The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-03-15
TRAGIC HISTORY
OF FAMED ALAMO
Is Interesting To Every
Patriotic Texan.
FIERCE FIGHTING IN THE FORT
Has Been Preserved In Legend
By Battle Cry "Remem.
Der the Alamo"
DAvY CROCKETT TOOK A PART

When the massacre of the Alamo
occurred on March 6, 1886, there
was a cry for vengeance over the en-
tire country. Hardly an American
in Texas able to bear aims but who
presented himself to avenge this
crime. Remember the alamo" was
the battle cry when Sam Houston
and his largely augmented army
went out to meet the Mexicans.
Sam Houston, of Tennessee, had
served with Gen. Jackson in the In
dian wars. He had gone to Texas
with the distinct object of wrestling
that country from Mexico. Revolu-
tionary commissions in Mexico gave
the American colonists welcome OPP
portunities for complaints, which led
to collisions with the, Mexican au-
thorities.
Gen. Santa Anna who, by sue
cessful revolutionary stroke, had
PUT himself at the head of the Mex
lean government, attempted to re-
duce the unruly Americans to ODE
dience. In 1885 armed conflicts
took place in which the Americans
frequently had the advantage. The
Texans declared their independence
from Mexico on March 2. 1886. The
declaration was signed by about six
ty men, among whom there were
only two of Mexican nationality.
Meantime Santa Anna advanced
at the head of a Mexican army, en-
tered Texas and on February 23 laid
siege to the Alamo fort at San An
tonic. Atrocious butchery marked
the progress of his soldiery The
Mexican general made frequent as
saults upon the fort to route the de-
tenders. The small handful of
Americans, however, were able to
withstand the siege for eleven days.
They were starving, but in spite of
this they were able to inflict death
upon about 800 of the enemy.
When the siege was at its height,
Davy Crockett, with about thirty
frontiersmen, cut his way through
the Mexican forces and, rushing into
the fort, shouted. Boys. we're here
to die with you!' Finally the day
came when the little band could
Withstand the assault no longer. 1t
was the memorable 9th of March. 1t
was a hand-to-hand struggle, but
each American before he gave up his
life made the enemy pay an awful
toll.
Col. James Bowie was one of the
bravest of the Americans, and when
his body was discovered it lay in the
center of circle of slain Mexicans.
Mad with rage at the Alamo trag-
edy, Sam Houston gathered the set
tiers together. He showed an unu-
sual amount Of strategy. Knowing
that his band of followers would not
be able to compete with the Mexi-
cans. he retreated in order to scat
ter the pursuing Mexican force until
San Jacinto was reached.
At San Jacinto the Americans
charged the Mexican force, which
was much superior in number, but
throughout the roar of cannonading
and the rattle of musketry, that
wild yell, Remember the Alamo"
could be constantly heard above the
din. 1t stirred the patriots and
made them fight like demons. In
barely twenty minutes after the
first onslaught the Mexicans were
flying in every direction with Hous-
ton and his men following them.
Houston had his horse shot from
under him and a bullet had smashed
his own ankle. This made no i'm
preston upon him. for he paused
not for a moment until the entire
Mexican force was destroyed. The
Mexican loss was 1900 killed and
captured, and among the latter was
Santa Anna.
II was the battle of San Jacinto
that secured for Texas her indie
pendence and for his valor Sam
Houston received as his pay the
honor of being the first President of
the new republic. which was later
to become the largest State in the
Union. II was through Houston's
influence that ten years later Texas
became member of the United
states-with the result. the Mexican
war. Texas, by the way. has been
under no less than six fiags--those
OF France. Of Spain. OF Mexico. OF
the Texas republic. OF the Southern