Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-09-29
SIEGE OF THE ALAMO.

Aware OF The danger of leaving strong hold
like the Alamo, garrlsoned by such desperate mel
IN his rear, General Santa Anna resolved to atcmp
To carry II by Storm at any sacrifice. The Texans
worn out ami V'splrted by constant watching an,
fatigue, were repcsing upon their faithful rifles
'he RED glare o the enemy s fires shone dmy thro
the murky AIR, and the shrll cry of seniineis min
gled with the dismal howl OF the wolf. when tn,
silence OF midnight was broken by the dull ,ramr
OF the advancing foe. As the beseeed looked owe,
the walls they beheld the dark masses which com
posed the columns of attack creeping slowly ON.
ward ike hlge serpent, about To crush them in
Its deadly fold. During this memorable day. the
9th OF March, they mad fought with their usual
vigor, and as they had by this time given up all
nope OF receiving succOr from their compatrio,s.
they looked death in the face, and sterny awaited
ms approach Placing his bravest men i'm the front
the NcXitsnlyr,;n',ave the.S.guai for the ass,,,s
the trumpeis sounded a charge and they rushed on
to the walls. With a shout which rent the air.
and rose high above the enemy's bugles the Tex
ans applied their matches to their guns and broad
sheet OF flame lighted up the scene for an instant
revealing the swarthy faces of the Mexcans. dis
torted by terror and the hateful passion of revenge.
as they crowded below The walls in the vain en-
dcavor to plant their scaling ladders
"A storm of iron hail rained down upon Them
and beat whole battalions TO the ground and forced
back the dusky swarm upon their supporting col
umns Again the Mexican trumpets rang out the
charge, and again did the veterans of Zacatecas
ana vera Cruz advance upon the cannon of the fort
volleys rolling in ceaseless thunde. from their bra
zen mouths mingled with the sharp rattle of the
Texan rifles. Already had Santa Anna los, a thou
sand OF his best troops and still the besiered shout
ed defiance. Iravers, wounded and bleeding vet
Stood upon the battementS, waving his bloody
sword above his head encouraging his men TO fipht
I'd the last gasp. Conscious of ultimately triumph
ing over his desperate enemy, the Mexican leader
pushed on his columns, and marked the rapidly d.
minIshing number of the Texans with savape ex-
ultatlon. After many abortive efforts the besierers
hnally succeeded In planting their ladders against
the walls, and as the stars began to pale before the
ight Of coming day they mounted the defcnces and
poured over them IN a resistless stream Discharp-
ing the contents OF their rifles into the advancing
mass, the lew Texans who still survived crashed
their weapons by the barrels and beat down the fore
most ranks. The death struggle was very brief.
In little time but seven haggard beinrs could be
seen; weakened by the loss OF blood, and exhausted
by The unequal combat. they cried for quarter The
MeX'cans refused TO spare them Retreating to an
angie OF the Alamo, and placing their backs to the
walls. they continued to defend themselves with
Their knives, until they fell in the arms of death
upor the CORY pile Of enemies their valor had raised
about them. Their bodies were stripped naked.
and after some of them had been barbarously mutt
lated, they were heaped together and burned
1.-The capture of the Alamo cost Santa Anna fie
teen hundred of his best men. and convinced him of
the difficulty he must encounter in subdunr a coun-
try defended by such desperatea valiant soldiers