The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-02-26
D wooDsFIELg OHIO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, ls4s.e

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delirious, from The cries Of anguish
which no discipline can restrain, and
which come from their fallen and expi-
ring comrades. But a breach is made
at last; Tie disjointed forces, by the aid
Of threats and %enlreaties 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 are dropped from many
a vigorous hand no W. cold, in death,
while others cling to their weapons
even in the agonies Of dissolution. Am
munition, too, has been failing; M by
one the muzzles drop; the last rifle is
loaded and discharged, and the Mexl-
cans have gained the wall. Proudly
conspicuous in the awful moment,
Travis receives a shot, staggers, q and
falls. He dies not unavenged. A Mex:
can officer rushes upon him, and is a;
bout to plunge his sabre into the bosom
of the fallen man, when, gathering all
his energies for a last effort, he bathes
his own sword in the blood Of his ene-
my, and they die together. a..
In the meantime the battle has been
raging hot and thick. The Mexicans
have poured into the citadel like leaves
falling before the storm Of autumn
The conflict becomes hand to hand.
Each mar struggles with his adversary,
dealing blows with rifles, sabres, or
whatever missile may be within reach.
The Texans are almost buried beneath
the number of their opponents. The
carnage has been so terrible that the
slain are piled up in heaps. Death
stares every survivor in the face, but
still he struggles on. Crockett has been
conspicuous in the melee,% whenever the
blows fell hottest and thickest. He
has forced his way over piles of the
dead bodies Of his enemies, and has
reached the door ofthe chapel. Here
he determines to make his last stand.
At n glance of his eye, he sees that
the fate of the Alamo rests upon him
self alone. Travis has fallen; Evans is
no more; Bowie expires upon a bed of
sickness, pierced to the heart by a
Mexican bayonet; Bonham fell before
his eyes, and he finds himself the only
living warrior,of the hundred and sixty.
three who had been his comrades.--
Perhaps at that moment the life blood
creeps to his heart by a natural i'm
pulse, but it is only for a moment. His
foes glare on him with the ferceness of
demons, and assault him with blows
from sabres, muskets and pistols. The
strength Of q hundred men seems to be
concentrated in his single arm, as he
deals out death to his %rancorous and I'M
spairing assailants. Their bodies have
grown into a rampant before him.
BIackened with fire and smoke, be.
smeared with blood, and reused TO
phrcnzy, he stands like some tabled god
Of antiquity laughingto scorn the NAL
ice, and the power; and the fury Of his
enemies. New fire flashes from his
eyes, and d new vigor nerves his arm.
On his assailants rush, but it is only
upon certain death. They fall, but
their places are still supplied; and so
quickly, the dead seemed to rise up be-
fore bim,like armed men from the teeth
Of Cadmus. Atlength a ball from a
distant rifle pierces him in the forehead;
he falls backward to the earth. No
groan escapes his lips,no cry Of agony,
is heard--he dies, and tho Alamo has
omit 2GG De- .-ba2;ioalHs q5,s0|
b9iiaT The American Standard, rod o.!
q In the London Chronicle Of July,
1776, the then American Standard was