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


The day was now wearing aways 1t
was three o'clock in the afternoon, and
yet the enemy kept concealed behind
his breast works, and manifested no dis
position to come to an engagement
Events had taken just such current as
Houston expected and desired, and ne
began to prepare for battle. aii
In describing his plan of attack, we
borrow language Of his official report,
after the battle was over. y."The list
Regiment, commanded by Col. Bueri-
son, was assigned the centre. The Cd
Regiment, under the command Of Col.
Sherman. formed the left wing Of the
army. The artillery, under the special
command of Col. George w. Hockey.
Inspector general, was placed on the
right Of. the lstregiment, and four COM
panies of infantry, under the command
of Lieut.. Col. Henry Millard, sustain
ed the artillery upon the right. Our
cavalry. sixty-one in number, com
manded by Col. Mirebeau B. Lamar,
placed on our extreme right, completed
our line. Our cavalry was first des-
patched to the front of the enemies left,
for the purpose OF attracting their no.
tice, whilst an extensive island of TIM
ber afforded us an opportunity Of con-
centrating our forces and deploying
from that point, agreeably TO the pre-
vious design Of the troops. Every eyo-
luton was performed with alacrity, the
whole advancing rapidly in line, and
through an open prairie, without any
protection whatever for ourmen. The
artillery advanced and took their sta.
ton within two hundred yards Of the
enemy's breast work" -,
Those who expect minute and ac'
curate account4ofthis engagement IRON
the writer or any one else must be dis
appointed, for no such description car
ever be written. 1t was slaughte,
| more than a battle. We can only give
the reader, with the aid of an lllustra
ton, perfect idea Of the position Q
both armies when the engagement be
gan-fll up the interval ofthe nextfev
| moments with blood and smoke AM
cries and slaughter, and then tell the a
most incredible result. The two al
mics were draw wn up in complete order
There were 700 Texans on the hel
;. and Santa Annals troops numbered owe
i eiehieen hundred. Houston had inform
!. ed Mr.. Rush of the plan of the battle
/ and he approved gift as perfect Th
D Secretary, it is true, had never been
: soldier-he understood little of militia
I ry evolutions or the discipline OF an al
+ nv; but Houston knew he carried
= lion-heart in his bosom, and he assign
!. ed him the command Of the left wing
The General OF course led the centre
;. Everything was new ready, and e.
}. cry man at his post waiting for tn
I'll charge. The two six Founders ha
i commenceda a well directed fire of graz
d and canister, and they scattered bon'
e. and baggage where they struck. X
IS moment had at last come. Housto
W ordered the CHARGE, and rounded o.
ID the, war cry, Remember the .Alamt
,r These magic words struck the ear
N every soldier at the same instant, az
pr the, Alamo! the Alamol went up fro
n. the ARMY in one wild scream which SCI
a. terror through the Mexican host.
TO Ethautnoment rider came up on hor
,s covered with mire and foam, swingit
il. an axe over his head, and dashed aiol
r.. the Texian fines, crying out as ne hi
er been instructed to do, Ihave cut do,
ed Vince's Byidge-no,o fight for yo
,r. lipes and remember the Alamo," al
N. then the solid phalanx which had be
he held back for a moment at the annount
d. ment, launched forward upon the brea
q works like an avalanche of fire. HoI
ID. ton spurred his horse on at the head
all the centre. column right in face OF
he foe. = tn1'y s'f' f'aas 'd' !. 'te'3'
ith as The Mexican army was drawn up
ell perfect order, ready to receive the
TO tack, and when theTexIans were WI
in in about sixty PAGES, and before tn
,er had fred rifle, general flash "
he seen along the Mexican lines ano
ws storm of bullets went whistling o.
s,e the Texian army. They fred too mi
,ur several balls struck Houston's horse
md the breast, and one ball shattered
es Generals ankle. The noble amir
= y Estaeee red for a moment. but Hous
9TH spurred him on. If the first dischal
10 Of the Mexicans had been well dire
md ed, il Would have thinned the Tex
ed. ranks. But they passed on, reserv
rolf their FIRE till each man could cho
INT, some particular soldier for his tars
land before the Mexlcans could relo
the a murderous discharge Of rifle balls
Ma. poured into their very sbosoms. J
and Texan soldiers rpshedon. They W
" ns..i w.. ,.5 .x,,ots hnt thar conver