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

A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF IT'S DEFENDERS.
On the 23d day of February, 1896, General
Santa Anna entered San Antonio de Bexar and
took possession without even firing gun. The
small garrison of one hundred and thirty men, un.
der the command OF VIM. Barrat Travis, retired
MS he advanced, to the Alamo OR, the opposite
side of the river, determined there to offer such
resistance to the progress of the tyrant as their
energies and resources would permit, by direct
appeal to the God Of Battles. Flushed with the
conquest 50 easily effected the town, the Mex
lcan commander prepared for an immediate at
ack'upon the Alumo: He ordered breast works
to be thrown upon every commanding point, and
artillery to be planted where it would be most
effective, One battery was completed on the
right buak OF tho river by the 25th, and without
whiting for others, the siege was Immediately
commenced. ~
II is dark aud gloomy morning, devoted ~ the
dark und unholy purpose. Exulting in the work
of death upon which he is entering, Santa Anna
crosses the river in person, and establishes his
headquarters in small stone building-yet
ly perceive the progress of his enemies. The
signal given, and the sun has risen upon those
hostile hosts the roar of the Mexican battery a.
wakens the echo far and wide, and rouses from
their slumbers the yet unconscious inhabitants.
But the defenders of the Alamo have not for
single moment lost sight oftheir willy and impla,
cahle foe---they watch the studied direction Of ev
erysgun; they see the match lighted, they listen
breathless, as il even at distance, they could
hear the command to fire; and when the walls
of the citadel tremble under the shock of the iron
hail, and the fragments of the purapet are whirl-
ed alo(t by the sudden impulse, they send back
shout Of defiance, mingled with discharge from
their own guns, as destructive, it not as deafen-
ing, as the thunder of their assaiants.
Before the smoke rolls away, aud the reverber-
the besieged still linger in the of the besieg
frs, the cannonading is resumed, and for seven
hours, without pause or relaxation, ferccy con
tinued upon the walls Of the Alamo But those
walls yielded no more than the spirit Of their de-
tenders: The fire is steadily returned, though
stones are shivered around them, there are stout
hearts and willing hands ready to repair each
breach and restore from the interior whatever
may have been destroyed without Earth is
thrown up, every crack or fssure is closed as
fastns created, by tho eager efforts Of those who
wilFpermit no evidence of success to cheer the
hopes of their enemies. The sun has almost
sunk behind the western plains, when there is a
pause in the work of demolition.
The firing Of the besiegers ceases for the day,
with the Mexican thirst for blood unsatisfed not
single drop having been shed within the Alumo
Many of Santa Anna's own men have bit the
dust,'before the artillerists and rifemen Of the
fort but thus far they are unavenged. Darkness
falls upon hebesiegers and beseged. The form
er raised new entertainments to prosecute the as
sault the latter establishes close watch for the
night, and endeavor to seek repose which shall
renew their vigor for the contest which they know
will come Tomorrow .1aame14Q{ an}9
The morning OF the 26th dawns, and reveals to
the occupants Of the fort, the effects of the mid
night labor of their enemies, in the establishment
Of two additional batteries within the Almeda and
and Alamo The bsyonets ofthe infantry which
have crossed the river during the night, glitter n
the morning beams, and plumes of the cavalry
are seenswaving oon the.eastern bills to intercept
the expected aid from that quarter Y a3'aa "a
T6eTontest Is renewed BY d slight skrmish be-
tween small party Of Texans sent in quest Of
wood ahdSwatetl and Mexican detachment On.
der General sesama, but this is . mere over