The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-01-09

;he loud reveille that awoke four
hundred Texan prisoners and their
times their number of
Mexican soldiers-the ELITE of the
chief Butchers grand army.
The prisoners were Immediately
summoned to parade before the post
in the main street o the village, and :
every eye sparkled with joy and
every tongue uttered involuntary
ordinations of confidence.
Thanks Santa Anna! He is go
ing to execute the treaty. We slall
be shipped beck to the United States
We shall see our friends once
moren'
Sach were the feelings with which
the American volunteers, and the
fe w Texans among them, greeted the
order to fall into line.
The line was formed then broken
into two columns, when every in |
strument Of music in the Mexican |
host sounded a merry march and
they moved away with a quick step
over the prairie toward the west.
Five minutes afterwards, a singu-
lar dialogue occurred between the
two leaders Of the front columns of
the prisoners.
"W hat makes you walk SO lame,
Colonel Neil Are you wounded :''
asked tall man, with blue eyes, and
bravery flashing forth in all tLcir
beams.
Colonel Fannin, walk lame to
keep from being wounded; Go you
comprehend :" replied the other
with q laugh as no words can de
scribe-it was so loud, so luxurious,
like the roar OF the breakers of 81
llumor it was, in short, laugh Of
the inmost heart.
u do not comprehend you, for l
an no artist at riddles,'' rejoined
Fanrin, smiling himself at the ludi-
crous gaiety Of his companion SO
strangely i'll timed.
You discover that I am lame in
each leg" said Col Neil, glancing
down at the members indicated, and
lninlicing the movements Of con
frmed cripple, as he laughed louder
than ever. ''And yet" lie added, in
a whisper, I have neither the lhcu-
nnatism in my knees, nor corns on
my toes, but have two big revolvers
| in my boots"
THAT is a violation of the treaty
by which We agreed to give up our
arms" Col. Fannin moarnfully II sug-
gested.
"Iou will see, however, that ]
shall need them before the sun is 81
hour high replied Neil. 'sAh
Fannin, you do not know the treaeh-
cry of these base Nexicans'
At that instant the sun rose in :
sky of extraordinary brilliancy, ant
a million Of flower cups flung thei
rich odors abroad over the greer
pra rie, as an offering to the Lord O
, light, when the mandate Of s'halt =
was given by one Of Santa Anna:
, aids, the two coiums of prisoner
, were broken up and scattered owe
the plain in small hollow squares
encircled on every side by Mexican
Infantry and troops Of horses, LOADED
, muskets and drawn swords. Ant
then q lnomentary pause, awful ii
its stiffness, and disturbed only by
shrek Of terror. as the most tilnit
, among the captives realized the i'm
pending storm Of fire and extinction
CT ffe's last hope.
And their infernal work Of whole
sale murder was begun, and q seer
ensued such as scarcely might b
matched in the very annals Of hei
lis Elf. The roar Of musketry burs
, in successive peais like appallin;
claps Of thunder, but could not ut
terly drown the prayers Of the liv
ing the screams of wounded and th
9 terrible groans Of the dying.
= Col. Fannin fell among the frs
{ victims, but not SO with the gian
Neil With the order Of he Mexi
, can officer to his men to FIRE, ou
| hero stopped almost to the earth, 81
that the volIey passed entirely owe
J him. He waited not a second
rhrusting hand into the leg o
each boot, he rose with a couple 0
six shooters, the deadly revolverS
ard commenced disclareing then
with the quick rapidity Of lightnin;
: into tle thickest Of his foes.
Panic stricken with surprise an
fear. the IEeXicans recoiled an
opened q passage through wb;c
r Neil bounded with the spring of
panther and fed away, as if wing
, had been tied to His heels. while ha,
a dozen horsemen Immediately CAV
f chase. For q, while it seemed yer
doubtful whether the giant Colont
would not even distance these, S
much had the peril Of the occasio
increa sed the natural elasticity c
r his mighty muscle. But present.
: a charger fleeter than the rest migl
5 he diseerned gaining on his huma
) rival. and approaching so near tia
the hraeoon raised bis sabre for
| coup dc grace. Neil became con
5 scious of his danger and hastil
slackeued his speed, till the he
: steam Of smoke from the horse
p nostrils appeared to mingle with hi
, very hair; and then wheeling sud
denly he fired shot from his revol
YER. and the rider tunibled from hi
saddle. The victim then renewe
his fight.
A mad yell of grief and rag
D broke from the remaining trooper
S as they witnessed the fate of thei
comrade. and its effect was immed
ately evident in the augmented cat
ton of their pursuit-for they ga
G loped Afterwards in one body orea1