USA > Tennessee > Old tales retold; or, Perils and adventures of Tennessee pioneers > Part 15
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In Tennessee and some other States in the Union we perpetuate the memory of his achievements by annually celebrating the 8th of January, the day on which the battle was fought and won.
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XXI.
THE FALL OF THE ALAMO.
IT was in the spring of 1836. The Texas prairies surged in continuous billows of bloom under ceaseless Texas winds, while three men were nearing the end of their journey across the plains. They were typical fron- tiersmen in appearance, fully armed with guns and pistols as well as long Bowie knives thrust in the belt of their hunting shirts. Though differing in many respects, each of the rough borderers carried in his bosom a patriotic heart that burned with zeal to up- hold the cause of American independence in Texas. They had ridden together hundreds of miles through perils from wild beasts and hostile Indians, for the sole purpose of going to the assistance of those Tex- ans who were resisting the Mexican despot Santa Anna. Together they had braved storms and floods on the way to reach the town of Bexar (since called San Antonio), where Col. Barrett Travis, from North Carolina, had collected one hundred and forty-five Americans to withstand the advance of the whole Mexican army. The case of the Americans was known to be desperate. Unless relief, in force, should speedily reach them they were doomed to destruction. Three thousand Mexicans under the red banner that meant "no quarter" were marching upon the place. Nevertheless the frontiersmen eagerly pressed on to-
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THE ALAMO AS IT IS TO-DAY.
The Fall of the Alamo.
ward the flag of freedom which floated its stripes and single star of Texas over Bexar.
The youngest of the three, who acted as guide for the party, was but a simple bee hunter from the woods of Arkansas. He had beguiled the time with many a jest and anecdote on the way, and at the moment was singing the last lines of an old song :
"But home came the saddle, all bloody to see,
And home came the steed, but home never came he."
The singer here turned to his companions, explaining modestly that there was a girl on Red River waiting for his return who had sung that song to him when he left home.
"No girl is waiting for me," said the man on his right, with an accent that betokened a better educa- tion than that of the bee hunter. "I have come out to Texas to stay and live an honest life, or else die in fighting to uphold free government against the tyranny of Santa Anna. I have promised our friend here to give up gambling as a calling and turn my back on an evil life."
To this the third man tersely replied, "Be sure you are right, 'Thimblerig,' then go ahead;" then, after a reflective pause, added, "By giving your life to freedom you may yet win an honorable name. Most men are remembered as they died, and not as they lived. One of you," he continued, "has forsaken his sweetheart to fight for Texas, the other has given up his way of life, and, not to be behind you, I have left my family alone in my cabin down in the cane of Tennessee, forty miles from town. As soon as I heard that the Tex- ans were up, I felt that I must join them. My wife
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begged me to stay; but if every man waited for his wife to tell him to go to war, we would all stay in our homes."
The last speaker was a man of striking appearance. His swarthy skin and dark, bright eyes showing be- low a fox skin hat gave his face the look of a wild creature of the forest. Born and bred a backwoods- man, he had chiefly depended on mother wit and con- tact with the world to supply what had been left out of his education. He was in the habit of boasting hu- morously that he could "spell with any of them as far as 'crucifix' in the speller," where he had left off at school, and declared that he wanted "no college de- gree, but a degree of common sense."
Strongly built and muscular, he was a hunter of big game in the forest, his exploits in the wildernesses of his native Tennessee being favorite themes for fire- side tales throughout the State. In truth he was fa- mous as the best shot in the United States with his an- tiquated gun "Betsy ;" for this was the notorious "Old Davy Crockett, of Tennessee," whose quaint sayings and speeches on the hustings and in the halls of Con- gress had become household words in many States besides his own. Such was the trio who were hasten- ing to join Colonel Travis, with a fixed resolve to become members of his devoted band. They watched their chance, eluded the Mexican outposts, and slipped into the death trap from which less brave men would only have wished to escape. As they entered the American lines cheer after cheer went up from Trav- is's men. "Old Davy" with "Betsy" on his shoulder was worth, as they believed, a dozen common men, and the other two were welcomed as his friends.
