The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-05-06
An Old yeternn'S Story.

An Ola
The story of the fall Of the Alamo, as toIu
by the gentleman named, may not prove uh'
interesting. 1t should be repeated often 10
every American youth. II was forty years
ago. on the 9th OF February, that Santa An.
na the proud President of Mexico, who styled
himself the Napoleon OF tie West, appeared
before its gates al the head Of 7,UUO troops,
the flower of his army, and demanded the
unconditional surrender Of the one hundred
and eightv-two Texans who occupied 1t Inc
watchwOrd, victory or death" hau already
been adopted, and the demand OF Santa Anna
was answered by shot from the garrison
After the Texans had withstood the siege OF
six DAYS, namely on the evening OF Saturday,
the 9TH of March, Santa Anna Withdrew his
army and fighting ceased. Col. Travis the
brave commander Of the Texans, was not de-
ceivcd by this movement. lie reasoned cor
rcctly that on the morrow the attack would
be renewed. Hence, marshalling his little
band in the plaza before the church, he, with
the point of his sword, traced straight line
in their front, and then in brief address told
them the situation In his judgment there
were but three courses left for their adoption.
The first was to surrender upon the best
terms that could be obtained, and trust 70
Mexican faith 10 fulfill them. The second
was 90 retreat and take chances, and the
third was to remain where they were and de
fighting like men for the Independence OF
Texas IA Tor himself he had deliberately
chosen the last course, and he now called up
on all who were willing to die with him TO
step across the line. Instantly, without "a
word, and without iallcring, the whole line
made the step, and their fate was sealed.
There was one man, the gallant Col. Bowie,
lying i'll upon his blanket and unable to DC
in line, though il hearing and sight When
the line stepped forward he called loudly
for the boys to take him up and carry him
across It. Thus was their determination
unanimous.
Before daylight of the morning of Sunday,
the 9th Of March, 1886, the Alamo was again
entirely surrounded ~ the Mexican army.
Bands of music played national airs to in
spirit the Mexican hosts, and thus inspired
| the charge Of 1000 upon 1872 was made. The
| 1900 were three times repulsed with great
| slaughter, but on the fourth assault lodge
ment within the rude barrlcade OF the Texans
was effected, and then commenced handto.
hand fight, the like Of which Is not recorded
IN history OF either ancient or modern times.
The Texans tred their guns AS long Us ihey
! had room, or ammunition 70 load, and then
drawing their knives they fought to the last,
each man selling his life as dearly as ne
could. BY sunrise on that Sabbath morning
the massacre was complete, and not one Of
the 1872 Texans was left TO tell the tale. But
alongside of the Texans were the corpSeS OF
more than five hundred of the flower OF Santa
Anna's army. 70 kill the 1872 Texans cost
Santa Anna, in the six days siege and the
final assault, 1880 men in killed and wound
ed, the biggest half in killed.
We may thus calculate that each Texan
killed three MexiCans besides woundisg
many. When we compare the Texans VINO
thus heroically lost their lives to the spar
tans at Thermopyln the comparison Is si'o'
gether IN favor OF the Texans. The Spar'ahs
had natural pass to defend which could not
be surrounded, nor could it be attacked e1'
cept at narrow point, IN front where one
man in defence was equal to one thousand III
attack. The Texans fought within the adobe
walls of an old mission church, constructed
in an open level plain, and with no reference
to defence, more than one hundred and nifty
years before the battle.
The Alamo sill stands In fair state OF
preservation and is an object OF great interest
TO strangers. 1t has been enlarged and Is
now occupied by the I. 5 government as d
commissary store-hOuse; but the cid ballding
/, lis maintained intact, and the blood stains
which mark the spots where Bowie, Crockett
t and other heroes fell fighting, are pointed ou
t by the gentlemanly officers in charge to every
4 one who chooses to make inquiry. TO those
/, not familiar with the history Of the war o.
G independence in Texas, it is well to commu
nicate the information that, IN a little more
5 than one month after the massacre of the Ala
S mo, the battle of San JaCinto was fought il
an open plain between the army of Sant'
Anna, heavily reinforced, and less than 1,OJO
e Texans. The watchword of the Texans II
r this battle was the Arrangement OF the Alamo
and so strongly did it animate them, that, II
, few hours of close combat, the Mexican
} hosts were routed, their general, Santa Anna
! taken prisoner and the independence of Tex
e as acknowledged and secured torevcr.-Cor
: ST. Louis Republicans