Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-08-29

ihgt repOSe which Shall renew their vlg0r Tor the
contest which they know will come to morrow.
The morning Of the 26th dawns, and reveals
to the occupants OF the fort the effect of the
midnight labors of their enemies, In the estab-
llshment of two additional batteries within the
Alameda Of the Alamo. The bayonets of the
infantry, which have crossed the river during
the night glitter in the morning beams, and the
piumes of the cavalry are seen waving on the
eastern hills to intercept the expected aid from
that quarter. The contest is renewed by al slight
skirmish between a small party Of Texans sent
in quest of wood and water and a Mexican de-
tachment under Col. Sesma but this is a mere
overture to the grand performance of the day
The thunders Of the heavy ordnance, under the
direction of Col. Ampuda, are soon reused into
action vollev after volley is poured into the
fort, and answered only, except at rare intervals,
by the shouts of those within. There is no
pause, no cessation Still the cannonade goes
on shells fly Kissing through the air, and the
balls bury themselves within the ramparts but
night again comes on, and the Mexican general
in vain looks for evidence of success. Bafiled,
but lot discouraged, he advances his line of in
trenchments, 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 hy the feeble blaze of few huts,
fired by the Texans, which had furnished COW
cr for the enemy. The flames curled upward
with a sckly glare, and their fiful flashes throw
lurid light for a moment upon the slumbering
army and expires The reign Of darkness and
Of silence is now restored
The next day the Mexicans appear inactive,
though engaged in the construction of additional
batteries. There is but little firing on either
4 4 L Il. 4,
dued and with energies weakened, but not ex-
hausted are applying their contracted resources
to the purpose of defence. No heart falters
no pulse throbs with diminished power no hand
shrnks from the labor that necessity imposes
All is confidence and determination, md in eve
~ breast there is a firm reliance, springing from
the holiness of the and the certainty of its
final triumph.
Sunday follows, but brings no rest 10 those
whom God has created in his own image, and
who, in violation of His commands, are thus yield.
ing to their erring and unhallowed passions. Per-
haps within the chapel of the Alamo, consNcrated
to the worship of the Almighty, and distinguish
ed by the emblem of suffering and of salvation
which surmounts the dome, heads may be bowed
in prayer TO the God of battles for delverance
from their sangunary foe ; but that foe takes no
heed Of Sabbaths. Exclusive followers, as they
IlbCldnH lutlllStlNtSi vi 'Ht itht CHuiNu, tucy
doom to destruction the very temple they have
created for its worship and, kissing the cross
suspended from their necks and planted before
every camp, they point their guns upon the SYM
hol for which they profess unbounded reverence.
The fire of The Mexican artillery keeps compa.
ny with the minutes as they roll on. Morning,
midday and evening are passed, yet there is no
falterng nong those who are defending the
Thermopyle of Texan liberty. Another sun
rises and sets and yet another; still the ndom-
table hearts of Travis and his companions quail
not before the untirng efforts OF their enemy.
| In spite of that enemy's vlndictive vigilance, the
! little garrison receives from Gonzales a rein
forcement of 80 unconditional victims for the
funeral pyre soon to be kindled by Santa Anna,
on the surrounding hills, as a human hecatomb
| TO Mexican vengeance
New batteries are erected by the besiegers.
| From every point around the missiles of des
| ructiOn concentrate upon the Alamo. The final
| hour must soon come. Provisions are not yet
! exhausted, but the ammunition cannot last many
| days longer. Water had long been supplied by
the daring efforts of Mexican woman, who,
through showers of grape and musketry, has
threaded the way to and fro between the river
and the citadel, while her own blood has marked
the path. She bears within her the stern and
lofty spirit of her i!lustrious ancestor, stretched
upon the rocks Of Cortez, and it is not the fear
OF torture or death that can swerve her from her
! purpose.
The siege has continued for ten days. The
Mexican general has received large reinforce
Inents, and his army now numbers thousands.
He has been unceasng in his efforts to batter
down the walls, but has thus far failed The
triumph is with Travis but it is written in the
heart OF his ruthless foe that he must die, and
when the cannonade is suspended on the 9Th of
| March, small breach has been effected, and
Santa Anna has determined. During ten days
a blood.red flag has been streaming from the
spire of the church in San Antonio, proclaimng
that no quarter is to be given 10 the champions
of the A'amO-that blood alone will appease the
vengeance and fury of Mexican malice When
the sun again goes down the flag is no longer
seen, for the deed, of which it was the sign, has
been accomplished. .t.l
1t is midnight stars are smiling in the frma-
ment, and the repose of Paradise seems hover
ing over the armed hosts and hills and plains
which encirce the Alamo. The calm is so deep
and solemn that the angel of death seems to
pause before the strife and carnage which are 10
follow A low murmur rises upon the air, which
gradually becomes more and more distinct
Lights are gancing mysterously in the distance
and indicate some unusual movement. The be-
seging army is in motion. There is no advance
by columns. The force of the Mexcans is SO
great that the fort may be completely surround
ed, leaving intervals only for the fire Of artillery
The place is girdIed by deep line of infantry,
and these are hemmed in and incompassed by
another of cavalry If the first faller or shrink,
they must be thrust forward to the assault by
the sabres and lances of their comrades Sud.
denly the batteries are in blaze, and, from
their concentEic positions, pour forth radii of
fire from the circle of Santa Anna's vengeance,
verging to single centre. Amid the thunders
thus created, their own shouts hardly less terri
Bile, and the martial blasts of hundred bugles,
the Mexicans advance 10 the Alamo. A sheet
of flame, from the rifles that never failed, is the
answer to the charge. The infantry recoi and
fall back upon the cavalry, their ranks broken
and disordered by the deadly fire of,he besieged.
The shouts from the fort are mingled with the
groans of the wounded and dying on the plain,
while the officers are endeavoring to reform
their scattered masses. They return to the at
tack, but the leaden shower which they again
encounter fells them to the earth by platoons.
Travis shows himself on the walls, cheering
his cool undaunted followers. Around him
are Crockett, Evans and Borham, reused to the
last struggle, for they know their doom is sealed.
In quick succession rife after rifle is dlschared,