Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-08-26

deadly became the effect of tho Texa
fire, and the slaughter increased, until
despite the cavalry in their rear, the
broke and fed in confusion to thei
camps.
Santa Anna now fastened to the feel,
in person, reformed the beaten columns
and they were agnin driven forward, onl.
to be again hurled back with frightfu
slaughter.
AS the storming column fell back, tn
exhausted Texans ceased their fire, ani
Tor some minutes painful silence
rested on the bloody field, broken only
by the means of the wounded men, who
lay thick upon tho ground without, owe,
which the assailing column had passed.
1t was fondly hoped by the besieged
garrison that the tiercest OF the struggle
was over, but they were disappointed.
me v9 9hs NJ Mexican lines, officers we.a
seen huTying to and fro, gathering the
remnants Of their beaten regiments, and
tho nearly exhausted garrison prepared
for final struggle.
Success was almost hopeless. The
excitement and exertion had left them
weak and Frustrated, several of their
best men had fallen, and but few
rounds of ammunition remained. But
their firmness was mistaken. They re-
moved the dead, provided as best they
could for the wounded, and then re-
newed their pledge to stand by each
other to the last, aud never surrender
while single defender remained.
n, M M, klo I,rlr 1;,,,o of Aha ooo,o-,
driven forward MS before by the remorse.
loss cavalry aud the threats and en-
treaties of their officers 1t was the
third and final assault. They struggled
through tho Same storm of bullets, only
less severe. rs the number of brave
men had been sadly reduced; but the
yawnipg gaps were quickly closed up,
the living pressed forward to fill the
places of the dead, and the terrible
column swept to the very foot of the
wall. .
With shout CT exultation, fuller of
vcngeful hate than the whoop of an
American savage, they planted the
scaling ladders, and, maddencd with ex-
citemeut and frenzy, swarmed over the
Notifications upon the struggling pa
triots, and commenced the bntchery.
There was no giving way, no steps
backward, no Cry tor quarter. Though
as ono to ten, they continued tho fight
with dubbed muskets, and died shout
ing for Texas. The brave Colonel
Travis was almost the first to fall after
IN entrance was effected. "God save
my country, and bless my boy" were
the last words lie uttered.
The death work was rapid, and in
five minutes scarcely a dozen Texans
were left alive. Seeing this, Major
Evans FASTENED with a lighted torch to
lire the magazine as had been previous
ly arranged. He reached the spot, and
was on the point of applying the torch,
when he was riddled with bullets. The
half dozen who now remained were over
powered, disarmed, and the capture of
the Alamo was complete.
The bound captives were carried into |
;he presence of Santa Anna, who heaped
Upon them every conceivable insult, and |
finally ordered them to be taken outside |
;he camp and murdered. Among the
prisoners was the celebrated David
Crockett, who was captured with his
celebrated rifle, Betsey," which had
oeen the gift of club OF Philadelphia.
The order was brutally executed, and
Mrs. Dickinson, wife of Lieutenant.
one OF the officers, her infant
,hild, servant of Colonel Travers, and
wo Mexican women who were employed
~ the garrison, were all who remained
# the one hundred and eighty who had
ought so CALAMITY for Texan liberty.
But they were not unavenged, for before
he walls lay the bodies Of five hundred
md twenty of the enemy, while eight
hundred and fifty more lay wounded in
heir camps.
Thus fell the Alamo. In two hours
rom the first signal of assault, all was
'ver. 1t was Santa Annals last triumph
'ver Texas, for in less than two months
General Houston won the battle of San
Tacinto, and the Mexican butcher camo
trembling captive into the patriot
amp to beg for the prolongation of
ife his crimes had many times forfeited.
In the churchyard at San Antonio is a
lain small granite stone, erected by pri
ate parties, bearing the inscription
Sacred to the memory of those who
ell at the massacre OF the Alamo"