The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-12-10

thrown up every crack or hssure IL closed
as fast as created by eager efforts of those
4 who will permit no evidence of success to
cheer the hopes Of their enemies. The sun
Is almost sunk behind the western plains
when there is a pause in the work of demo,
lltion. The firing Of the besiegers ceases
for the day, with the Mexican thirst for
blood unsatiated.* Not single drop has
been shed within tho Alamo. - MANY of
Santa Anna's own men have bit the dust be.
fore the artillerists and rifiemen of the fort /.
but thus far they are unavenged. Dark.
ness falls upon the besiegers and the besieoed.
lhe former raise new entertainments to pros
ecute the assault; the latter establish close
watch for the night, and endeavor to seek
that repose which shall renew their vipor
for the contest which they know will come
tomorrow. gs
The morning Of the 26th dawns, and re-
veals 10 the occupants of the fort the effect
of the midnight labors of their enemies. in
the establishment of two additional bate
ries within the Almeda of the Alamo. The
oayonets of the infantry, which crossed the
river during the night, gltteripg in the
morning beams, and the plumes of the cav.
airy are seen waving on the eastern hills to
intercept the expected aid from that quar-
ter. The contest is renewed by slight
skirmlsh between a small party of Texans.
sent In quest of wood aud water. and n
Mexican detachment under General Sesma !:
but this is mere overture to the grand per.
tormance of the day. The thunders of the
heavy ordnance, under the direction of Col
/, onel Ampudia, are soon reused into action /.
volley after voley is poured into the fort.
and answered only 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 !:
out night again comes on, and The Mexican
General in vain looks for evidence of sue
cess. Baffled, but not discouraged, he ad-
vances his inirenchment. and prepares, with
the morning light, to resume his bloody
task. The north wind sweeps over the prai.
ries, as It only sweeps in Texas, a stormy
lullaby to the stormy passions of those con-
tending hosts. The darkness is broken on
~ by the feeble blaze of the few huts, fired
by the Texans, which had furnished cover
to the enemy. The flames curl upward
with sickly glare, aud their fitful flashes
throw lurid light for a moment upon the
slumbering army and expire. The reign of
darkness and of silence is now restored.
The next day the Mexicans appear mac
tive, though engaged in the construction of
additional batteries. There is but little fir.
ing on either side. Travis aud his men.
with spirits unsubdued and energies weak.
ened, but not exhausted, are applying
their contracted resources to the purpose Of
defence. No pulse falters no heart throbs
with diminished powers; no hand shrinks
from the labor the necessity imposes. All is
confidence and determination, and in every
breast there is firm reliance, springing
from the holiness of the cause and the Ger.
tainty of its final triumph.
Sunday follows, but brings no rest to those
whom God had created in his own image,
and who, in violation Of his own commands.
are thus yielding to their erring and unhal.
lowed passions. Perhaps within the chapel
OF the Alamo, consecrated to the worship of
the Almighty, and distinguished by tho EN-.
blem OF suffering and Of salvation which
surnounts the dome, heads may be bowed
in prayer to the God of battles for deliver.
ance from their sanguinary foe but that foe
takes 10 heed Of Sabbaths. Exclusive fol-
lowers as they profess themselves of the
true church, they doom to destruction the
very temple they have erected for its wor-
ship 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 an unbounded rev.
erence. 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 defending the Thermopyla Of
Texan liberty. Another sun rises and sets,
and yet another still the indomilable hearts
OF Travis and his companions quail not be.
fore the untiring effort of their enemy. In
spite of that enemy's vindictive vigilance,
the little garrison receives from Gonzaies a
reinforcement Of thirty.three men-addi.
tional victims to the funeral pyre soon to be
hndled by Santa Anna on the surrounding
bills, as human hetacomb to Mexican ven
geance.
New batteries are erected by the besieg-
'ers. From every point around, the missiles
OF destruction concentrate upon the Alamo.
The fnal hour must soon come. Provisions
are not yet exhausted, but the ammunition
cannot last many days longer Water had
been supplied solely by Mexican women,
who, through showers of grape and mus.
n. n