Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-26

that they would defend their liber-
ties and not lay down their arms till
the Mexican soldiers were driven
from Texas soil that Mexico could
no longer claim her allegiance, but
they would remain loyal to her if the
constitution oflS2l could be restored.
Santa Anna infuratcd at this resis-
tancc, sent large bodies Of troops 10
compel submission. But he little
realized the metal Of the men who
were'defying him, untilon the 10th
of December, 1885, the Mexican GEN
eral Cos was compelled to surrender
San Antonio to their fierce assault.
During January and February all
things tended TO acrisis, until on that
memorable day, March 2, 1896, when
the Texan declarated ofindependence
ldissolyed forevefth ties with Mexi-a
co, and the word rang sharp and
clear all over lie broad territory thai
"the people ofTeXas do now constitute.
a free, sovereign and independent re-
publicp Well did these brave souls
know what that declaration meant.
They realized that defeat meant utter
annihilation. Monterey could beck
pected from the bloOd-stained hands
of Santa Anna, and little did these
nobIemen-thmk that in four fateiul
days their first sacrifice to this hated
monster would be the bodies of one
hundred and cighty-threc of their
braveicomrades. .t5E G.G3y-ar.
One Of the first points of attack by.
the Mexican hosts of about 5000 men,
led by Santa Anna hinselfMas upon
the Alamo, an old mission, compos-
ing lOrt,ichnrch and court yard, cree
ted by the missionary priests in I744.
On the 22d Of February, as this army
approached San Antonio, Col, Travis
with his mere handful of men fell
back to the Alamo and prepared for
siege. Santa Anna despatched u
messenger demanding surrender. In
answer cannon ball went crashing
forth. Tlien above tlIe church in the
city tloated a blood-red dag proclaim
Ing TO that devoted band No quar-
ter. Still they were defiant, and the
words of William Barret Travis, Feb.
2l, 1886, sent out of the fort for hclpto
San Felipe and GOliard, will live in
history aud ring down the ages
memorial of The supreme devotion of
those men, 81 shall never surrender
or retreat. ] am determined TO Sus-
tain myself as long as possible, aud
like a soldier who never forgets his
own honor and that Of his own coun-
try, Victory OF. DEATH lie well
knew that his own life blood would
seal that decision. Let us speak rev.
erently Of his sacrifice of the goldiest
fellowship of knights of which this
world holds record. One can well
imaginc The council held between
those defenders of2TcXas led by Ira
Wis, Bowie, Crockett and Bunham on
the eve of the assault. Bravely had
they considered their position, and
bravclyEhad they determined to offer
up their lives for the liberties oftheir
beloved State. Like Leonidas and
his three hund.ed chosen ones who
fell at ThermopylH, they went down
to the black death, but their own
grandeur shed a haloover even death.
They knew every moment they kept
Santa Anna at. bay was precious to
Texas. They knew they were giv-
ing Houston and their colleagues
time to prepare and organize for
battle which would give birth to a
nation, and so they calmly resolved
to die. We can imagine how the old
en- time memories Of their childhood,
happy and fafr, III the far away
North and East came sweeping DER
chem !. How q mothers tears and
prayers had baptized them as they
kissed her farewell alas! forever,
How little they thought that going to
Texas meantfgoing towar, to defeat,
to death, in the flush of their brave
young manhool.v But with thoughts
ofniotliel5 home, wife and child be-
fore them, they untlinchingly faced
their fate. In the words of
another, well might have sung julia
Ward Itowc's ''Battlc Hymn of the
Republic" ag
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was horn
| 4 ~ aGioss tllQ sea, q ft. f..tI
Hiol uoSbii tHiti lolf
and me,
As lie died 10 make men holy, let us die ia
make men free.
That Saturday night was the last
they would ever spend on earth, for
ore the setting Of the sun on that
bright Sabbath day-that Lords day
which they cousecraied by the holiest
sacrifice, the shedding of their blood
for f'reedom-their souls had fled
from their poor mutilatcd bodies to
the presence Of the God of the free
and company of the vast army of the
blessed martyrs who have given up
life to make the world noblcr and
better. G83IS Ht .la&sEN :
ALL the sickening horror of that
bloody assault. AT the sound of the
bugle for the Mcxicans TO make the
charge upon the garrison every Tex
an sprang TO his post, and poured up
on the advancing columns a shower
of grape ana muskct and rifle balls.
But Overwhelming humber soon
| made a break in the walls. Brave