The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-05-11
The Hatchword.

IL. The watchword, VlcVoLy vi
death.n had already been adopted and
the demand of Santa Anna was a@swer-
ed bv shot from the garrison. After
the Texans had withstood the siege TOT
six DAYS, namely on the evening OF Sat
urday. the 9Th of March, Santa Anna
withdrew his army and fighting ceased;
Col. Travis, the brave commander OF
the Texans, was not deceived by TINS
movement. He reasoned correctly that
ON the morrow the attack would be re-
newed. Hence, marshaling his little
band in the plaza before the church, he,
with the point of his sword, traced a
straight line in their front, and then IN
a 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
to Mexican faith to fulfill them. The
second was to retreat and take chances,
and the third was to remain where they
were and die fighting like men for the
independence of.Texas. As for himself,
he had deliberately chosen the last
course, and he now called upon all who
were willing to die with him to step
across the line. Instantly, without a
word, and without faltering, 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 be in line, though in hear
ing 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 unani-
nous.
Before daylight of the morning of
Sunday, the 9th of March, 1886, the
Alamo was again entirely surrounded
by the Mexican army. Bands OF music
played national airs to inspirit the Mex
lean hosts, and thus inspired the charge
of Z 900 upon 49, was made. The 1000
were three times repulsed with great
slaughter, but on the fourth assault a
Judgment within the rude barricades
Of the Texans was effected, and then
commenced hand-to-hand fight, the
like of which is not recorded in history
of either ancient or modern times. The
Texans fired their guns as long as they
had room, or ammunition to load, and
then drawing their knives they fought
to the last, each man selling his life as
dearly as he could. By sunrise on that
Sabbath morning the massacre was
complete and not one of the 1S2 Texans
was left alive to tell the tale. But
alongside of the Texans were the corpses
of more than five hundred of the flower
of Santa Annals army. To kill the 1o2
Texans cost Santa Anna in the six days
siege and the final assault l, $50 men In
killed and wounded, the biggest half IN
killed.
We may thus calculate that each Tex
an killed three Mexicans besides wound
ing many. When we compare the Tex
ans who have lost their lives to the
Spartans at ThermopylW the compari-
SON is altogether in favor of the Tex
ans. The Spartans had q natural pass
to defend which could not be surround
ed, nor could it be attacked except at a
narrow point in front where one man
in defense was equal to one thousand
in attack. The Texans fought within
the adobe walls of an old mission
church, constructed in an open, level
plain, and with no reference to defense,
more than one hundred and fifty.years
before the battle.
The Alamo still stands in fair state
of preservation and is an object of great
interest to strangers. 1t has been en-
larged and is now occupied by the L.
S. Government as a cOmmissary store
house but the old building is maintain
ed intact, and the blood stains which
mark the spots where Bowie, Crockett
and other heroes fellfighting, are pointed
out by the gentlemanly officers in charge
to every one who chooses to make in
quiry. To those not familiar with the
history of the war of independence in
Texas, it is well to communicate the in
formation that, in little more than one
month after the massacre of the Alamo,
the battle of San Jacinto was fought in
an open plain between the army OF
Santa Anna, heavily reinforced, and less
than 1000 Texans. The watchword of
the Texans in this battle was the avenge-
ment of Alamo, and so strongly did it
animate them, that, in a few hours OF
close combat, the Mexican hosts were
routed, their General, Santa Anna,
taken prisoner, and the independence
of Texas acknowledged and secured
forever.