Battle of the Alamo

“ The moment for victory and independence had come. The war-cry, Remember the Alamo! was sounded out with the charge ordered by Houston. Every soldier was aroused by the inspiring battle charge. The shout of an united army rent the air with the wild words, The Alamo! the Alamo! Terror thrilled the Mexican host. As he had been instructed to do, at that supreme moment Deaf Smith rode up on a horse covered with mire and foam, swinging an axe over his head, dashing along the Texan lines, and exclaiming, "I have cut down Vince's Bridge—now fight for your lives, and remember the Alamo." ”

“ It is right to tell the whole world such an infamy. If I had little children I would take them on my knee and teach them the story. I heard it from the lips of one wet-shod with their blood, dripping crimson from the battle—my own cousin, Xavier. He was with General Castrillon’s division. They began their attack at four in the morning, and after two hours’ desperate fighting succeeded in reaching a courtyard of the Alamo.
“They found the windows and doors barricaded with bags of earth. Behind these the Americans fought hand to hand with despairing valor. ”

“ Santa Anna.
It is my wish, that under flag of truce
Thou instantly start for the Alamo,
And there arrived, demand the fort's surrender
With all its men and arms. But am I right?
The task appears not pleasant quite to thee.
Bradburn.
Make me the leader of the Forlorn Hope,
Place me where fiercest raves the battle's roar,
But bid me not in parley to confront
Those men, whose every eye-glance, every word
Mean scorn and sneers cast on my loyalty.
Santa Anna.
Is that thy whole objection? Why, meseems,
Thy own confession puts thee in the wrong.
Bradburn. ”

“ Rarely in human history has there been such a scene. The shock of the Texan advance and attack was resistless. Everywhere the Mexicans staggered,—officers and men, whether in regiments or battalions, cavalry or infantry, were thrown together without order, each bent on individually signalizing himself. Driven from their position they fled before their pursuers. The battle was won. Riding over the field Gen. Houston gave orders for the carnage of the wounded to cease. But he had given the Alamo as the war-cry, and his men could not forget the Alamo, its horrors were too fresh in their memories. ”

“ Into the bayou horses and men rolled down together. The deep black stream became red; it was choked up with their dead bodies, while the mire and water of the morass was literally bridged with the smothered mules and horses and soldiers.”
“The battle began at three o’clock; but we heard the firing only for a very short time,” said Antonia.
“After we reached their breastworks it lasted just eighteen minutes. At four, the whole Mexican army was dead, or flying in every direction, and the pursuit and slaughter continued until twilight. Truly an unseen power made all our moves for us. ”

“ Gen. Sam Houston ordered his small force of 783 men to charge, which they did to the shout of “Remember the Alamo!” (See Alamo.) After fighting an hour and losing 630 men, the Mexicans surrendered. This decisive battle ended the war. ”

“ A prudent man completes his task at once.
So, Generals, depart ye hence and go
To tell your gallant men, that Mexico
Expects to-day to hear the overthrow
And glorious conquest of the Alamo. [Exeunt]
Scene II.
The Chapel of the Alamo. Colonel Win. Travis and Chaplain Smith standing near the altar.
Travis.
One, one more word! my last, my last to thee!
Thy post, dear friend, is at this holy altar.
Not in the battle's van. Thou, thou alone,
If spares the foe thy life, respects thy garb,
Must outlive our destruction and become
The messenger of our Thermopylae!
Smith. ”

“ They can't afford to retreat after only one battle. Santa Anna would be kicked out of power if he should fail to take the Alamo. So if we can beat him completely we shall be setting both Texas and Mexico free from the old gambler's tyranny. ”

“ They never wasted a shot. During that long and terrible fortnight it is said that nearly ten victims fell to each American rifle. With a thousand of his men shot down, and trembling in baffled wrath, Santa Ana on the fourteenth day, ordered another general assault. His officers drove their men to the breach at the sword's point.
When the smoke of battle had rolled away there was silence in the Alamo. The dead and dying strewed the ground. Santa Ana entered the fort. On the rampart, dead at his post, lay the commander, Travis, shot through the head. ”

