The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-02

victory at San Antonio de BeXar drove the
entire Mexican army from the state. Santa
Anna, the reigning dictator, Immediately
put an army in motion to overrun the Tex
ans, and on the Esd Of February drew up
in front of San Antonio. His plan, de-
clared in advance, was to drive all revolu-
tionists out of Texas, together with all for
eigners near the sea coast and on the Dor
ders of the United States; to remove from
Texas all colonists not duly entered accord
ing to Mexican rules, and to permit no
Anglo-American to settle there. The ex-
pense of the war was to be saddled upon
the Texans.
Houston did not propose to meet the in
vaders on the outposts He deemed the
Texas army too weak, and had no faith in
the promises of friendly Mexicans along the
border. He ordered the position at San
Antonio to be abandoned, the works de-
molished and the artillery withdrawn to
the interior. The stronghold of the Texans
at San Antonio was the stone Enclosure and
buildings of the old Alamo mission on the
east bank of the San Antonio river and OPP
pOS1Je tho City. II 40 q nj ~ :. ss-1~
of 145 men under command of Lieut.. Col.
w. B. Travis. Travis had been sent to the
Alamo after its abandonment under Hous-
tons orders, by Governor Smith, The artil-
@ry had not been removed, and Travis set
to work to prepare for defense against
Santa Annals army. He asked the govern
ment for 500 regular troops, and sent word
to several outlying detachments to come to
his aid. The Alamo was not fortress, but
would answer the purpose very well if
properly manned and supplied with provis-
ions and ammunition. On the side toward
the town and facing the enemy was wall
thirty-three inches thick, and on the south,
the approach coming from the bridge, was
a prison structure, a church, and a yard
wall. The entrance was on the south.
Travis had fourteen cannon, and placed
them on the north, south and east. The
place was well supplied with water, but pro-
visions were short.
On the approach of Santa Annals army
the Texan Guard in the city of San An
tonic retired to the Alamo. The dictator
at once demanded the surrender of Travis
command without terms. The answer to
the demand was shot from the fort,
and Santa Anna opened bombardment, at
the same time running up the red flag as a
token of his purpose. His cannonading
produced little damage, and the next day,
Feb. "a, Travis sent out a messenger
to arouse the people and his comrades
elsewhere to come to his support. Said he:
II am besieged by a thousand or more of
the Mexicans under Santa Anna. / have
sustained continued bombardment for
twenty-four hours, and have not lost a
man. The enemy have demanded sur
render at discretion; otherwise the garri-
son is to be put to the sword if the place
is taken. have answered the summons
with cannon shot, and our flag still
waves proudly from the walls. l shall
never surrender or retreat. Then call on
you in the name Of liberty, of patriotism,
and of everything dear to the American
character to come to our aid with all des-
patch. The enemy are receiving REINFORCE
ments daily, and will no doubt increase to
three or four thousand in four or five days.
Though this call may be neglected, am
determined to sustain myself as long as
possible, and die like soldier who never
forgets what is due to his own honor and
that of his country. Victory or deathF'
In postscript he stated that he began
the defense with only three bushels OF corn,
but had since gathered ninety bushels ana
twenty or thirty beeves.
The following day Santa Anna crossed
the San Antonio with battalion, and at
tempted to plant battery in front OF the
gate of the Alamo. Travis resisted stoutly,
and though the Mexicans were REINFORCED
he drove them off. During the night, how
ever, they succeeded in getting two bat
teries established under protection of some
houses. They also posted some cavalry
around the place. On the Goth Santa Anna
received additional troops and increased
the number stationed before the Alamo.
The Texans sailed out at night and de-
stroved n number Of houses that might