Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-11-08

feet long and 12O feet wide, and four
teen small pieces OF artillery defended
its approaches. The place was sup.
y piled with water by two aqueducts
which led from the San Antonio river
to the interior of tho works.
Ii was in this inclosure that Colonel
Travis withdrew his little army and
awaited the Mexican attack. In the
meantime the men were employed in
strengthening the fortifcation, throw.
ing up now works, anu praoticing the
artillery, which was so successful that
$ the gunncrs obtained q perfect range
of every foot of ground commanded by
their guns.
Colonel Travis, however, felt the in.
sufliciency in numbers, and resolved to
call for aid. He therefore prepared a
. stirring appeal, which trusty scout
carried safely through the Mexican
lines and published in tho Mexican
newspapers.
In the meantime the Mexican army
drew three lines Of investment closer
around the little fort. Fresh troops
were pouring into his camps, new bat.
teries sprung up in every direction,
and Gordon of offensive works nearly
cncirclcd tho doomed garrison. The
bombardment was constant, and grew
moro furious every hour as batteries
multiplied and new guns were placed
in position.
Travis continued to send scouts
through the enemys line with the ad
dress and on the morning of the first
of March, Captain John Smith, with
thirty-two men, cut his way through
the Mexican lines and joined the gar
rison, which increased the effective
force to one hundred and eighty men.
Day after day, without an hours
cessation, the Mexican artillery thun-
dercd upon the little fort An assault
was daily threatened, and the little
garrison was kept constantly under
arms, ready to repel any attack, and
the exposure told iearfully upon their
strength. Soon the stoutest heast be-
gun to realize that defeat and destruc.
ton were inevitable. The Moxicans
had hoisted the black flag as an assur.
anee that no quarter would be given,
but not a man quailcd, each resolving
to die as become Texan patriot
On the fifth Of March Colonel Travis
addressed last appeal to the country,
and sent it through the Mexican lines
under cover OF darkness. He said
81 am still here in as fine spirits as
could be expected, with one hundred
and eighty men, have held the
place ten days against more than thir.
ty times our number, and / will con.
tinue to hold it until | 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 of determination
against rebels"
This address had beenprepared early
IN the evening, approved by all the
officers, a number Of copies made, and
one of the most skilliul riders in the
command had volunteered TO carry II
through the enemy's lines. The night
was dark, and thrilling storm of rain
and slect was falling, when the courier
mounted, and gave the parting words
to his comrades, Col. Travis standing
beside him, with folded arms, looking
steadily to the right, where the long
lines OF Mexican camp fires blazed in
the darkness. tf .il.rH.lr.0
Goodbye |" cried the messenger as
he pressed the fanks of his horse, and
bounded away.
await moment cried Col. Travis,
suddenly awaking from his reverie.
"Wait n moment. | want to send one
more letter. ania
He sat down and rapidly wrote
brief letter to an intimate friend, set
ting forth their desperate condition,
the danger Of massacre, and closed
with this message:
"Take care of my little boy. II the
country is saved, and survive the
present 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 proud
recollection that he is the son OF man
who died Tor his country"
These were the last words ever
written by the gallant Colonel, and the
letter was for many years cherished
by the orphaned boy as one of the
most valued relics Of his lamented
parent
Meanwhile tho bombardment was
progressing but slowly, and the Mexi-
cans grew inpatient. Their over
whelming 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 OK.
ccution.
The unusual activity in the Mexican
camp attracted the attention Of Col.
Travis at an early hour in the morn
ing, and he at once concluded that an
assault was intended
The little garrison was stationed in
the most advantageous manner posi- !
Bile, aud the Colonel delivered n stir
ring address, exhorting them all to do
their duty, and die as became a people |
worthy to be free.
'rhc men responded with cheers, and
held hurried consultation, at which |
il was unanimously agreed to fight IN
Ill the las. man, and when no further
resistance was possible, il was agreed
that the survivor should fire the mag.
azine aid all perish together
At sunrise the enemy swarmed out
from iehind their works, and the long
linesd assault formed almost within
muslct range of the walls of the Alamo,
and ccmpletely enveloping the little
fortifca;ion, The cavalry was formed
in the rear of the infantry, with drawn
sabcrs, and orders 10 cut down all who
faltered in the advance Under cover
Of heavy fire from tbeii batteries,
tho dark columns moved forward TO
the assault--four thousand against one
hundred and eighty
On, on, came the dark lines, a steady
fire of muskctry flashing from their
ranks; but the silence Of death reigned
within the Alamo. Ammunition was
scarce, and the brave defenders were
instructed 10 waste few shots; but
when the enemy came within easy
range, the artillery, charged to the
muzzcl with grape, opened upon them,
and the unerring rifles OF the Texans
poured torrent of bullets into the
midst of the advancing troops. These
murdcrous discharges tore through
their ranks, sweeping down whole
companies nj every DISCHARGE.