Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-06-09

D
to vince's bridge cui il down, and burn il up,
and come back like eagles, or you will be too
late for the day" This was tho bridge over
which both armies had crossed in their march
to the battle ground Of San Jacinio, and it cut
of all chance of escape for The yanquishod.
"This," said Deal Smith, in his droll way,
looks a good deal like fight, General"
The reader will not fail to notice the differ
ence between lTouston's calculations oftho results
Of that day, and those Of some of his officers.
THY beihought themselves of building nei0
bridge--he Of cutting down and burning up the
only bridge in tho noighborhood. The fact
was, Houston was determined his arm should
como OF victorious that day, OF leave their
bodies on the field.
The day was now wearing away; il was
three O'Clock in The afternoon, and yet the enemy
kept concealed behind his breast-works, and
manifested no disposition to come to an engage
ment. Events had taken just such current
AS Houston expected and desired, and he began
TO prepare for battle.
In describing his plan Of attack we borrow
the language Of his official report, afler the
battle was over. "Thc LIST Regiment, com
manded by Col. Burleson, was assigned the
centre. The ed Regiment, under command Of
Col. Sherman, formed the left wing of the ar
my. The artillery, under the special command
of Col. George W. Hockey, lnspectorgeneral
was placed on the right of the LIST Regiment,
and four companies Of infantry, under the com
mand of Lieut.. Col. Henry Willard, sustained
the artillery upon the right. Our cavalry, sixty
one in number, commanded by Col. Mirabeau
B. Lamar, placed on our extreme right, com
pleied our line. Our cavalry was FIRST dispatch
ed TO the front Of the enemy's left for the pur-
pose of attracting their notice, whilst an extern
sive island Of timber afforded US an opportunity
Of concentrating our forces and displaying them
from that point agreeaby to the previous des-
ign of the troops Every evolution was per-
formed with alacrity, the whole advancing rap
idly in line, and through an open prairie,
without any protection whatever for our men,
The artillery advanced and took siaiiun within
two hundred yards of the cnemy's breastwork.
Those who expect a minute and accurate ac-
count Of this engagement, from the writer, or
any one else, must be disappointed for no such
description can ever be written. Ii was slaRgh-
Ter, more than a battle. We can only give the
reader an idea of the posi,son of both armies
when the engagement began-fll up the inter
val Of the next few minutes with blood, and
smoke, and cries, and slaughter, and then tell
the almost incredible result The two armies
were now drawn up in complete order. There
were 700 Texans on The field, and Santa Annals
troops numbered orer eighteen hundred. IIous-
ton had informed Mr.. Rusk of the plan Of the
battle, and he approved of j, as perfect. The
Secretary, it is true, had never been a soldier
he understood little Of military evolu,ions or
the discipline of an army hut Houston knew
he carried lion-heart in his BOSOM, and he
assigned him tho command of the left wing
The General Of course led the centre
Everything was now ready, and every man at
his post waiting for the charge. The two six
Founders had commenced well directed fire of
grape and canister, and they shattered bones and
baggage where they struck The moment had
at last come. Houston ordered the CHARGE, and
sounded out the war cry, "REMEMBER the ALAs
MO-" These magic words struck the ear Of
every soldier at the same instant, aud Alamo -
the Alamo !" went up from the army in one
wild scream, which sent terror through the Mex
lean host AT that moment n rider came up on
horse covered with mire and foam, swinging
an aAr uNer MS iIrdu, auu uasiieu aIong the
Texan lines, crying out, as he had been instruct
ed to do, ~ hare cut dora Knoc's bridge nolo
fight for your Gres and remember The ALAMO"
and then the. solid phalanx, which had been
held back for moment at the announcement,
launched forward upon the breastworks like an
avalanche of fire. Houston spurred his horse
on at the head of the centre column right into
the face Of the foe