“ RETREAT FROM GONZALES
Four days after the Declaration of Independence, news came to the convention on the Brazos of the desperate plight of Colonel William Barret Travis, under siege at the Alamo in San Antonio. Sam Houston, commander-in-chief of the Texas Army, left 6 Washington post-haste for Gonzales, to take command of the troops there and go to the aid of Travis. He arrived there on the 11th, and at about dark learned from two Mexicans who had just arrived from San Antonio that the Alamo had fallen and its 183 brave defenders massacred. ”

“ The death of Davy Crockett and the other brave men who fell in the Alamo could not be made the occasion for interference by the United States, but [309] thousands of Americans took up their cause, and it was not long before the Stars and Stripes were lowered in salute before the battle-scarred fortress, as our army passed by on its way to Mexico. ”

“ The American answer was a{265} cannon-shot. Then the Mexicans raised a red flag as a signal that “no quarter” would be given; that is, that no American could expect anything but death at their hands.
Then the battle began. The walls of the Alamo were not strong, for the convent was not built for a fort. Yet it took that great Mexican army eleven days to capture it. Among the Americans were thirteen backwoods hunters like David Crockett and Colonel James Bowie, the inventor of the famous Bowie knife then much used in frontier fighting. ”

“ On April 20th the opposing forces took up positions about one mile apart, and after some preliminary skirmishing the battle took place on the afternoon of the following day. It was hardly more than a sharp charge by the Texans, who rushed on with the cry “Remember the Alamo,” and quickly overcame the Mexicans. Santa Anna fled, but was afterwards captured. The Texans lost only about 30 in killed and wounded; the Mexicans, 1360 in killed, wounded, and captured. ”

“ Thou, Kimble, let him through the western gate
Safely depart as first with bandaged eyes,
But that the enemy may glean the sooner
Our answer to their ignominious threats,
Thou, Dickinson, have forthwith all the cannon
Upon the south-side fired against their lines,
So that their iron messengers proclaim
With thundering tone into the tyrant's ear:
Above their lives, o'er wealth and high estate,
Americans freedom and honor rate;
We are prepared for death; now storm, now rave.
The Alamo's debris shall be our grave!"
[All depart with the exception of Travis and Crockett.] ”

“ He took command of their forces, eleven hundred stark riflemen, and at the battle of San Jacinto, he and his men charged the Mexican hosts with the cry of "Remember the Alamo." Almost immediately, the Mexicans were overthrown with terrible slaughter; Santa Anna himself was captured, and the freedom of Texas was won at a blow.
HAMPTON ROADS Then far away to the south uprose A little feather of snow-white smoke, And we knew that the iron ship of our foes Was steadily steering its course To try the force Of our ribs of oak. Down upon us heavily runs, Silent and sullen, the floating fort ”

“ While singing the last two lines, the defenders of the Alamo, Travis ahead, with Santa Anna's sword raised high in the air, leap to the crest of the breach, where the front ranks of the enemy are just appearing. Before the onslaught of the Texans, the Mexicans fall back, followed by the former, so that they are wholly lost out of sight by the spectators. ”

“ Night closed prematurely in with fitful gusts, mingling the moans and strife of nature with the roar of artillery. Still the fury of the onset abated not: the Alamo shook to its firm basis. Despairingly the noble band raised their eyes to the blackened sky. "God help us!" A howling blast swept by, lost in the deep muttering of the cannonade. Then a deep voice rung clearly out, high above the surrounding din: "Comrades, we are lost! let us die like brave men!"
The shriek of departing hope was echoed back by the sullen groan of despair. Travis fell, fighting at the entrance. ”

“ The sneers of ages and the scoffing voice
Of generations, as their hearts rejoice
O'er my defeat ! [Roaring.] Hast heard what I have said?
Soldier.
[Gasping for breath.]
Yes, yes!
[Santa Anna unloosens his grasp and goes away.]
His Excellency has sure gone mad!
[Exit soldier.]
Scene VIII.
The Chapel of the Alamo, darkened but illuminated from without by the glare of the rockets, indicating the bombardment. The divine service, held there for the last time, is Just being concluded by the soldiers, who, lying on their knees, intune the
PRAYER BEFORE BATTLE. [2]
1. ”

