Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-06
IRASBURGH, VERMONT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6. 1851


low. A low murmur rises upon the air
which gradually becomes more and more
distinct. Lights are glancing mysteriously
in the distance, and indicate some unusual
movement The besieging army is in
| motion. There Is no advance by columns
The force of the AIexieans is so great
that the fort may be completely surround
ed, leaving intervals only for the fire Of
artillery. The place is girdled by deep
line Of infantry, and these are hemmed
in and eneompassed by another cavelry.
If the first falter or shrink they must be
thrust forward to the assault by the sa-
berS and lancers of their comrades. Sud
denly the batteries are in blaze, and
from their concentrc positions pour forth
raddii of fire from the circle of Santa
Annals vengeance verging to a single
center. Amid the thunders thus created
their own shouts hardly less terrible, and
the martial blast of hundred bugleS, the
Mexicans advance to the Alamo. A
sheet Of flame from rifles that never failed,
is the answer to the charge. The in
fantry recon and fall back upon the cay
airy, their ranks broken and disordered
by the deadly fire of the 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 attack, but the leaden show
er which they again encountered Gells
them to the earth by platoous.
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 the rife is discharged, sending
hundreds to their long account. The
Mexicans are again repulsed they fall
back dismayed and disheaTtened by the
dead and dying around them, The bat
tallion Of Toluca, the flower Of Santa
Annals army is reduced from four hun
dred to twenty three. Men have become
for moment regardless of their officers
and are almost delirious from the cries
ofanguish of their fallen and expiring
comrades, yielding to the influence which
no discipline can restrain and no efforts
repress. But the breach now appears
practicable; the disjointed force, by the
aid OF threats and entreaties, are rallied.
and once more return to the assault
The fire from the Alamo has for some
time been growing slower and slower
Rifles have dropped from many vigorous
hand, now cold in death, while others
cling to their weapons even in the angon
les Of dissolution. Ammunition, too. has
been failing; one by one the muzzles
drop; and ere the last rife Is loaded and
discharged, the 1Iexicans gain the wall.
teanully conspicuous in that awful mo
ment Travis receives shot, staggers.
and falls. He dies not unavenged. A
Mexican officer rushes upon him and is
about to plunge his saber into the bosom
OF the fallen man, when gathering his re-
naming energies for desperate effort,
he bathes the sword to which he still
clings in the blood of his enemy andthev
die together.
In the meantime the conflict has be-
come hand to hand, and has been raging
hot and thick. The Mexicans have
poured into the citadel Ike famished
wolves furious for their prey. Each
man struggles with his adversary with
the energy Of despair, dealing the death
stroke with rifles, sabres, OF whatever
missiles may be within reach. The Tex
ans are almost buried beneath the num-
bers Of their opponents. The carnage has
been so terrible that the slain are piled
up In heaps. Death stares each survi-
vor in the face, yet still he struggles on.
Crocket has been conspicuous in the me-
lee wherever the blows fell hottest and
fastest. He has forced his way over
piles Of the dead bodies Of his enemies.
and has reached the door Of the chapel.
Here he determines to make his last
stand. AT one glance Of his eye he sees
that the fate Of the Alamo rests upon
himself alone, and that fate nothing can
avert.
Travis has fallen. Evans is no more.
Bowie expires upon a bed Of sickness.
pierced to the heart by a Mexican bayo-
net +; Borham falls directly before him.
and he finds himself the only living war
rior Of the one hundred and sixtv-three
who had been his companions. Per
haps at that moment the life blood creeps
TO his heart by a natural impulse but it