined.
NV station was on the right of the line, where
the breastwork, 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 summit; but again was slip
ping down when a hand caught me by the collar
and pulled me 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 u bayonct which a Mexican
thrust into his shoulder, at the very moment he
was helping me up. He neither Anched nor let
20 his hold of me till | was fairly on my feet;
then, turning slowly round, he Ieveiled a pistol
at the soldier, who at that moment was struck
down by the Alcade.
"No thanks to yc, squire ?" exclaimed the
man in a voice wh, CHI made ne start, even al
that moment of excitement and hustle. look.
ed at the speaker, but could only sec his back,
for he had already plunged into the thick OF the
Sight, and was engaged with a party of MeXl-
cans who defended themselves desperately.
He fought like a man more anxious to be XII
led than TO kill, striking right and left, but never
guarding a blow, though the Alcade who was
by his side, warded off several which were aim
ed for him.
By this time my men had scrambled up after
me. locked round to see where our help was
most wanted, and was about 10 lead them for
ward when | heard the voice of the Alcade.
care you badly hurt, Bob ?" said he in an
anxious tone.
glanced at the spot whence the voice
There lay Bob Rock, covered with blood, and
apparently insensible. The Alcado was sup
porting his head on his arm. Before had time
10 give a 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 a knot of
staff officers, and were making a more gallant
defence. General Houston had attacked them
with three hundred Of our people, but had not
been able to break their ranks. His charge,
however, had shaken them a little, and, before
they had time to recover, I came up. Giving a
wild hurrah, my men fired their pistols, hurled
them at the enemies heads, and then s%pringing
over the carcasses of the fallen, dashed like u
thunderbolt into the broken ranks of the Mexi.
cans.
A frightful butchery cnsued. Our men, who
were for the most part, and at most times, peace
able and humane in disposition, seemed CONVEX
ted into perfect fends, Whole ranks Of the en-
envy fell under their knives. Some idea may
be formed of the horrible slaughter from the
fact, that the fight from beginning to end, die
not last above ten minutes, and in that time near
ly eight hundred Mexicans were shot or GU
down. "No quarter " was the cry of the in
luriated assailants; "Remembr Alamo! Remem,
Der Goliad! Think Of flaming! Ward y
The Mexicans threw themselves on their knees
imploring mercy: "MiSericordid! Quartet, pc.
rel amor de Dios!" shrieked they in heart
rending tones; but their supplications were no
listened to, and every man of them would inevi
tably have been butchcred, had not Genera
Houston and the officers dashed in between thu
%victors and the vanquished, and with the great
est difficulty, and by threats of cutting dow
our own men if they did not desist, put an enc
to this scene Of hloodshcd, and saved the Tex
ian character from the stain of %unmanly cruelty
When all was over, ] hurried back 10 tho
place where | had left the Alcade with Bob
The latter lay, bleeding from six wounds, onl.
a few PAGES from the spot where he had helpc,
me up the breastwork, The bodies of two dea,
Mexicans served him for a pillow. The Ahead,
was k%neeling by his side, gazing sadly and car
nestIy into the face of the dying man.
For Bob was dying; but ii was no longer tn
death of the despairiDg murderer. The expires