Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-07-12


through the air, and balls bury themselves within
0 the ramparts, but night again comes; and the
Mexican General in vain looks for evidence ol
E success. Baffled but not discouraged, he advan.
.ces his line of entertainments, and prepares for
the morning light, to resume his bloody task.-
The north wind sweeps over the praries, as it on.
ly sweeps in Texas, stormy lullaby to the
stormy passions of those contending hosts. The
darkness is broken only by the feeble blaze of a
few huts, fired by the Texans (which had furnish
ed convert to the enemy. The flames curled
upwards with sickly glare and their itfu flashes
threw a lurid light for moment upon the slum-
bering army and expires. The reign of darkness
and silence is restored.
The next day the Mexicans appear inactive,
though engaged in the construction of additional
batteries. There is but little firing on either side
Travis and his men with spirits unsubdued, and
with energies weakened, but not exhausted are
applying their contracted resources to the purpose
OF defence No heart falters, no pulse throbs
with diminuted power no hand shrinks from the
labor necessity imposes. All is confidence and
determination, and in every breast there is firm
reliance sprngng from the holiness of the cause
and the certainty of its final triumph
Sunday follows but. brings no rest to those
whom God has created in his own image, and now,
in violation of his commands, are thus Welding to
their erring and unhallowed passion. Perhaps
within the chapel of the Alamo, consecrated to
the worship of the Almighty, and distinguished by
the emblem of suffering and salvation, which sur
mount the dome, heads may be bowed in prayer
to the God of battles for deliverance from their
sangulnary foe; but the foe takes no heed Of Sab
baths. Exclusive foil overs, as they proclaim
themselves, of the true church, they doom to de-
struction thevery temple they have erected for its
worship, and kissing the cross suspended from
their necks, and planted before every camp, they
point their guns upon the very symbol for which
they profess such unboundedss reverence. The fire
of the Mexican artillery keeps company with the
minutes as they roll on. Morning, midday and
evening are passed, yet there is no faltering
among those who are defending the Thermopyla
of Texas liberty. Another sun rises ard sets,
and yet another; still the indomitable hearts Of
Travis and bis companions quail not before the
little garrison receive from Gonzales a reinforce
ment of thirty three men, additional victims for
the funeral pile, soon to be kindled by Santa An
ma, on the surrounding hills, as hecatomb of
of'Mexican vengeance.
New batteries are erected by the besegers;
from every point around, the missiles of destruc-
ton concentrate upon the Alamo. The final
hour must soon come. Provisions are not vet ex-
hausted, but the ammunition cannot last many
days longer. Water has long been supp lied sole
ly by the daring efforts of a Mexican woman, who,
through showers of grape and musketry, has tread
ed the way, to and fro, between the citadel, while
her own blood has marked the path. She bears
with her the stern and lofty spirit of her ances-
tors. stretched upon the racks of Cortez, and it is
not the fear of torture or of death, that can
swerve her, from her purpose. ... --.
The sege has continued ten days. The Mexi-
can General has received large reinforcements,
aud his army now numbers thousands. He has
been unceasing in his efforts to batter down the
walls, but has thus far failed. The triumph is
with Travis; but it is written in the heart of his
ruthless foe that he must die, and when the can
nonade is suspended on the 9th of March, small
breach has been effected, and Santa Anna, has de-
termined without summons to surrender, that
the hour for assault has arrived During ten days
blood red flag has been streaming from the spre
of the church in San Antonio, proclamng that no
quarter is to be given to the champions of the
Alnmo-that blood alone will appease the Mex-
can malice. When the sun goes down the flag
is no longer seen for the deed of which it was
sign, has been accomplished.
1t is midnight. The stars are smiling in the
frmament, and the repose of paradise seemed
lowering over the armed hosts, hills and plains
which cncirce the Alamo The calm is so deep
and solemn, that the angel of death seems to
pause before the strife and carnage that is to fol-
low. A low murmuridg rises upon the air, which
gradually becomes more and more distinct
Lights are mysterously in the distance, and in
army is in motion. There is no advance COL
umns; the force OF the Mexicans is so great that
the fort may be completely surrounded, leaving
intervals for the fire of artillery. The place is
girdled by deep line Of infantry, and these are
hemmed in and enco npassed by another of cav
airy. If the first falter or shrink, they must be
thrust forward to the assault by the sabres and
lances Of their comrades. Suddenly the bate
ries are in blaze, and from their concentric po-
sitionss pour forth radii OF fire from the circle
of Santa Annals vengeance, vergng to single
centre. Amid the thunders thus created, their
own shouts hardly less terrible, and the martial |
blast of hundred bugles, the Mexicans march
to the Alamo. sheet of flame from rifles that |
neverfailed, is the only answer to the charge
The infantry recoiled and fell back upon the cav
airy; their ranks broken down and disordered by
the dead fire of the lbesiegedb The shouts from
the fort are mingled with the groans of the woun-
ded and dying on the plain, while officers are en-
deavoring to reform the scattered masses. N They
return to the leaden shower they again encoan-