Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-06
fiterarp Selections.
From Putnam's Magazine.
THE FALL OF THE ALAMO.

Antino de Bexar, and took possession of
the town without firing a gun. As he
advanced to the Alamo, the small garri-
son Of one hundred and thirty men, under
the command of WILLIAM BARRET IRA
WIS, retired on the opposite side of the
river, determined there to offer such re-
sistanee to the progress of the tyrant as
their energies and resources should per-
nit, by direct appeal to the God ofbat-
ties Flushed with the conquest, so easily
effected, Of the town, the Mexican COM
mander prepared for an immediate attack
on the Alamo. He ordered breastworks
to be thrown up on every commanding
point, and artillery to be planted where
ever it could be most effected. One bat
terry was completed on the right bank
of the river by the 25th, and without
waiting for others the siege was at once
commenced.
It is a dark and gloomy morning, de-
voted to dark and unholy purpose. Ex-
ulting in the work of death upon which
be is entering, Santa Anna crosses the
river in person, and establishes his head
quarters IN a small stone building-yet
standing from which he may the more
accurately perceive the progress Of his
designs, without exposing himself to his
enemies The signal is given, and be-
fore the sun has risen upon those hostile
hosts, the roar of the Mexican battery
awakens the echoes far and wide, and
rouses from their slumbers the yet IN
conscious Inhabitants. But the defenders
of the Alamo have not for single mo
ment lost Sight ofthe movements of their
willy and implacable foes; they watch the
studied direction Of eve ry gun they see
the match lighted they listen breathless
as If even at that distance, they could hear
the command to fire; and, when the walls
Of that cidtadel tremble under the shock
Of the iron hail, and the fragments of the
parapet are whirled aloft by the sudden
impulse, they send back q shout of de-
fianee, mingled with a discharge from
their own guns as destructive, if not deaf
enening, as the thunder of their assail-
ants.
Before the smoke rolls away, and the
reverberations are lost in the distance,
while the shouts of the besieged still lin
ger in the ears of the beseigers, the can
nonade is resumed, and for seven hours,
without pause or relaxation, fercely con-
tinued upon the walls ofthe Alamo. But
these walls yield no more than the spirits
of their defenders. The FIRE is steadily
returned and, though stones are shiver-
ed around shem, there are stout hearts
and wiling hands ready to repair every
breach, and restore from the interior
whatever may have been destroyed from
without Earth is thrown up, every
crack or fsure is closed as fast as created
by the eager efforts of those who will per-
NIT no evidence Of success TO cheer the
hopes Of their enemies. The sun has al
most sunk behind the western plains,
when there is pause in the work Of de-
molitlon- The firing Of the besiegers
ceases for the day, with the Mexican
thirst for blood unsatiated. Not a single
drop has been shed within the Alamo.
Many Of Santa Annals own men have bit
the dust before the artiIlerists and rife
men Of the fort but thus far they are
unavenged Darkness falls upon the be-
siegers and the beseiged. The former
raise new intrenchments TO prosecute the
assault the latter establish a close watch
for the night, and endeavor to seek that
repOse which shall renew their yigor for
the contest which they know viii come.
to-morrow.
The morning ofthe 26th dawns, and
reveals to the occupants of the fort the
Effect Of the midnight labors Of their enc
znies IN the establishment of two addition
Al batteries within the Alemeda Of the
Alamo. The bayonets of the infantry
mhicA have crossed the river during the
night glitter in the morning beams. and
The plames ofthe cavalry are seen waving
on the eastern hills to intercept the ex-.
pected aid from that quarter. The con-.
test j. renewed by a slight skirmisb he
tween a small party Of Texans sent IN
quest Of wood and water and a Mexican
detachment under General Sesma, bpt
this Is a mere overture to the grand per
formance Of the day. The thunders Of
the heavy ordnance, under the direction
q Colonel Ampudia, are soon reused in
to action volIey after voIley is poured
iEisO the fort, and answered only, except
= rare intervals, By the shouts Of those
within. There is no pause, no cessation.