The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-03-27
Isan Antonia Te.aO Cor. or N. Y. worid.)


ican army we're greatly retarded by fires
on the prairies which rendered the hor.
ses of the whole force almost useless. =
Deaf Smith, q famous Texan scout, was
the author of this mischief Santa Anna
halted day at Medina, when he was met
by Senior Novarro and priest,who gave
the General accurate Information as to
the strength-23S men in the Alamo--of8
the Americans in San Antonio. A sud-
den rain-storm and "norther" made the
river impossible, and forced march and
immediate assault impossible. Next day
he resumed the march, Gen. Mora in ad-
vance with orders to seize the Mission Of
the Conception, massive stone struc-
ture, deemed by Santa Anna more de-
fensible stronghold than the Alamo. A
cannon-shot was fired when the head of
the advancing column reached the cem
etery. The town was not defended, and
Col. Mora was ordered to take position
north aud east of the Alamo to prevent
the escape of the garrison. This was
late in February, 1885 Santa Anna led
4 1000 men and awaited the coming of
Gen. Talza with 1000 more. A battal
ion crossed the San Antonio River and
took possession of houses below the AL
amo to build bridge across the river.
A light earthwork was thrown up above
the Alamo. The firing from the foit,
now invested on every side, was cease
less. An earth work nearer the fort was
constructed at night. On the Sd day of
March Gen. Talza arrived, and the plan
of assault was defined and made known
to the division commanders On the 9th
Of March scaling-ladders were distribu,
ted. At 8 o'clock on the morning of the
9th, ever memorable in Texan song and
story, the battalion Matamoras was NOV
ed to a point near the river aud above
the Alamo.
They were supported by 1000 men
under Gen. Cos, the wing of the army
being commanded by Gen, Castrillon,
Gen. Talza leading that below the Ala
mo. Santa Anna spent the night in the
earth-works near the Alamo. The whole
force was to move silently upon the for
tress at the bugle-sound, and not to fire
until in the trenches of the Texans. The
bugle was heard at o'clock. Gen. Cas-
trillon's division after an hours desper
ate fighting, and after repeated repulses
and unheard of losses, succeeded in ef-
fecting an entrance in the upper part of
the Alamo, in sort of out-work, now q
courtyard. The fighting had only be
gun. The doors and windows Of the
Alamo building were barricaded and
guarded by bags Of sand heaped up as
high as a mans shoulders, and on the
roof were rows Of sand bags, behind
which the Texans fought as men never
fought before-muzzle to muzzle, hand
to hand. Each Texan rife-shot exhaust
ed its force and spent itself in successive
bodies Of Mexicans packed together like
a wall of flesh. Muskets and lifles were
dubbed, and bayonets and bowie knives
never wrought such fearful carnage.
The ceaseless crash OF firearms, the
shouts of defiant, desperate, beleaguered
Texans, the shrieks OF the dying, made
the din Internal and the scene indescribs.
BILE in its sublime terrors Each room
in the building was the scene of des-
perate struggle with fearless men driven
to desperation and conscious that escape
was impossible They fought even when
stricken down, and when dying still
struggled, not with death, but to
slay Mexicans, In the lorg room used
as hospital, the sick and wounded fred
pistols and rifles from their pallets A
piece of artillery, supposed to be that
which Crockett had used during the
siege, was shotted with grape and can,
mister and turned upon the desperate oc-
cupants OF this apartment. After the
explosion the Mexicans entered and
found the emaciated bodies of IA men,
torn and rent and blackened and bloody.
Forty.two dead Mexicans lay at the door
way of this room. Bowie, whose name
tells of his fearful knife and deeds,
!, lay stark and stiff on cot in the room.
He was helpless and in bed when the
place was invested ten days before.
Eleven Texans fred with terrible ef-
feet from the roof of the building where
they used three or four field pieces, which
they charged with nails and pieces OF
iron. Buerrs, like all others, gives his
peculiar version of the story that re
counts the facts affecting the death OF
Travis and of Crockett. These two
were found living, yet exhausted by
death. dealing and lying among the dead
When Travis was discovered he gave
q Mexican gold, and while conversine
with him Gen. Cos, with whom Travis
had dealt most generously when San An,
tonic was captured by the Americans
appeared. Cos embraced Travis and in
duced other officers to join him in asking
Santa Anna to spare Travis life. The