The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-11-21

broken off their rifles at the breech, by
smashing in the skulls of their enemies,
flung them down and drew their pls-
tolls. They fred them once. and hay
ing no time to reload, hurled them
against the heads Of their foes, and then
drawing forth their bowie knives, liter
ally, cut their way through dense mas
ses ofliving flesh. ag.aj .asa
s, Ii would be sad mistake 10 suppose
that the Mexicans played the coward
that day-for they were slain by hun.
dreds in the ranks where they stood
when the battle began-but the fierce
vengeance of the Texans could not bs
resisted. They fought as none but free
men can fight, when they are striking
| for their homes, their families, and their
dead kindred. The Mexican officers
and men stood firm for time, but the
Texans stamped on them as they fell,
and trampled the PROSTATE and the dy-
ing down with the dead, and Chamber
ing over the groaning, bleeding mass,
plunged their knives into the bosoms OF
those IN the rear. When they saw
the dreadful onslaught of their toe could
not be resisted, they either attempted
TO flv and were stabbed in the back, or
fell on their knees to plead for mercy,
CRYING, "me no Amor sine no Almo!"
.n,e no Amor These unfortunate
slaves of the Mexican tyrant had wit
messed that brutal massacre OF brave
1 men, and now they could think ofno
y other claim for mercy, but the plea that
8 they were not there, for they knew the
!. day of vengeance for the Almo had at
Q last come. .-. ..,....,..s. .. ..-..
But before the centre breastwork
;. had been put to the rout or the slaughter,
n the Mexicans not only stood their
J. ground but made several bold charges
n upon the. Texian lines. }i}
r A division of their infantry, OF more
e than five hundred men made gallant
J. charge; in handsome order, upon the
,f| Battalion of Texian Infantry. Seeing
b. them hard pressed, by force Of three
" to one, the Commander -in-chisf dashed
d between them and the enemy's column
i. exclaiming--"Come on, my brave tel
=. lows, your General leads you" The
r. Battalion halted and wheeled into per
Id feet order, like veteran corps, ant
er Houston gave the order to fire. II th'
n guns of the Texans had been moved
e. BY machinery they could not have beer
,e fred nearer the Same instant. There
was a single explosion; the battalion
a. rushed through the smoke, and those
r. who had not been moved down by tht
a bullets were struck down by the cleav
n. ing blows of uplifted rifles; and th'
o. PROSTATE column were trampled int
e. the mme together. Of the FIVE hun
" dred, only ,hirty-two lived, even to sur
he render as prisoners OF war. A0
ad . In the meantime, although Houston
Do wound was bleeding prefusely, and HI
es diving horse could scarcely stagger hi
he way over the slain, yet the Command
on er-in-chiei saw every movement OF hi
,ut army, and followed the tide Of battl
o. as il rolled over the field. Whereve
of his eve fell he saw the Mexicans stas
nd gering back under the resistless shoe
m of his heroic soldiers. Regiments an
mt battalions, cavalry and infantry. horse
AT and men, were hurled together and e'
-se erv officer and every man seemed I
ng be bent upon work Of slaughter tt
no hinself. ..... -. -.
,ad The Mexican army had now bee
ION driven from their position, and wei
,ur flying before their pursuers. Housto
md saw that the battle was won, and b
ZEN rode over the field and gave his orde
ce- to stop the carnage Of the wounded ar
Isl. those who surrendered. ButIt wou
ms. have been easier TO stop the rolling til
/ of of the sea. He had given the Alan
the for their war-cry, and the magic wo
-, could not be recalled. The ghosts
!, in brave men, masacred at Goiiad and Il
at. Alamo, fitted through the smoke
i,h. battle, and the uplifted hand could n
new be stayed. ssWhie the battle was
was progress p says General Rusk, "the c.
i ebrated Deaf Smith, although on hor'
ver back, fighting, was with the iniantr
oh When they got pretty near the enem
5 Fin Smith galloped on ahead, and dash
the directly y up. to the Mexican line. j
NAL as he reached it, his horse stumbled a
Ton fell, throwing him on his head amo
roe the enemy. Having dropped his swo
eec,. in the fall, he drew one Of his belt r
ian tolls, presented it at the head Of q M
,inc lean Whoawas attempting to bayor
,ose him, and it missed fire. Smith tn
Get. hurried the pistol itself at the head
ssG aG the Mexican, and, as he staggered ba'
was he seized his gun and began his we
Tbe Of destruction. A young man by
,ere name Of Robbins, dropped his gun
r,ed the confusion Of the battle, and b