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The Fall of the Alamo.
Travis and Bowie and all the reckless men of the border they commanded recognized Crockett as the match for the hardiest among them in courage and endurance. His unfailing good humor and his odd turns of speech made him the center of interest among his comrades. It was his droll wit and unlimited store of anecdote that kept them all in heart while they were awaiting the approach of the enemy. And when the Mexicans eventually surrounded Bexar, and it became necessary for the American patriots to retire to the Alamo, an old mission house near the town, which they converted into a fort, Crockett was conspicuous among those who set about making it secure. He and his friend, the bee hunter, were active in planting the American flag on its battlements, and the latter burst forth into patriotic song as its folds floated in the air. In a clear, full tone of voice that made the blood tingle in the veins of all who heard him the Arkansan sang, "Up with your banner, Freedom, thy champions cling to thee ; They'll follow where you lead 'em, to death or victory," etc .- an effort which was greeted by three cheers from all within the fort.
Still later when the Mexicans, having entered the town of Bexar, began a furious cannonade against the Alamo, it was David Crockett who was most skill- ful among the sharpshooters in picking off their artil- lerists. "'Betsy' never told me a lie," he would say, taking aim at a gunner. "She always sends a bullet just where I tell her," and immediately a Mexican would fall. In this fashion, with Betsy's help, he killed no less than five men at one cannon. Though other men in the fort were almost equally skillful, the Mex- icans they slew were quickly replaced with new men
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from the reënforcements which poured into Bexar at Santa Anna's call.
It was useless to expect a handful of men, however brave, to hold out against his overwhelming numbers of trained soldiers. If help should not come immedi- ately from Goliad and Refugio, whither messengers had been secretly sent, the Alamo was lost. And if it should fall, the defenders would have small chance of their lives, for no mercy need be expected from Gen. Santa Anna.
Realizing their desperate situation, Travis exhorted his men to fight to the last extremity. The shout that answered him showed that the men understood the full meaning of his words. They were resolved to sell their lives dearly. But to make sure of their stead- fastness, Travis drew a line on the ground with his sword and said: "Those who want to fight it out with me come inside this line. Those who have had enough, and think they can escape, go outside." Every man of them stepped inside the line, except one-a Mex- ican-who went, no one knew whither.
On the very next day the messenger to Goliad was spied coming back across the plain on the run. Half a dozen Mexicans were after him. No time must be lost if he was to be saved. "Go ahead !" shouted David Crockett to a small party, including the bee hunter, who hurried out with him to the rescue. "Be sure you are right, then go ahead!" The sudden onslaught scattered the pursuers, but in the excitement of the chase after them which followed, the Americans went so far that they were cut off by a new squad of the enemy who got between them and the fort. Thus they were forced to fight their way back through ten times
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their own number. In trying to reach the gate the bee hunter was mortally wounded. With Crockett's help he managed to get inside the fort, but did not live long afterwards. At midnight, as the breath was leav- ing his body, the poor bee hunter was heard softly singing :
"But home came the saddle, ali bloody to see,
And home came the steed, but home never came hc."
The sharpshooters were still doing all they could to hold the enemy in check until help should arrive. But on March 3 David Crockett wrote in the daily record of events which he kept throughout the siege, as fol- lows : "We have given over all hopes of receiving as- sistance from Goliad or Refugio." The entry for March 4 was: "Shells have been falling into the fort like hail during the day." And on March 5 it was : "Pop, pop, pop! Boom, boom, boom, throughout the day. No time for memorandum now. Go ahead ! Liberty and independence forever!" This was the last entry. In spite of all their efforts a great gap had been battered in the wall, and there was nothing to keep the Mexicans from entering.
