The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-04-24
RY ANDREW ]. RHEY.l
NISCELLAN EO U S.
sam HOUSTON ar SAN JlCINTO.

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dim and dark, and the star of the revolu-
tiop seemed 10 be going down in gloom,
n rise no more. Three heavy columns
Of the pampered soldiery of Mexico, led
on by Santa Anna, supported by Urrera,
Cos. and Fillisola, had crossed the RIo
Grande, and ihe vulture flag of the South,
,hreateningly waved on the banks of the
Gaudaloupe.
The heroic Travis,-brave to fault,
and reckless and defiant as he was brave
at the head of one hundred and thirty
spirits fashioned after himself, occupied
,he Alamo, the frontier fortress of Texas.
In defiance Of the express orders oil Gen.
Houston, the commander-ln chief, he de-
termined there TO await the combination
of the legions of the desPot. Courier
after courier reached the Alamo, cOmman-
ding Travis to fall back upon the camp OF
Houston; but his undisciplined spirit
brooked no control, and each successive
courier bore back the reply:
"Ve aciH not retreat. U'e 10iU conquer
or der
The shock came! -Four days and
nights OF sleepless battle, with unabated
fury, ragged around the doomed walls of
the Alamo, and the fifth mornings sun
shone on confused mass of blood-stained
ruins and bones, and the smouiderlng
ashes of the intrepid dead. No living
Texan was left to tell of his comrades
deeds, but the huge pile of Mexican slain,
with their ghastly and gaping wounds,
told with terrible certainty that Travis and
Bowie and Crockett. had fought, and bled,
and died, # they had not conquered
there. The next scene in that tragic
drama, was the massacre of Goliad. The
Inflated Tanning, imbued with the same
spirit of reckless self-reliance, which
proved the destruction of Travis and his
command, too long hesitated TO execute
the order for retreat, issued by that wise
and intrepid man, whose great mind con-
ceived, and whose iron will achieved the
revolution. Pressed on every side by
we'll appointed and erwhelming foe
without supplies, and with but little am
muntion, Tanning sought TO fight and re-
treat contesting and staining every inch of
ground with the life blood of the foe.
But the power of numbers on the one side,
and the want of ammunition on the other,
caused Tanning to commit the unpardona-
Bile error of trusting 10 the plighted honor
of Mexican, eUen though belted as q
soldier. capitulation, entered into with
all the solemnities of chivalric war, was
the result-the Texan flag was lurled,
but not in disgrace, for the terms Of capit-
ulation are held by all but barbarous ma
iions, and the faith of Mexican General
was pledged that the next days sun
should smile upon the Texans, as they
returned 10 their fire side homes. Night
passed away, and with the early beat OF
the morning drum, Tanning and his COM
rades were marched out to the plains Of
Goliad, to receive their release. Unarm-
ed and unsuspecting, they were conducted
through the long lines of the Mexican ar
my, drawn up in battle array, until they
were swallowed up on every side, by the
blistling bayonet of the foe. 4 signal
was given, not of release, but of death!
One wild, terrific crash was heard; lurid
cloud of fame and smoke enveloped the
Texans, and all that was left of them was
their mangled remains, weltering in their
blood.
Like the angry howl of the storm, when
1t first bursts 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 want TO beam with gentle kindness,
blaZed like the lions when battling for
his young; his expansive brow darkened
with the pent up storm within, and his
compressed lips, told will which naught
but destiny could thwart. His little army
Of scarce sixteen hundred men, inspired
with wild chivalry, and imbued with
devoted patriotism capable of any sacri-
fice, save that of submitting to absolute
control, burned for vengeance, and deman-
ded TO be led forward against the treach-
srous foe. But Houston, alike great
soldier and statesman. had three months
before, ON the plains of San Jacinto, Sc
lecled The altar, on which 10 consecrate
the liberty of Texas. Contrary to the
expectations and wishes of the army, he
commenced his retreat, LAYING waste the
country over which he passed, and mask
ing his movements with such skill as tn
completely bewilder the enemy. His
troops uttered loud murmurs against his
policy, and in tones of threatening mu,inv.
demanded that stand should be made al
The Colorado, declaring that they would
disband, unless the foe were given battle.
Houston sought 10 impress upon his troops
the fact, that battle upon the Colorado
was defeat 10 Texas-he said TO them