Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-31

the hrmancnt, a0u tue repoSe OF para
disc seems lowering over the armed
hosts, aud hills and plains which encir-
Gle the Alamo. A low murmur rises
upon the air. which gradually be-
comes more and more distinct. Lights
move to and fro in the distance, and
indicate some unusual movement
The besieging army IS in NOTION
There is no advance BY columns. The
force Of the Mexicans so great, that
the fort may be surrounded, leaving
Intervals only for the fire of artillery.
The place is girdled by deep line of
Infantry, and these are hemmed in and
surrounded by another of cavalry, II
the first shrink, they must be thrust
forward to the assault by the sabres
and pistols OF their comrades. Sud
denly the batteries are in blaze, and
from their concentric positions pour
forth radii Of fire pointing to single
centre. Amid the thunders thus crea-
ted, their own shouts scarcely less ter
rible, ard the blasts Of buges, the
Mexicans advanced 10 the Alamo. A
sheet Of flame from rifles that never
failed, is the answer to the Charge
The infantry recoil and fall back upon
the cavalry; their ranks broken and
disordered by the deadly fire Of the
bcseiged. The shouts from the fort
are mingled with the proans Of the
dying on the plain, while tie officers
arc endeavoring 10 reform their scat
tered masses. They return to the at
tack, but the leaden shower which
they encounter fells them to the Garth
by platoons Travis shows himself on
the walls. cheering on his undauntcd
followers. Around him are Crockett.
Evans and Bonham, reused TO the last
struggle. for they know that their
doom is sealed. In quick succession,
rifle after rifle is discharged, sending
hundreds TO their long account The
Mcxicans are again rcpulscd; they
fall back disheartcned bv the dead and
diving around them. The battalion of
Toluca, the flower of the Mexican
army, is reduced from fourteen hun
dred to twenty-three. Men have be-
come for moment regardless OF their
officers, and are almost deirious, from
the cries of anguish which no Discipline
can restrain, and which come from
their fallen and expiring comrades -
Bot breach is made at last; the dis
jointcd forces by The aid ofthreats and
entreatics arc rallied, and once more
turn their faces TO the Alamo. The
firing in that quarter has for some
time been growing slower and slower.
Rifles have dropped from many Wig
orous hand, now cold in death, while
rothers clung TO their weapons even in
the agonies Of death. Ammunition,
too, has been falling; one by one the
muzzles drop; the last rifle is loaded
and discharged, and the Mexicans have
gained the wall. Proudly conspicuous
in that awful moment, Travis re-
ccives a shot, staggcrs and falls. lie
dies not unrevenged. A Mexican Of
ficer rushcs upon him, and is about to
plunge his sabre into the bosom of the
fallen man, when, gathering all his
energies for last effort, he balhes his
own sword in the blood Of his enemy,
and they die together.
In the mean time the battle has
been raging hot and thick. The Mex
leans have poured into the citadel like
leaves before the storms Of autumn
The conflict becomes hand to hand
Each man struggles with his adversary
dealing blows with rifles, sabres, or
whatever missal may be in his reach.
The Texans are almost buried be-
meath the number Of their opponents.
The carnage has been so terrible that
the slain are piled in heaps. Death
stares every survivor in the face, but
still he struggles on. Crockett has
been conspicuous in the melee. where
ever the blows fell hottest and thick
est. He has forced his way over
piles Of the dead bodies Of his enemies |
and has reached the door Of the chapel
Here he determines TO make his last
stand At one glance Of his eye. he
secs that the fate az the Alamo rests
upon himself alone. Travis has fall
len; Evans is 40 more; Bowie ex-
pires upon a bed Of sickness, pierced
TO the heart by Mexican bayonet;
Bonham fell before his eyes. and he
finds himself the only living warrior.
OF the ono hundred and sixiy-thrce
who had been his comrades. Per
haps at that moment the life-blood
creeps to his heart by natural i'm
r.