Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-04-19
THE MASSACRE OF THE AL.
Am0.
ONE OF SANTA Annals SOLDIERS TELLS
THE STORY OF THAT BLOODY PAY.

THE STORY OF THAT BLOODY pAY.
! A Texas correspondent of the
New York World tells the follow
ing ! went with a great throng
to San Al 'nio and gathered the
facts here detailed which give the
Mexican aspect of the old familiar
story of the battle of the Alamo
The recital as given is careful
translation by Colonel Ford, COM
monty known as sold Rip" a
frontier member of the Texas Sen,
ate. The old Mexican colder, the
rabOnteur', is named Francisco Bu.
ezra, born in Gnanaiuato in 1910.
| He became soldier in 1928, was
of the army that storlncd the Ala
mo in 1886, and was captured by
the Texans at San Jacinto. He
became citizen of Texas, served
in the war Of 1867 against his
native country, and in the Confed
crate army in the war between the
States. He is now an honored and
aged citizen of Brownsville, and
his recital of facts as seen by a
Mexican at the storming of the
Alamo has peculiar value in the
eyes of your Southwestern readers.
Santa Anna was joined at Lare
do, where he crossed the Rio
Grande, by Genera. Cos, who, in
violation OF the terms of his recent
surrender at 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 praiIics,
which rendered the horses of the
whole force almost useless. Deaf
Smith, famous Texan scout, was
the author Of this mischief. Santa
Anna halted day at Medina when
he was met by Senor Novarro and
IA priest, who gave the general &C,
curate information as to the
strength--26S men in the Alamo
OF the Americans in San Antonio.
y sudden rain storm and "norther"
made the river impossible, and a
forced march and immediate as
sault impossible. Next day he re-
sumed the march, General Mora in
advance with orders to seize the
mission of the Conception. mas
sive stone structure deemed by San
ta Anna more defensible strong
hold than the Alamo. A cannon
shot was fired when the hep6 of the
advancing column reached the Gem
ctery. The town was not defended,
ard Colonel Mora was ordered t.
take a position north ard east OF
the Alamo to prevent the escape OF
the garrison. This was late in Feb
, rnary, 1886. Santa Anna led f.
900 men and awaited the coming
ot General Talza with 1000 more
. A battalion crossed the San Anto-
nio river, and took possession ot
houses below the Alamo to bnild q
bridge across the river. Thirty
men of two companies sent the
next day to make reconnaissance
, were killed. A light earthworl
~ was thrown up above the Alamo
i The firing from the fort, now in
: vested on every side, was ccaseless
: An earthwork nearer the fort Wa,
e constructed at night. On the tlirc
l day of March General Talza ar
, rived, and the plan of assault wa
defined and made known to the Gi-
;, vision commanders. On the tiftI
/ OF March scaling ladders were dis
e tribnted. At three o'clock on tn,
$ morning of the sixth, ever memor-
y able in Texan song and story, th'
II Battalion Matamoros was moved
q to a point near the river and abov,
/ tue Alamo.
They were supported by 300
;, men under General Cos, this win,
of the army being commanded b
General Castrillon, General Talz
leading that below the Alamo
Santa Anna spent the night in th
" earthworks near the Alamo. Th
= whole force was to move silentl'
upOLi liC ipl tACoS at lilS Ou&lC EOGIt
J. aud not to fire till in the. trenche
. OF the Texans. The bug.c wa
= heard at four o'clock. Genera
4 Castrillon's division after half al
;. hours desperate fighting, and atte
repeated repulscs and unheard c
|. losses, succeeded in effecting an en-
trance in the upper part of the AL
d ano in sort of outwork, now
v courtyard. The fighting had onl
It begun. The doors and windows {
If the Alamo building were barrica
ded and guarded by bags of san
+ heaped up as high as man
II shoulders, aud on the roof wer
rows Of sand bags, behind whic
q the Texans fought as men neve
fought before--lnuzzle TO muzzlt
hand to hand. Each. Texan riff
Y shot exhausted its force and sper
g itself in successive bodies of Mex
III