The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-01
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THE ALAN u.
paow thr Hood 0f Heroes won the 1nde.
penAence Of Texas.

ISt Louis Republican,
The fall OF the Alamo may be found
in all the histories OF Texas, but no
readinp can excite the interest like tho
hearing Of the story on the spot from
the lips OF one who fought for Texas.
AS stood upon the spot where the gal.
liant Bowie yielded up his life. and heard
the narrative Of the struggle from John
Tuohig and Major Calhoun. both of
whom were there chained together hy
the leg in d Mexican dungeon, ] could
moi hit regard tho men who there lost
their lives for their country as entirely
worthy to be ranked in history along.
side of the 800 Spartans at the Pass 81
ThermopylT. II is almost certain that
If these men had fed, or surrendered. or
done anything else but die, ns they did,
the Independence OF Texas, which was
achieved finally 10y the battle OF San
.Jacinto. fought some months later
would have been much longer post
poned.
The story Of the fall Of the Alamo, as
told by the gentlemen named, may not
prove unintorestng. 1t should be re-
peated often to every American youth
II was forty years ago. on the 9th Of
February, that Santa Anna, the proud
President OF Mexico, who styled him
self the Napoleon OF the West. appeared
before it's gates at the head of 1000
troops. the flower Of his army, and do
mandpd the unconditional surrender
Of the 1s2 Texans who occupied IT, The
watchword, victory or death, had
already been adopted and the demand
Of Santa Anna was nnwerod by shot
from the garrison. After tho Texans
had withstood the siege for 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 or
tho Texans, was not deceived by this
He reasoned correctly that
on the morrow the attack would be re-
Hence. mar.haliug his little
band in the plaza before the church, he,
with the point Of his sword traced q
line in their front. and then in
u brief address told them tho situation
In his Judgment there were but three
courses left for their adoption. Tho
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 10 remain whore they
we're and die fighting like men Tor the
Of Texas. As for himself,
he had deliberately chosen the Lust
course. and he now called upon all who
were willing to die with him to step
across the line. Instantly, without q
word. and without faltering, the whole
line made the step. and their fate was
sealed There was one man. the gallant
Col Bowie, lying ill upon his blanket
and unable to be in line. though in
hearing and sight. When the line
stepped forward he called loudly for the
BOYS 10 take him MP and carry him
across IT.. Thus was their determination
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
Mexican hosts. and thus inspired, the
charge Of 1000 upon lS2 was made. The
1000 were three times repused with great
but on the fourth assault
lodgment within the rude barricades of
tho Texans was effected. and then com
menced u hand-to- hand fight. the like
Of which il not recorded in history Of
either ancient or modern times. The
Texans fired their guns rs long rs they
had room, or ammunition to load, ana
then drawing their knives, they fought
to tho last, each man selling his life Hs
lenrly as he could. By sunrise on that
Sabbath morning the massacre was
and not one Of the 1S2 Texans
was left alive to tell the tale. But along
side of the Texans were the corpses Of
more than five hundred Of the Hover ot
Santa Anna s army. 10 Kill the 1S2
Texans cost Santa Anna in the six days
siege and the final assault 1880 men in
killed and wounded, the biggest half IN
killed.
We may thus calculate that each
Texan killed three Moxicans besides
many. When we compare
the Texans who have lost their lives to
the Spartans at Thermopylr the com
parison is altogether in favor Of the
Texans. The Spartans had a natural
pass to defend which could not be sur
nor could it be attacked except
Mt a narrf point In front where one
man in defense was equal to one thou
sand i'm attack. The Texans fought
within the adobe walls OF an old mission
church. constructed in an opon, level
plain, and with no reference to defense,
m ,re than ono hundred and fifty years
before the battle.
The Alamo still stands in a fair state
Of preservation and is IN object of great
to strangers. IT has been en-
larged and IL now occupied by the
United States Government as n com
storehouse, but the old build
ing Is maintained intact, and the blood
stains which mark the spots whore
Bowie. Crockett and other heroes fell
fighting, are pointed out by the gentle
manly officers in charge to every one
who chooses to make inquiry. To those
not familiar with the history of the war
or independence in Texas, 1t Is well to
the information that, in n
little moro than one month after the
Of the Alamo, the battle Of
San Jacinto was fought in an open
plain between the army Of
Santa Anna, heavily reinforced, and loss
than 1000 Texans. The watchword of
the Texans in this battle was the ayenge
ment of Alamo, and so strongly did it
them, that. in q few hours Of
close combat, the Mexican hosts wore
routed, their General, Santa Anna,