The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-02-26

'|f. AffN4 FHi
tive vigilance The; little gartisonsdrs-
%ceivess from Gonzales a reinforcement
of thirlyrthree men-7addilional victims
for the funeral pyre soon 70 be klndled
by Santa Anna on the surrounding
hills, as a human hecatomb to Mexican
vengeance. ..,uDN 90 tf'l u o. "atali
I'D New, batteries are erected by the
besiegers; from every point around. the
missiles of obstruction concentrate up
on the Alamo. The circles grow small
err. The final hour, must soon come:
Provisions are not yet exhausted, but
the ammunition is almost gone. Water,
for days,has been supplied by the daring
efforts of a solitary Mexican woman,
who, through a'shower of grape and
.musketry, has threaded her way from
the river to the castle, while her own
blood has marked the path. She bears
with her the spirit of her lllustrious an
csstors, stretched upon the racks Of
Cortez; and it is not the fear Of death
or the torture that can ,swsrve her from
her purpose. In her presence there is
hope, and joy, and life. At each arri-
val she is hailed by the garrison 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 o num-
bers thousands. He has been unceas-
ing in his efforts to batter down the
walls, but has thus far failed. The tri.
umph is with Travis; but it is written
in the heart of his ruthless foe that he
must die; and when the cannonade is
suspended on the 9Th of March, Santa
Anna has determined that the hour for
the assault has arrived. During ten
days a blood-red flag has been stream
ing from the spire of the church in San
Antonio, proclaiming that no quarter is
to- be given to the champions Of the
AIamo-that blood alone will appease
the fury Of Mexican malice. When
the sun again goes do wn, the flag is no
longer SEEN, for the deed Of which it
was the sign has been accomplished. !
1t is midnight. Stars are shining in
the armament, and the repose Of para
disc seems lowering over the armed
hosts, and hills, and plains which encir-
Gle 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
advance by columns. The force ofthe
Mexicans isso great thatthe fort may
be surrounded, leaving intervals only
for the fire Of artillery. The place is
by a deep line Of infantry, and
these are hemmed in and surrounded
by another of cavalry. If the first
they must be thrust forward to
The assault by the sabres and pistols Of
their comrades. Suddenly the bate.
RES are in a blaze, and from their con-
positions pour forth a radius Of
pointing to a single centre. Amid
the thunders thus created, their own
shouts scarcely less terrible, and the
bugles, the Mexicans advance
to the Alamo A sheet Of fame, from
rifles that never failed, is the answer
The infantry recoil and fall back upon
the cavalry their ranks broken and dis.
ordered BY: the deadly fire Of the be-
The shouts from the fort are
mingled with the groans Of the dying
on the plain, while the officers, are en-
to- reform otheiri scattered
masses They return 10 the attack, but
the leader, shower which they enc GUN
ter fels them to the earth BY, platoo ns.
shows himself on the walls,
cheering on bis %undaunted followers
Around him are Crockett, Evans and
Bonham, reused 70 the last struggle, for
they knew that their doom is sealed.
In quick succession, rifle after rifle is
discharged, sendng hundreds TO their
last account. The Mexicans are again
nHnUG nl4Nf .EEGt- ..ggfN I.at| - ..HTrU.. lee, /