Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-02-04
The Tale of the Alamo.

III
the United States army, at San Antonio
de Bexar, who is visiting the remains Of
the Alamo, which is a shapeless mass OF
ruins. lie reveris as follows TO the ter
rible struggle Of which that fortress was
the memorable scene ten years ago. 1t
is perhaps the most grahpic description
OF the event that has ever been written,
and it will, we doubt not, have interest
for every reader, especially at the pres
ent moment, when we are arrayed a
gainst the same enemy -
On the 23d day of February, 1886,
Santa Anna entered Antonio de Bexar,
took posse ssion of the town without fir
ing a gun. The small garrison OF one
hundred and thirty men, under the com
mand OF William Barret Travis, retired
as he advanced, to the Alamo, on the
opposite side Of the river, determined
there TO offer whatever resistance 10 the
progress of the tyrant that God and their
own energies should permit. Flushed
with the conquest so easily effected OF
the town, the Mexican general prepared
for an immediate attack upon the Alamo.
lie ordered breast-w works to be thrown
up on every commanding point, and ar
tllery TO be planted wherever it could be
most effective. One battery was COM
! plcted on the right bank Of the river by
the 25th, and on this day the siege COM
menced.
1t is dark and gloomy morning, de-
voted TO n dark and unholy purpose
Exulting in the work Of death upon
which he is entering, Santa Anna cross
es the river, the better to behold the
success Of his designs, and establishes
his head quarters in a small stone build
ing yet standing. The signal is given,
and ere the sun has risen upon the
scene, the roar of artillery from the Mex
icun battery awakens the echoes far and
wide, and rOuses from their slumbers the
yet sleeping inhabitants. But the de-
tenders Of Alamo have not lost 81 ght for
a single moment OF their willy and re-
morseless enemy they watch the studied
direction Of every gun; they see the
match lighted they listen, breahless,
as If even at that distance they could
hear the command 10 fire and when il
does come, and the walls Of the cilade
Itrembe under the shock Of the iron hail
and the fragments Of stone are whirled
aloft by the sudden impulse, hen send
back shout Of defiance, mingled with
a discharge from their own guns, almost
as deafening as the thunder Of their as
sailanls. Before the smoke rolls away,
and the reverberations are lost in the
| distance, while the shouts OF the besicg-
ed still linger OH the ears Of the besieg-
ers, the cannonade is renewed, and iol
seven hours fercely continued upon the
walls Of the Alamo. But these walls
yielded no more than the spirits Of their
defenders.
! The fire is steadily returned /; and
tho stones are shrivered around them,
there are stout hearts and willing hand.
ready to repair every breach, and to re.
store from the interior whatever may have
been destroyed from without. Earth is
thrown up-every crack or assure closed
as fast as created by the eager efforts Of
those who will permit no evidence OF
success to cheer the hopes Of their enemy.
II The sun has almost sunk behind the
western plains when there is pause in
the work Of demolition. The firing
ceases for the day by order Of the Mexi'
can commander, with his thirst for blood
unsatiated, for not single drop has fall
en- within the Alamo. Many OF his own
men have bit the dust before the aril.
lerists and rinemen of the fort but thus
far they are unavcnged. Darkness falls
upon besieger and besieged the former
raise new entrenchments to prosecute
The assault ; the latter establish a watch
for the night, and endcavor to seek that
repose which shall give them fresh vigor
for the contest which they know will
come tomorrow.
The morning Of the 26ih dawns, and
reveals to the occupants Of the fort the
effect of the midnight labors Of their enc
my in the establishment of Two additional
batteries wilhin the Alameda OF the Ala
mo. The bayone,s Of the infantry crossed
over the river during The night, glitter
in the morning beams, and the plomes OF
the cavalry are seen waving on the east
ern hills, TO intercept the expected aid