The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1851-03-12
SCRAPS FROM HISTORY.


Sam Houston aud the Battle Of San Jdeiato
The hope of the brave began to grow dim
and dark, aud the star of The re evolution SEEM.
ed 10 DO gong down in gloom, to rise no
more. Three heavy columns Of the pampered
soldiery Of Mexico, lead on by Santa Anna,
supported by Urea, Cos and FrIisola. had
crossed The Rio Grande, and tho vu,ure lIg
Of the Snuih, threatlngly waved on he banks
oI the Guadaloupe.
| The heroic Travis, s,-brave TO fault, and
reckless and defiant as he was brave,--a, the
head Of one hundred and thiity spirits FASH
ioned after himself, occupied the Alamo, the
| frontier fortress of Texas, In def lnce of the
express orders Of General houston, the com
mander in chief, he determined, there to
await the combined shock Of the egons oi
the despot. Courier after courier reached the
Alamo, commanding Tavis TO fall back upon
the camp of Houston; but hls undiscip.thed
spirit brooked no control, and each successive
courier, bore back the reply;
ave toiH not retreat. We ,ciH conquer or
diem
The shock came! Four days and nights
F., OF sleepless battle, With unabated fury, ragged
around the doomed walls Of Alamo, and the
| fifth mornings sun shono on II confused mass
of blood stained ruins aud bones, and the
smoulderng ashes Of the intrepid dead No
living Texan was left to tell OF his cnnr4de's
deeds, but the huge piles Of The Mex can
slain, with their ghasIIy and gaping wounds.
told with terrible certainty That Travis and
Bowls and Crockett, had fought, and blod,
and died, if they had not conquered here.
The next scene in that tragic drama, was
the massacre Of G JIiad. The III Gted Fan,
ming, imbued with the same spirit of rcck>
less self leliauce, which proved the desruc-
Itiun of Travis nnd his command, too long
hesitated 10 execute the order for retreat,
issued by That wise and intrepid man, whuse
great mind conceiec cd, and whose iron will
achieved the revolution. Pressed on every
side by a well appointed and overwhelming
lue,-wilhout supplies, and wi h but little
ammunition, Tanning sought to fight and re
treat, cnntesing and staining every inch OF
ground with the life blood uf the foe Bu the
power OF numbers OF The one side, and the
want Of ammunition on the other, caused
flaming TO commit the unpardonare error OF
:tusting TO the pligh!ed honor Of Mexican.
erea though beltcd as It soldier. \ caTirula
ton, entered into with all he soIemntics ul
chivalric war, was the result the Texan fag
was futled, bni not in disgrace, for the terms
Iof caplulalon are held sacred by NIL but bar
Ibalous nations, and the faith OF Mexican
i General was pledged iha, the hext day sun
should smile upon the Texans, as they return.
Il tiair e;l Ia L., IL
away, and with the carly beat of the morning
drum, Tanning and his cGmtades were march
ed Out to the plhins of GoIiad, to receive thei
release. Unarmed and unsuepeciing they
we're conducted through The long lines Of The
Mexican army, drawn up in battle array, un'
til they were swallowed up on every side, by
} the brisling bayonets OF the fpe. A sgna
was given, hot Of reease, bat Of death! One
, wild, terrific crash was heard; a lurid cloud q
fire and smoke envelpped The Texans, ant
all that was left OF than was their mangIet
remains, weliering in their blood.
Like the angry howl of the storm; when i
!, first bursts upon o southern sea, the wall 0
death, and the cry oi Vengeance, swept owe
the plains Of Texas. The great heart 0
Houston swelled with grief and Indignation
bis mild blue eye, which vas wont 10 bean
with gentle kindness, blazed like the Lions
when battling for his young; his expansiv,
. brow, darkened with tile peni up storm within
: and his compressed lips, told Of will, whicl
Inaught but destiny could tbwan. His it'll
army OF scarce sixteen huadred men, inspire'
with wild einvalry, and imbued with devo
ed patriotism capable Of any sacrifice, saw
that of submitting to absolute control, hurnc
for vengeance, and demanded 10 be lend for
] ward against ihectreacheious ioe. But Hous
. ION, alike grealsas soldier, and q statesman
s had three months before, on the plains of Sa
Jacnio, selected the altar, on which TO con
, secfaie The liberty Of Texas. Contrary .
Y The expectations aud wishes of TIE army, b
] commenced his retreat, lnying waste III
Country over which he passed, and massin
i his movements with such skill as to tocomplete
!, lly bewilder the enemy. His troops uitefe
. loud murmurs against his policy, and intone
Q of threatening mutiny, demanded that a stan
, should be made OF the Colorado, declafin
4 that they would disband, unless the foo wer,
d given battle. Houston sought TO impres
! ,lupon his troops, the fact that battle upon ,b
Q Colorado, was defeat 10 Texas -hc said i
0 them, tour canSe is just; II must and shalltri
!, nmph; let those return 10 their homes mho ar
! not prepared to make eDcry sacrifce fJr I'll
I good ofsTesasn ha
3 IL The next mornings dawn, found less thu
. 10 hundred men, by the Texan standard. Tb
/, Jetreas was recommended; the scouts 3
{ Houston, watched The movements 81 SAINT
8 Anha's troops with eagle vigilance -they be
y lgan 10 weary, and their line ofmarch, com
snlenced 10 bejmaFkcd with deserted arms an
accoutefmenis- their supplies grew short, an
/. 1.-the Texans swept before them The wild catti
! lof 4I,e prairie, 40 they pursued their marc
K jufrcirea. Houston was now within slfikin