Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-11-18

FUT1ON-THE sAFEGUAR R'
RAVENNA, OHIO, WEDNl
lin the breast; one eball shattered the Es6a
! eraPs ankle. The noble animal 1staggerel
Tor a moment, but Houston lsparrad lsinl a
!. the first discharge Of tho sx fcafs I,l{I
Il been we'll directed, it would }Ssx8 Ilifsla !
Ethe dexian ra But tll Sd -
! serving their FIRE TIL Zach man could choos,
some particular soldier for his target, ant
before the Mexicans could reload, a mur.
derous discharge Of rifle balls was poured
into their very bosoms. The Texian SOL
dlers rushed on. They were without bayo-
nets, but they converted their rifles into
war-clubs and leveled, thom upon the heads
OF Santa Annals men. Along the breast
work there was little more firing of mus
kets or rifes-it was q desperate struggle
hand to hand. The Texans, when they
had broken off their rifles at the breech, by
smashing in the skulls of their enemies,
flung them down and drew their pistols.
They fired them once, and having no time
to reload, hurled them against the heads Of
their foes, and then drawing forth their
bowie-knives, literally cut their way thro
dense masses of living flesh.
| 1t would be sad mistake to suppose that
the Mexicans played the coward that day
for they were slain by hundreds in the
ranks where they stood when the battle be-.
gan-but the fierce vengeance of tF Eek.
ans could not be resisted. They fought is
as none but freemen can fight, when thes
are striking for their homes, their families
and their dead kindred. The Mexican Off
GERS and men stood firm for time, but the
Texans stamped on them as they fell, and
trampled the PROSTATE and the dying down
with the dead, and clamberjng over the
groaning, bleeding mass, plunged thoir
knives into the bosoms of those in the rear.
When they saw that the dreadful onset Of
their foe could not bo resisted, they either
attempted to fly, and were stabbed in the
back, or fell on their knees to plead fol
mercy, crying me no AlamoD me no .4la.
mo' me no Alensop These unfortunate
slaves Of the Mexican tyrant had witnessed
that brutal massacre Of braye men, and now
they could think mo other claim for ner-
cy, but the plea that they were not there,
for they knew tho day of vengeance for the
Alamo had at last como.
But before the center brcast-work had
been carried, the right and left wing of the
enemy han been put to the route OR the
slaughter. The Mexicans, however, not
only stood their ground at the first, but
made several bold charges upon the Texan
lines.
A division of their Infantry, of more
than five hundred men, made q gallant
charge, in handsome order, upon the bat
TALON of Texan Infantry. Seeing then,
hard pressed, by force Of three to one, the
Commander-in-chief dashed between them
and the enemy's column, exclaiming--
"Come on, my brave fellows, your General
leads you" The Battalion halted ant
wheeled into perfect order, like veteran
corps, and Houston gavo tho order to fire
If the guns of the Texans had all been NOV
ed by machinery they could not have beer
fired nearer the same instant. Thore was
single explosion; the battalion rushed
through the smoke, and those who had no
been moved down by the bullets were struck
down by the cleaving blows Of uplifted ri
aes; and the prostr ate column were tram
pied into the mire together. Of the five
hundred, only thirty-two lived, even to sur
render as prisoners of war.
In the mean time, although Houston's
wound was bleeding prolusely, and his dy-
ing horse could scarce staggor his way ovel
the slain, yet the Commander-in-chief saw
every movement of his army, and followed
the tide of battle as it rolled over the field
Wherever his eye fell he saw the Mexicans
staggering back under the resistless shook
of his heroic soldiers. Regiments and Bat
talions, Cavalry and Infantry, horses and
men, were hurled together, and every Off
Ger and every man seemed bent upon q
work of slaughter for himself.
The Mexican army had now been driven
from their position, and were flying before
their pursuers. Houston saw that the bat
tie was won, and he rode over the field ard
gave his orders to stop the carnage Of the
wounded and those who surrendered. But
it would have boon easier to stop the in
rolling tide Of the sea. He had given the
Alamo for their war-cry, and the magic
word could not be recalled. The ghosts of
bravo men, massacred at Goliad and the A.
lamo, fitted through the smoke of battle, and
the uplifted hand could not be stayed
awhile the battle was in progress" says
General Rusk, "the celebrated Deaf Smith,
although on horseback, fighting, was with
the Infantry. When they got pretty near
the enemy Smith gallopod on ahead, and
dashed directly up to the Mexican line.-
Just as he reached it, his horse stumbled and
fell, throwing him on his head among the
enemy. Having dropped his sword in the