The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-01-02

woman, who. through a shower Of grape
and musketry, has threaded her way
from the river 10 the castle, while her
own blood marked the path. She bears
with her the spirit Of her iIIustrlous an.
cestors. stretched upon the racks OF
Cortez; and il is not the fear of death
or the torture that can swerve her
from her purpose. In her presence
there is hope, and joy, and life. At
each arrival she IS hailed by the garri-
son as the guardian angel of the Alamo,
and until it falls her efforts fail not.
The siege has continued for ten days.
The Mexican general has received
large reinforcements, and his army now
numbers thousands. He has been un-
ceasing in his efforts 10 batter down
the walls, but has thus far tailed.
The triumph is with Travis, but it is
written in the hearts Of his ruthless foe
that he must die; and when the can
nonade is suspended on the 9th OF
March, Santa Anna has determined
that the hour for the assault has arriv.
ed. During ten days bIood-red flag
has been streaming from the spire OF
the church in San Antonio, pr ecaiming
that no quarter is TO be given to the
champions of the Alamo-that blood
alone will appease the fury Of Mexican
malice. When the sun again goes
down, the flag IS no longer seen, for the
deed OF which it was the sign has been
accomplished.
1t is midnight. Stars are smiling in
the armament, and the repose of Para
disc seems lowering over the armed
hosts, and hills, and plains which en-
circle the Alamo. A low murmur rises
upon the air, which gradually becomes
more and more distinct. Lights move
to and fro in the distance, and indicate
some unusual movement. The besieg-
ing army is in motion. There is no adj
vance by columns. The force of the
Mexicans is SO great, that the fort may
be surrounded, leaving intervals only
for the fire of artillery. The place is
girdled by a deep line Of infantry, and
these are hemmed in and surrounded
by another of cavalry. IL the first
shrink, they must he thrust forward 10
the assault by the sabres and pistols of
their comrades. Suddenly the bate
ries are in blaze. and from their con-
centric positions pour forth radii of
fire, pointing 10 single centre. Amid
the thunders thus created, their own
shouts scarcely less terrible, and the
blast of bugles, the Mexicans advance
to 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 besleged. The shouts from
the fort are mingled with the groans Of
the dying on The plain, while the Off
GERS are endeavoring TO reform their
scattered masses. They return to the
attack, but the leaden shower which
they encounter fells them TO the earth
by platoons. Travis shows himself on
the walls, cheering on his undaunted
followers. Around him are Crocket,
Evans, and Bonham, all reused to the
last struggle, for they know that their
doom is sealed. In quick succession,
life after rifle is discharged, sending
hundreds to their long account. The
Mexicans are again repulsed; they fail
back, disheartened by the dead and the
diving around them. The battalion of
Touca, the flower of the Mexican ar
nv, is reduced from fourteen hundred
to twenty-three. Men have become
for moment regardless of their officers,
and are almost delirious from the cries
of anguish which no discipline can re-
strain, and which come from their fal-
len and expiring comrades. But a
breach is made at last; the disjointed
forces, by the aid of threats and en-
treaties are 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 vigorous
hand, now cold in death, while others
cling TO their weapons even IN the ago
nes OF dissolution. Ammunition. too.
has been failing; one by one the muz-
zles drop; the last rifle is loaded and
discharged, and the Mexicans have
gained the wall. Proudly conspicu,
Gus in that awful moment, Travis re.
ceives shot, staggers, and falls. He
dies not unavenged. A Mexican Off
Ger rushes upon him, and is about to
plunge his sabre into the bosom of the
fallen man, when, gathering all his en-
erges for a last effori,he bathes his own
sword in the blood Of his enemy, and
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