Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-06

vain looks for evidence of success. Baf,
fled, but not discouraged, he advances his
line of intrenchments, and prepares, with
the morning light, to resume his bloody
task. The north wind sweeps over the
prairies, as it only sweeps in Texas, a
stormy lullaby to the stormy passions Of
those contending hosts. The darkness is
broken only by the feeble blaze of few
huts, fred by the Texans, which had
furnished cover TO the enemy. The
flames curled upwards with a sickly
glare, and their fitfuI flashes threw lurid
light for moment upon the slumbering
army, and expire. The reign of dark
ness and of silence IS restored.
Thenext day the Mexicans appear in
active, though engaged in the construction
of additional batteries. There is but lit
tie firing on either side. Travis and
his men, with spirits unsubdued and
with energies weakened, butnot exhaus-
ted, are applying their contracted resour-
! ces to the purposes of defence. No heart
talters; no pulse throbs with diminished
power; no hand shrinks from the labor
necessity imposes. All is confidence and
determination, and in every breast there
is firm reliance, springing from the holi-
/ ness 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 with
in the chapel Of the Alamo. eonsecrated
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 suspended
from their necks, and planted before every
camp, they point their guns upon the
symbol for which they profess such IN
bounded reverence. The fire of the
Mexican artillery keeps company with
the minutes as they roll on. Morning,
midday, and evening are passed, yet there
is no faltering among those who are de-
Tending the Thermopyln of Texas liberty.
Another sun rises and sets. and vet
another; still the indomitable hearts of
Travis and his companions quail not be-
fore the untiring efforts of their enemy.
In spite Of that enemy's vindictive vigi-
lance, the little garrison receives from
Gonzales a reinforcement of thirtv-three
men-additional victims for the funeral
pyre soon to be kindled by Santa Anna on
the surrounding hills, as a human heca-
tomb to Mexican vengeance.
New batteries are erected by the be-
siegers. From every point around the
missiles Of destruction concentrate upon
the Alamo. The final hour must soon
come. Provisions arenot yet exhausted,
but the ammunition cannot last many
days longer. Water had long been sup
piled solely by the daring efforts Of
Mexican woman, who through showers
of grape and musketry. has threaded the
way 10 and fro between the river and the
citidel, while her own blood has marked
the path. She bears within her the
stern and lofty spirit of her illustrious an
cester, stretched upon the racks Of Cortez
and it is not the fear Of tortue or death
that can swerve her from her purpose.
The siege has continued for ten davs.
The Mexican General has received large
reinforcements, and his army now num-
bers thousands. He has been unceasinn
in his efforts to batter down the walls.
but has thus far failed. The triumph
is with Travis but It's written in the
heart ofhis ruthless foe that he must die;
and when the eannonade Is suspended on
the 9th of March a small breach has been
effected, and Santa Anna has determined
without a summons to surrender, that-the
hour for the assault has arrived. During
tendays blood red flag has been stream
ing from the spire of the church in San
Antonio, proclaiming that no quarter
is to be given to the champions Of the
Alamo-that blood alone viii appease the
vengeance Of fury of Mexican malice
When the sun again goes down the flag
Is no longer seen, for the deed for which
II was the sign has been acoomplised.
II Is midnight; stars are smiling inthe
armament, and the repose Of Paradise