Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-05-21

DERS.
On the 90 day of February, 1886, General SAINT
Anna entered San Antonio de Bexar, and too
possession Of the town without firing gun. Th
small garrison of one hundred and thirty men, un
der the command of William Barret Travis, re
tired as he advanced to the Alamo on the Opposit
side of the river, determined there to offer such re
stance to the progress of the tyrsnt their ener
gies and resources shoald permit by direct ap
peal to the God of battles. Flushed with the con
quest, so easily effected, Of the town, the Mexican
Commander prepared for an immediate attack up
on the Alamo. He ordered breastworks TO be
thrown up on every commanding point, and artillery
to be planted wherever it could be made most ef
fectiye. One battery was completed on the right
bank of the river, by the 25th, and without wait
ing for Others, the seige was at once commenced
| 1t is dark and gloomy morning, devoted to a
| dark and unholy purpose. ExuIting in the work
| OF death upon which he is entering, Santa Anna
crosses the river in person. and establishes his head
quarters in small stone buiding-yet standing
from which he may the more accurately perceive
the progress of his designs, without exposing him
self TO his enemies. The signal is given, and ere
| IS,
Of the Mexican battery awakens the echoes far and
wide, and rOuses from their slnmbsrs the vet uncon-
scious inhabitants. But the defenders OF the Ala
mo have not for a single moment lost sight of the
! movements of their willy and implacable foes-they
watch the studied direction of every gun; they see
the match lighted, they listen breathess as if ever
at that distance, they could hear the command to
fire. and when the walls of the citadel tremble un-
der the shock Of the iron hail. and the fragments of
theparpet are whirled aloft by the sudden impulse;
they send back a shout of defiance mingled with
discharge from their own guns, as distinctive, if
not as deafening the thunder of their assailants
Before the smoke rolls away, and the reverbera-
tions lost in the distance while the shouts of
the besieged still nger in the ears Of the bcsiegers
the cannonade is resumed, and for seven hours,
without pause or relaxation iercey continued up
on the walls of the Alamo. But these walls Weld
no more than the spirits of their defenders. The
fire is returned and though stones are shiycred
around them there stout hearts aud willing hands
ready to repair eYery breach, and TO restore from
the interior whatever may have been DESTROYED
from without Earth Is thrown up; every crack
or issre Is closed fast as created by the eager
efforts OF those who will permit no evidence OF sue
cess to cheer the hopes of their enemies The sun
has almost sunk behind the western plains, when
there is ii pause in the work Of demolition. The
firing of the besgeger5 ceases for the day with the
Mexican thirst for blood unsatated: Dot single
drop has been shed within the Alamo Many of
Santa Annas men have bit the dust, before the ar
tIlleriss and reeen of the fOrt but thus far they
are unavcnged. Darkness falls upon the besigers
and the beseiged The former raise new intrench-
ments to prosecute the assault, the latter establish
close watch for the night, and endeavor to seek
that rcpose which shall renew their vigOr for the
contest which they know will come Tomorrow
The morning of the 26th dawns. and reveals to
the occupants OF the fort, the effect of the mid
night labors Of their enemies in the establishment
of two additional batteries within the Alameda Of
the Alamo. The bayonets of the infantry which
have crossed the river during The night, glitter in
morning beams, and the plunes Of the calvary are
seen waving on the eastern hills, TO intercept the
expected aid from that quarter. Tie contest is
renewed by small skirmish between Il small party
of Texans, sent in quest of wood and water, and
Mexican detachment under General Sesma; but
this is mere overture to the grand performance
of the day. The thunders of the heavy ordinance
under the direction Of Colonel Ampudia. are soon
reused into aetion voey after yolley is poured in
to the fort, and answered only except at rare in
tervas by the shouts of those within. There is no
pause-no cessation. Still the cannonade goes on;
shells Ay kissing through the air, and balls bury
themselves within the ramparts; but night again
comes on, and the Mexican General in vain looks
for evidence of success. Badied but not dscour-
aged he advances his line of entrenchments, and
prepares with the morning light, to resume his
bloody task. The north wind sweeps over the
prairies, as it only sweeps in Texas, stormy lula
by TO the stormy passions of those contendng
hosts. The darkness is broken only by the feeble
blaze of few huts-fred by the Texans,-which
had furnished a cover TO the enemy. The flames
curl upwards with sickly glare, and their ftful
flashes throw lurid light for moment upon the
slumbering army, and expire. The reign Of dark
meas 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 aud his men, with spirits unsubdued, and
with energies W6akeueu, Dut not
plying their contracted resources TO the purpose of
defence. No heart falters no pulse throbs with
diminished power; no hand Shrinks from the labor
that necessity imposes. All is confidence and de-
termination; and in every breast there is firm re-
lance springng from the holiness Of the cause and
certainty of its final triumph.
Sunday follows: but brings no rest to those whom
God has created in His own image, and who Ill
violation of His commands, are thus yielding to
their erring and unhallowed passions Perhaps
within the chapel ofthe Alamo, consecrated to the
worship of the Almighty, and distinguished by the
emblem of suffering and Of salvation, which sur
mounts the dome, heads may be bowed in prayer
to the God of battles for deliverance from their
sanguuary foe: but that foe takes no heed of Sab
baths Exclusive followers, as they praclaim them
selves of the true church, they doom to destruc-
the very temple they have erected for its worship;
and kissing the cross suspended from their uecks,
and planted before every camp, they point their
guns upon the very symbol for which they profess
unbounded reverence The fire Of the Mexican
artillery keeps company with the minutes as they
roll on. Morning, midday, and evening are pass
ed, vet there is no falteriug among those who are
defending the Thermopyl,e of Texas liberty. An
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