The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-10-05

through the enemy's line with the adj
dress, aud on the morning of the first 0
March, Captain John w. Smith, with
thirty-twO men, cut his way through the
Mexican lines and joined the garrison,
which increased the effective force to one
hundred and eighty men.
Day after day, without an hours ces-
sation, the Mexican artillery thundered
upon the little fort. An assault was
daily threatened, and the little garrison
was kept constantly under arms, ready
to repe any attack, and the exposure
told fearfully upon their strength. Soon
the 8tOutest heart begun to relize that
defeat and destruction were inevitable.
The Mexicans had hoisted the black flag
as an assurance that no quarter would be
given, but not man quailed, each re-
solving to die as became Texan patriot.
On the fifth of March Colonel Travis
addressed q last appeal to the country,
and sent it through the Mexican lines
under cover of darkness. He said:
II am still here in as fine spirits a
could be expected, with one hundred and
eighty men. l have held the place ten
days against more than thirty times our
number, and will continue to hold it
until I get relief from my countrymen,
or will perish in the defense. The black
flag which is borne by the enemy gives
token that the fight is to be one 0
determination against rebels"
This address had been prepared early
in the evening, approved by all the Off
GERS, number of copies made, and one
of the most skillful riders in the COM
mand had volunteered to carry it through
the enemy's lines. The night was dark
and thrilling storm of rain and sleet
was falling, when the courier mounted,
and gave the parting words to his conf
rades, Colonel Travis standing beside
him, with folded arms, looking steadily
to the right, where the long lines of
Mexican camp fires bIazed in the dark
ness.
"Goed-bye? cried the messenger, as
he pressed the TANKS of his horse, and
bounded away.
"Wait a moment" cried Colonel
Travis, suddenly awaking from his
reverie. "Wait moment. I want to
send one more letter."
He sat down and rapidly wrote brief
letter to an intimate friend, setting forth
their desperate condition, the danger of
massacre, and closed with this message.
Take care of my little boy. If the
country is saved, and survive the pres
ent peril, may yet make him a splendid
fortune; but if the country should be
lost, and should perish, he will have
nothing left but the proul recollection
that he is the son of man who died for
his country"
These were the last words ever written
by the gallant colonel, and the letter was
for manyyears cherished by the orphaned
boy as one of the most valued relics of
his lamented parent.
Meanwhile the bombardment was pro-
crossing but slowly, and the Mexicans
grew impatient. Their overwhelming
strength, the weakness and exhaustion of
the garrison, and their greed for speedy
revenge, prompted an immediate assault,
and Sunday, March 9th, 1886, was chosen
as the day for carrying the purpose into
execution.
The unusual activity in the Mexican
camp attracted the attention of Col.
Travis at an early hour in the morning,
and he at once concluded that an assault
was intended.
The little garrison was stationed in the
most advantageous manner possible, and
the colonel delivered stirring address,
e1horting them all to do their duty, and
die as became a people worthy to be free.
The men responded with cheers, and
held hurried consultation, at which it
was unanimously agreed to fight until
the last man, and when no further re-
sistance was possible, it was agreed that
the survivor should fire the magazine
and all perish together.
At sunrise the enemy swarmed out
from behind their works, and the long
lines of assault formed almost within