The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-03-29
The Massacre OF the Alamo as told by One OF
Santa knna's Soldiers.

a San Antonio Tex, Correspe ndent
says: The completion of "a railway, by
il Boston ian, from Houston, 200 miles,
to San Antonio, in Southwestern Texas,
has invested with fresh interest the
memories of this ancient capital coeval
with Philadelphia. Eery where in every
city and hamlet in the United States. the
play entitled "fha Alamo or, Death of
Davy Crockett" has appealed to the
passions Of the multitude. When this
railway was finished last week | went
with great throng TO San Antonio AMI
gathered the facts here detailed, which
give the Mexican aspect of the old tamil-
lar story. The recital, rs given, is q
careful translation by Col. Ford, com
monty known as "OId Rip" q frontier
member of the Texas senate. The old
Mexican soldier, the rcconteur, is named
Francisco Buerra, born in Guanai uato IN
1910. He became soldier in 1881, was
of The army that stormed the Alamo in
1886, and was captured by tho Texans at
San JacInto. He became citizen of
Texas, served in the war of 1916 4 I
against his native country, and liz the
Confederate army in the war between
the states. He Is now an honored and
aged citizen of Brownsville, and his re-
cltal of facts as seen by Mexican at the
stormng OF the Alamo has peculiar
value in the eyes of your Southwestern
readers.
Santa Anna was Joined at Laredo,
where he crossed the Riogrande, by
Gen. Cos, who in violation OF the terms
Of his recent surrender al San Antonio,
was forced To join Santa Anna and re-
turn INTO Texas. The movements of the
Mexican army were greatly retarded by
fires on the prairies, which rendered the
horses of the whole force almost useless
Deaf Smith, famous Texan scout, was
the author Of this mischief. Santa Anna
halted u day at Medina, when he was met
By Senior Novarro and priest. who gave
the general accurate information as Ia
the stren%th-two hundred and sixty
eight men in the Alamo-of the Amer.
cans in San Antonio. 4 sudden rain
storm and 'norther" made the river
impossible, and = forced march and I'm
mediate impossible. Next day he re.
sumed the march, General Mora in al
vance, with orders 10 seize the mission
of lhe Conception, Q massive stone stIuc-
ture deemed by Santa Anna more de-
fcnslble stronghold than the Alamo. A
cannon shot was fred when the head of
the advancing column reached The GENE.
tory. The town was not defended, and
Colonel Nora was ordered TO take posi-.
iion north and east of the Alamo TO pre-
vent the escape of the garrison. This
was late in February, 1886. Santa Anna
led 1000 men and awaited the coming OF
General Taiza with 1000 more. A Dat
talon crossed the San Antonio river to
take possession of houses below the
Alamo, 70 build bridge across the river.
Thirty men OF two companies sent the
Sext day 10 make reconnaissance were
killed. A light earthwork was thrown
up above the Alamo. The firing from
the fort, now invested on every side, was
An earthwork nearer the fort
was constructed at night. On the third
day OK March Genera! ralza arrived, and
the plan OF assault, was defined and made
known 10 the division comn anders. On
the 9th OF March scaling ladders were
distributed. At three O'Clock on the
morning of the 9th, ever memorable in
Texan song and story, the battalion Mat
amoras was moved to point near the
river and above the Alamo.
They were supported by 1000 men
under Gen. Cos, this wing Of the army
being commanded by Gen. Casirillau,
Gen. Talza leading that below The
Alamo. Santa Anna spent the night Ia
earthwOrkS near the Alamo. The whole
force was 10 move silently upon the tor .
ircss At the bUgle- sound and not To fire
oil ia the trenches of the Texans Tee
bugle was heard a; 4 O'clock. Gen. Cas-
Iriiions Division, alter repeated repulses
lnd anheard of losses, sueeeede in ef-
fecIing an entrance in the upper part of
The Alamo in a sort of out work, row a
courtyard. The lighting had onIy be-
.Gn. The doors and window. Of the
Alamo building were barricaded and
guarded by bags OF sand hcsped up as
high as mans shoulders. and on the
oct were rows Of sand bags, behind
rhieh the Texans fought Is men never
cuyht be.crr-muEEfc tf, ,rugzf, h-.,.i