The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-08-01

when they capitulated to the Texans at
the Mission de la Espada and were al
lowed to march out with their arms.
munitions OF war, provisions, etc., and
JOIN the Mexican army then in the field
against Texas), and, if this was not
willingly conceded to them, they would
willingly take all the chances of war.
The bombardment was effectually
commenced on the 9th of the same
month. During this time the Mexican
forces were joined by several bodies of
infantry, making about 1000 men.
On the 4th of March the President
Santa Anna called council of war to
consider the mode of assault of the Ala
mo, and they decided to make the as
sault on the 9th, at day-break, in the
following manner: On the North, Col
Don Juan Baptisto Morales with the
battalion "Firmas !" of San Luis Poto-
si; on the west, Col. Don Mariana Sa-
las, with the battalion of Albania; on
the south, Col. Jose Vicente Minon,
with the battalion of infantry; on the
east a squandron of lancers fanked by
ditch to cut off the retreat at the time
of the assault. These lancers were COM
manded by Gen. Don Joaquin Ramires
Serna.
The assault took place at 3 80 a. m. on
the 9th, and was so sudden that the fort
had only time to discharge four of the
eighteen cannon they had.
The fort Alamo had only one en-
trance, which was on the south, and the
approach was made winding to impede
the entrance of the cavalry. The Mex
lean infantry, with ladders, were lying
down at musket shot distance, awaiting
the signal of assault, which was to be
given from a fort about cannon-shot
to the east of the Alamo, where the
President Santa Anna was with the mus
ic of the regiment of Dolores and his
staff to direct the movements. In the
act of assault a confusion occurred, oc-
casioned by darkness, in which the Mex
lean troops fired on each other. A cul-
verin, or 16-pound howitzer, fired from
the fort, swept off a whole company of
the battalion ALBANIA, which made the
attack on the point toward San Antonio.
After that we all entered the Alamo,
and the first thing we saw on entering
the room at the right was the corpses of
Bowie and Travis. Then we passed to
the corridor which served the Texans as
quarters, and here found all refugees
which were left President Santa Anna
Immediately ordered that they should be
shot, which was accordingly done, ex-
cepting only negro and woman hay
ing little boy about a year old. She
was said to be Travis's cook.
Sixty-two Texans who sailed from the
east side of the fort were received by
the lancers and all killed. Only one OF
these made resistance; a very active
man armed with double-barrel gun
and single-barrel pistol, with which
he killed corporal of the lancers man,
ed Eugenio. These were all killed by
the lance, except one, who ensconced
himself under bush, and it was neces-
sary to shoot him. !,
There in front of the fosse were gath
cred the bodies of all those who died by
the lance, and those killed in the fort,
making a total of 283 persons, lnclud-
ing a Mexican found among them. who,
| it appears, had come from La Bahla
(Goliad) with dispatches; and here they
were ordered to be burned, there being
no room in the campo santo or burylng-
ground, it being all taken up with the
, bodies of upwards of 400 Mexlcans VINO
{ were killed in the assault.
After few days column was organ
, ized which marched on San Felipe, ther
1 the capital of the State OF Texas: inns
column was composed OF battalons 5, o
i Aldama, Morales, Matamoras ana 10
luca (the battalions were not numbered
? as in these days). On nearing the tow
/ of Gonzales, the negro and the woman
S whose lives had been spared at the Ala
D mo. and another negro who was VIII
the Mexican troops, were sent forwaf'
with a proclamation of the President
n Santa Anna, offering to spare the ilVe
s and property of those who had mo
}, thrown off their allegiance to the Mex
e can Government. But no one put an
l. faith in it. and the people fired the tow
It and took to the woods, taking with tnei
the negroes and the woman. Noood
t, was found there.
Is The column marched on 10 ene r,se !,
IS Colorado, and then to a Point caiIe can.
q Atascoso. whence the President, SAM
>. Anna. dispatched some 80 lancers TO oa
!. Feline. which they found already ourl
a ed There we remained TWO OF tnfs
days. 49,. oarche
,e with the companies of cazadores al
It orenadiers of the battalions OF Mofa1G ,
FL Natamoras, Aldama and Toiuca' anu anu
dragons, in the direction OF .ne ,.s,naiar niah
j. River, the rest Of the column rem rema,nt1 u i
\ M at said river. Santa Anna arrived at Il
San Jacinto.
a Tn the interval of days came a steam am
"a "a from above San Felipe, in when we
ar ar the most distinguished persons amo, mo-
III | the Texans. but even IL W0 A :.