Washington telegraph., 1856-06-11
From Yoakum;s History of Texas.
B0MBARDMENT OF THE ALAMO

Early in the morning of the Both, there
was slight skirmish between a portion
Of the Texans and the enemy's cavalry
stationed east Of the fort A "norther"
having sprung up on the previous night,
the thermometer fell to 3J' below zero
Meanwhile, Santa Anna had received re-
Inducements, and now enlarged his guard.
the sentinels being placed nearer the fort.
The Texans sailed out for wood and wa
ter, without loss; and at aight they sue
ceeded in burning some old houses north
east from the fort, and near battery
erected by the enemy on the Alamo ditch.
about S0J yards distant
During all this time the Mexicans kent
up constant firing, but with little effect.
On the 18th they erected another battery
at the old mill so yards north, and at
tempted to cut off the water from the
fort. The Texans were engaged in
Strengthening their works, by throwing up
earth on the inside OF the walls.
1t Is proper here to state that Travis
wrote on the sd to Col Fannin, then at
Gollad, making known his position, and
requesting him to march to his relief
The Letter reached GOliad on the 25th.-
Fannin set out on his march for Bexar on
the 18th, with 30 men and pieces of ar
tlilery, leaving Capt. Westover in COM
mand at Goliad, with about 100 men
But he had only proceeded about 20O
yards, when one OF his wagons broke
down, and having one yoke OF oxen to
each piece OF artillery, he was compelled
to double his teams IN order to get them
one at time, acrosss the river. Besides,
his on y provisions consisted of a ,ierce OF
rice, and a little dried beet. A council
o. war was held, when it was determined
to return to Goiiad, which was accordingly
done.
The intelligence Of Fannin's departure
for Bexar was received by the enemy at
the latter place the same day on which
he started; and before the council Of war,
above alluded to, was closed on the 18th,
Gen. Sesma, with the detachmcnts of cav
airy and Infantry, was on his march to
meet him.
On the morning of the 1st of March,
b gallant men from Gonzales were safely
conducted by Capt. j. w. Smith into the
Alamo, making the effective force under
Travis, 12S men. The bombardment of
the fort still continued. The Texans be-
ing short OF ammunition, fired but seldom
In the evening, however, they struck the
house occupied by Santa Anna in Bexar
with q twelve pound shot. On the 2nd
the attack was still maintained The
Texans continued the fight as their means
and strength would allow. On the Sd,
the enemy erected battery on the north
of the fort, and within musket shot
Travis addressed a last appeal to the pres
ident Of the convention. setting forth his
position and determination. lie stated
that the blood red banners which waved
on the church at Bexar, and in the camp
above him, was token that the war was
one of vengeance against the rebels. =
Perhaps he sent by the same courier the
note to his friend in Washington
county Take care of my little boy. If
the country should be saved, [ may make
him a splendid fortune; but if the coun-
try should be lost, and [ should perish, he
will have nothing but the proud recolec-
ton that he is the son of man who died
for his country On that day, j. B.
Bonham, who had gone as expressed to
Fannin for aid, returned and made his
way safely into the fort at Ii o'clock in
the morning. At night the Texans made
a sally, and had skirmish with the Mex
lean advance.
The enemy continued the fire on the
4th; but few shots were returned from the
fort In the afternoon, Santa Anna held !
a council of war, to advise on the question
Of assaulting the place. After much dis
cussion, Col. Castrillon, and others, were
Of opinion that the Alamo should be as
saulted after the arrival of the two twelve |
Founders expected on the 7th. The pres
Ident, Gen. Ramirez, Sesma and Almonte, |
were of opinion that the twelve Founders |
should not be waited for, but the assault |
made Santa Anna, without making
public decision, determined upon an as
sault, and made his preparations accord
ingly. His troops then in Bexar, exceed
ed 1000 in number, the most Of whom
had been refreshed during the time they
had spent there The Texans, on the
contrary, were worn down by incessant
watching and labor within their wall.
On Sunday morning, the 9th of March,
a little after midnight, the Alamo was sur
rounded by the entire Mexican army
The cavalry were placed without the in
fantrv, to cut them down if they offered
to give way The latter Were provided
with scaling ladders. The enemy then
forming a circle facing the fort, advanced
rapidly under tremendous fire from the
Texan rifles and artillery Jast at day
light the ladders were placed against the
walls, and an attempt made by the enemy
to enter the fort, but they wee driven
back by the stern defenders from within.
Again the charge was sounded, and Sec
ond effort made to reach the top Of the /
walls, but again the assailants were re-
pulsed. For a few minutes there was a
nausa Rv the preSence threats and