The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-09-18
SCRAPS FROM HISTORY.
SAM HOUSTON AT SAN JACINT0.

The hope Of the brave began 10 grow
dim and dark, and the stars of the revou-
ton seemed 10 be going in gloom, to rise no
more. Three heavy columns of the pam
pered sodery of Mexico, led on by Santa
Anna, Supported by Urea, Cos and Filleso-
la, had crossed the RIO Grande, and the vul-
ture flag of the South, threaeninSly waved
on the banks of the Guadaloupe.
The heroic Travis,-brave to fault, and
reckless and defiant as he was brave-at the
head OF one hundred and thirty spirits fash
ioned after himself, occupied the Alamo,
the frontier fortress of Texas. In defiance
of the express orders of General Houston,
the commander.in-chief, he determined,
there to await the combination Of the To-
gions of the despot. Courier after courier
reached the Alamo, commanding Travis 10
fall back upon the camp of Houston but
his undiscplined spirit brooked no control,
and each successive courier, bore back the
reply:
owe WILL NOT RETREAT. WE WILL con-
QUEER OR DIE !'
The shock came Four days and nights
of sleepless battle, witt unabated fury, rag
cd around the doomed wall of, the Alamo,
and the fifth mornings sun shone on con-
fused mass OF bloody stained ruins and
bones, and the smoulderins ashes of the in
,repid dead. No living Texan was left to
tell of his comrades deeds, but the huge pile
of Mexican slain, and their ghastly and ga
ping wounds told with terrible certainly,
that Travis and Bowie and Crockett, had
fought, and bled, and died, if they had MOI
conquered there. The rext scene in that ira
gic drama, was the massacre of Goliad. The
ill.fated Tanning imbued with same spirit of
reckless self reliance, which proved the de-
struc,ion of Travis and his command, too
long hesitated 10 execute the order for re-
treat, issued by that wise and intrepid man,
whose grea, mind conceived, and whose iron
will achieved the evolution.-Pressed on
every side by we'll appointed and over
whelming foe,-wihout supplies, and with
but very little ammunition Tanning sought 10
fight and retreat contes,iug and staining ev
cry inch of the ground with the life blood of
the foe. But the power of numbers on one
side, ond the want Of ammunition on the
other, caused Tanning TO commit the unpar
donable error of trusting 10 the plighied hon.
or of Mexican, eren though tehed as SOL
der. capilulation entered into with all the
solemnies of chivalrc war. was the result
the Texan flag was hurled, but not in dis
grace, for the Terms of capnulation are held
by all but barbarious nations, and the faith
OF Texan General was pledged that the
next days sun should smile upon the Tex.
ans, as they returned to their fire side homes.
Night passed away, and with the early beat
Of the morning drum, Tanning and his COM
rades were marched out 10 the plains of Co.
lad, 10 receive taer release. Unarmed and
unsuspecting, they were conducted through
the long lines of the Mexican army, drawn
up in battle array, until they were swallowed
mp on every side, by the brisiling bayonets
of the foe. A signal was given, mol of re-
lease, but Of death One wild, terrific crash
was heard q lurid cloud Of fame and smoke
enveloped the Texans, and all that was left
OF them was their mangled remains, weller.
ing in their blood.
Like the angry howl of the storm, when il
first burst upon southern sea, the wall Of
death, and the cry Of vengeance, swept over
the plains of Texas. The great heart Of
Houston swelled with grief and indignation;
his mild blue eye, which was wont to gleam
with gentle kindaess, blazed like the Lions
when battling for his young; his expansive
brow darkeued with the pent up storm with
in. and his compressed lips, told a will
which nousht but destiny could thwart His
little army Of scarce sixteen hundred mem
INSPIRED with wild chivalry, and inibued