Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-11-26

walls-cheerlng his cool, undaunted fol-
lowers. Around him are Crockett, Ev
ans and Borham, reused to last strug-
gle, for they know their doom is sealed.
In quick succession, rifle after rife is
discharged, sending hundreds to their
long account. The Mexicans are again
repulsed; they fall back, dismayed and
disheartened by the dead and dying
around them. The battalion of Toluca
the flower of Santa Annals army, is
reduced from four hundred to twenty
three. Men nave become for a mo-
ment regardless of their officers, and
are almost delirous from the cries of an
guish of their fallen and exriring COM
rades, yielding to influences which no
discipline can restrain, and no efforts re-
press. But the breach now appears
practicahles the disjointed forces, by the
aid of threats and entreaiies, are rallied,
and once more return to the assault
The fire from the Alamo has for some
time been growing slower and slower.
Rifles have dropped from many vigor-
GUS hand, now cold in death, while 9TH
ers cling to their weapons even in the
agonies of dissolution. Ammunition too,
has been failing; one by one the muz-
zles drop; and ere long the last rife is
loaded and discharged but in every
breast there is firm reliance spriDging
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 who in violation of His COM
mands, are thus yielding to their erring
and unhallowed passions. Perhaps within
the chapel of the Alamo, consecrated to
the worship of the Almighty, and dis
tinguished by the emblem of suffering
and of salvation, which surmounts the
dome, heads may be bowed in prayer to
the God of battles for deliverance from
their sanguinary foe /; but that foe takes
no heed Of Sabbaths. Exclusive follow
ers, as they proclaim themselves, of the
true church, they doom to destruction
the very temple they have erected for
its worship; and kissing the cross sus-
pended from their necks. and planted
before every camp. they point their guns
upon the very symbol for which they
profess such unbounded reverence. The
fire of the Mexican artillery keeps COM
pany with the minutes as they roll on.
Morning, mid day and evening are pass
ed, yet there is no faltering among those
who are defending the TheromopyIe Of
Texas liberty. Another sun rises and
sets. and yet another; still the indomita-
bic hearts of Travis and his companions,
quail not before the untiring efforts Of
their enemy. In spite of that enemy's
vindictive vigilance, the little garrison
receives from Gonzales enforcement
of thirty three men additional victims
for the funeral pyre, soon to be kindled
by Santa Anna, on the surrounding hills,
as a human hecatomb to Mexican ven
geance.
New batteries are erected by the be-
siegers; from every point around, the
missels OF destruction concentrate upon
the Alamo. The final hour must soon
come. Provisions are not yet exhausted,
but the ammunition cannot last many days
longer. Water las long been supplied
solely by the daring efforts of Mexican
woman, who through showers of grape
and musketry, has treaded the way to
and fro between the river and The citadel,
while her own blood has marked the
patti. She bears within her the stern and
lofty spirit of her illusIrious ancestor,
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 siege has continued for Ten days.
The Mexican General has received large
endorsements, and his amy now num-
bers thousands. He has been unceasing
in his efforts to batter down the walls,
but has thus far failed. The triumph is
with Travis; but il is written in the heart
of his ruthless foe that he must die, and
when the cannonade is suspended on the
9th of March, a small breach has been
effected, and Santa Anna has determin-
ed without summons to surrender, that
the hour for the assault has arrived
During ten days blood red flag has
been streaming from the spire of the
church in San Antonia, proclaiming that
no quarter is to be given to the champi.
ons of the Alamo-that blood alone will
appease the vengeance of their assail-
ants. The Mexicans have gained the
wall. Fearfully conspicuous in that aw.
full moment, Travis receives shot, stag
gers and falls. He dies not unavenged.
A Mexican officer rushes upon him, and
is about to plunge his sabre into the bo
som of the fallen man when, gathering
his remaining energies for desperate
effort, he bathes the sword to, which he
still clings in the blood of his enemy.
and they die together.
In the meantime, the conflict had be-
come hand to hand, and has been rag
ing hot and thick The Mexicans have
poured into the citadel like famished
wolves furious for their prey. Each man