“ I hasten to report, that Santa Anna
Was spied surveying o'er the grounds, no doubt,
To mark the places where the batteries
Shall be erected to bombard the Alamo.
Against their cannon, mortars and cohorns
Our guns, light as they are, cannot avail,
Nor will our walls for any length of time
Withstand their onslaught. What is thy command?
Travis.
Nought more we can perfect in our arrangements,
And if we could, our men are too fatigued
By day-alarms and nightly toil of watching.
Their efforts must be spared, till comes the end! ”

“ Also, they undervalue the Mexican soldiers. I assure you they do. They fought Spain for ten years; they do not want, then, the persistence of true valor. The Americans may die in the Alamo, but they cannot hold it against the thousands Santa Anna will bring with him.”
“They will die, then. They have no thought of retreat, nor of any deed that argues fear. Every man relies on himself, as if in his hand the moment of victory lay.” ”

“ For the first time in their lives they had seen an army. The southerly prairie was nearly level, traversed along its farther border by a winding stream of water. On this side of the stream, in long lines, in columns and in detachments, marched several regiments of infantry attended by batteries of light artillery. On their flanks and in the advance rode strong bodies of lancers. There were flags and pennons, and the serried bayonets wore a warlike look. There were even bands of music.
"Heap Mexican!" exclaimed Red Wolf. "Tell Big Knife."
"Alamo men all die," replied Castro. ”

“ Fearing every moment to see the victorious Texans at the heels of their retreating infantry, they had orders to dash in, at the first glimpse of the advance-guard of the enemy. But night closed and none appeared, and, dreading the morning light, many lay down to sleep at the close of that eventful day. Several hours elapsed, and then the Texan forces, under General Burleson, wound across the valley, and settled along the verge of the town. The Alamo was beleaguered. ”

“ The Mexican army, upon reaching San Antonio, began firing upon the Alamo. Their cannon riddled the fort, making wide breaches in the weak outer walls through which from every side thousands of Mexicans thronged into it. The Americans emptied their muskets and then fought 213with knives and revolvers. They fought with desperate bravery until only five of the soldiers were left. ”

“ There were many fine fighters, but Houston was the only statesman; and to him the arduous duty naturally fell. In the meantime Lamar and Burleson with 200 picked men attacked the Alamo Fortress. It was defended by General Cos with 1,000 men and forty-eight cannon; but on the afternoon of the third day's fighting surrendered to the Americans. This was but the first act in the drama, for as soon as the news reached Mexico, Santa Anna with a large "army of subjugation" was on the road to Texas. ”

“ His large, bright visage, serious but hopeful, seemed to sun the camp. “They live too long,” he cried, “who outlive freedom. And I promise you that you shall have a full cup of vengeance. For every man that fell fighting at the Alamo, for every one treacherously slaughtered at Goliad, you shall be satisfied. If I seem to be flying before the enemy now, it is for his destruction. Three Mexican armies united, we cannot fight. We can fight them singly. And every mile we make them follow us weakens them, separates them, confuses them. ”

“ At nine o'clock two murderous discharges of double-shotted grape and canister from a cannon planted in the doorway of the room used as a hospital, and filled with helplessly wounded Americans, ended the bloody tragedy, for of Travis's noble band no man remained alive. So terribly had they fought that five hundred and twenty Mexicans were killed in that final assault, and as many more were wounded, while, including all who had fallen beneath the unerring Texas rifles during the siege, the Alamo had cost Santa Aña over two thousand men. ”

“ I die with my wounded, in the Alamo."
The Bowie gasped, "Lead me over that line!"
Then Crockett, one hand to the sick, one hand to his gun,
Crossed with him; then never a word or a sign
Till all, sick or well, all, all save but one,
One man. Then a woman stepped, praying, and slow
Across; to die at her post in the Alamo.
Then that one coward fled, in the night, in that night
When all men silently prayed and thought
Of home; of to-morrow; of God and the right,
Till dawn; and with dawn came Travis's cannon-shot,
In answer to insolent Mexico,
From the old bell-tower of the Alamo. ”