Washington telegraph., 1845-02-26
VOL. >.

was one lost. The general addressed
the men.
..Friendsl Brothers. Citizensi General
Santa Anna is within a mile of us with
fifteen hundred men. The hour that is to
decide the question of Texan liberty is now
arrived. What say youl Do we atfackl'
1--WE dol' exclaimed the men with one
voice, cheeriully and decidedly.
In the most perfect stiffness, we arrived
within two hundred PAGES OF the enemy's
camp. The reueiiie Of The sleeping Mexi-
cans was the discharge of our two field
pieces loaded with canister. Rushing to
within twenty-five PAGES of the intrench-
mcnt, we gave them u deadly volley from
our rifles and then throwing away the lat
ter, bounded up the breastworEs, pistol IN
each hand. The Mexicans, scared and
supplied by this sudden attack, were run
ming about in the widest confusion, seeking
their arms, and not knowing which way To
turn. Alter firing our pistols, we threw
them away as we had our rifles, and draw
ing our bowic-Snives, fell, with a shout,
upon the masses of the terrified foe
II was more like the boarding of ship
than any land light had ever seen or i'm
agined.
My station was on the right of the line,
where the breas;work, 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-
mt; but was again slipping down when a
hand seized me by the collar and pulled me
up on the bank. In the darkness and con-
fusion | did not distinguish the face ut the
man who rendered ma this assistance.
Mexican thrust into his shoulder, at the very
moment he was helping me up. lie neither
tlinched nor let 20 his hold vi me till was
iairly ON my feet; then, turning slowly
round, he .evelled a pistol al tie soldier,
who that moment was struck down by the
Alcade.
NO thanks TO We, squirrel exclaimed the
man in Il voice which made me start, even
al that moment of excitement and hustle.
| looked al The speaker, but could only see
his back for he had already plunged into
the thick OF the fight, and Wa engaged
with a parry of Aexicans who defended
themselves desperately. He fought like a
man more anxious t. be killed than 10 kill,
striking right anl lei., but never guarding
a blow, though the Alcade who was by his
side, wardcd Uti several which were aimed
for him.
By this time my men had scrambled up
after me. | looked round to see where our
help was IN ,st wanted, and was about TO
lead them forward when heard the voice of
the Alcade.
..Are you badly hurt, Bob!' said he in an
anxious tone.
glanced at the spot whence the voice
came. There lay Bob Rock, covered with
blood, and apparently insensible. The
Alcade was supporting his head on his arm.
Before | had time to give a second look |
was hurried forward with the rest toward
the centre of the camp, where the fight was
at the hottest.
About tive hundred men, the pick of the
Mexican army, had collected round knot
OF stall officers, ami were making more
gallant defence. Gen. Houston had at
tackled them with three hundred OF our peo-
pie. but had not been able to break their
ranks. HIS charge, however, had shaken
them little, and, before they had time TO
recover from it. came up. Giving wild
hurrah, my men fired their pistols, hurled
them al the enemies heads, aad then SPRING
inI over the carcasses of the fallen, da shed
like a thunderbJlI into the broken ranks of
the hcxIcans-
\ irightfu buIchery ensued. Oar men,
who were for the most part, aud at most
times, peaceable and humane in disposition.
seemed converted into perfect nends.-
Whoie ranks ol the enemy fell under their
knives. Some idea may be formed of the
horrible slaughter from the fact, that the
night from beginning To end, did MT last
above ten minutes, and IN that time nearly
eight hundred Mcxicans were shot or cut
down. NO quarter" was the cry of the
iniiIriated assailants; '-Remembcr Alamo
Remember Golladl Think of flaming!
Ward!" The Mexicans threw themselves
on their knees, imploring mercy. "Hiseri-
cordial CHartei, porei amor de Diesi'
shrieked they in heart-rending tones; but
their supp.icaiiOns were not listened TO, and
every man of them would inevitably have
been butchered, had not Gen. Houston and
the officers dashed in between the victors
and the vanqushed, and with the greatest
difficulty, and by threats of cutting down our
own men ii they did not desist, put an end
to this scene of boodshed, and saved the
Texan character from the STAN OF unmanly
cruelty.
When all was over, | hurried back to the
place where had left the Alcade with Bob.
The latter lay, bleeding from six wounds,
only a few PAGES from the spot where he
had helped me up the breasiwork. The
bodies OF two dead hiexicans served him ior
a pillow. The Alcade was knee.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. 1he
expression of his features was calm and
con,osed and his ewes were raised to