The fort was stormed before dawn on Sunday morn- ing, March 6. Rank after rank, battalion after bat- talion, the enemy moved forward under cover of dark- ness, and poured through the breach in four columns, aided by scaling ladders, axes, and crowbars. Though the case was hopeless, the border men met them boldly. There was no question of yielding, for the Spanish bands were playing "Deguelo" (cutthroat) as a signal that no quarter was to be shown. And above the church of Bexar the red flag had not ceased to wave for fifteen days in token of "vengeance against reb-
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els." The Mexicans dashed in on a run, and soon drove the Texans to close quarters. Then followed a hand-to-hand fight with pistols, Bowie knives, and guns that were clubbed. The watchword of the American patriots was "God and Texas," and their cry was "Victory or death."
One who witnessed their heroic struggle and lived to tell of it was a woman who was acting as nurse to Col. James Bowie, the second in command, a brave officer from North Carolina. Though Bowie was prostrated with typhoid fever, he had his couch placed where he could see the fray, and at times take part in it from his bed. In the course of the fight a Mexican ball grazed the nurse's chin and gave Colonel Bowie his death wound. All around was tumult and de- struction. Every American was fighting to the death. The dead and dying strewed the stone floors of the fort, and in places were heaped up as if the spot were a veritable slaughter pen. Many, many more Mex- icans were killed than Americans, yet there were but few defenders of the Alamo left at the end of half an hour. The dying Colonel Bowie unfortunately fell into the hands of the Mexicans alive. Lying mor- tally wounded, he was discovered by two of the offi- cers, one of whom asked the other: "Do you know him ?"
"I think," was the reply, "that it is the notorious Colonel Bowie, who invented the Bowie knife," where- upon they dispatched him in a particularly cruel man- ner.
Colonel Travis had also been mortally hurt by a bullet wound. As he staggered under the shock, a Mexican officer rushed upon him with a drawn sword.
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The Fall of the Alamo.
The sword of Travis leaped to meet it in the air, and each sunk his weapon in the breast of the other.
At daybreak David Crockett still held out. The old hero was almost alone. With a few comrades he had retreated to the inner citadel. There in an angle of the fort he stood with his back planted against the wall with his shattered rifle in his hand, and a ring of dead foes piled around him. At his feet lay "Thim- blerig," the gambler, who had died fighting for free- dom, and redeemed his ill-spent life.
Trained battalions had fallen back aghast before Crockett's obedient weapon, until finally Gen. Castril- lion himself had to come in person with fresh troops before the undaunted backwoodsman was taken alive. He and five others surrendered under promise of pro- tection. Now Santa Anna had issued instructions that no quarter should be shown in any case, but Castrillion was not cruel by nature, and, seeing that all the other Americans were dead, he decided to lead the prisoners to headquarters. Saluting his commanding general, he said: "Your Excellency, here are six prisoners I have taken alive. What shall I do with them?"
Santa Anna's brow darkened. Casting a fierce glance at Castrillion, he answered : "Why do you bring them to me? Have I not told you how to dispose of prisoners?" Acting on the hint, several officers plunged their swords into the bosoms of Crockett's companions. The old hunter, left alone, fixed his keen eyes on Santa Anna. As though he were closing with one of his forest adversaries, he sprang at the Mexican commander's throat. But before he reached his prey a dozen carbines were emptied into his body. There was a smile on the sturdy Tennesseean's lips
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when he fell-a martyr to liberty. He was the last of all the defenders of the Alamo to die. Every per- son in the fort had been put to death with the exception of a woman, an infant, and a negro slave, who were only spared to be sent to General Houston, command- er of the American forces, with an offer of peace based on the condition that the Texans should submit to Mexican rule.
To this offer Houston, who was another indomitable Tennesseean, made answer to Santa Anna, saying: "True, sir, you have succeeded in killing some of our bravest men, but the Texans are not yet conquered."
Later events proved the correctness of Houston's assertion. "The Texans were up" to stay until their independence was achieved. In the month of April, 1836, at the battle of San Jacinto, their battle cry was : "Remember the Alamo!" With this slogan they fell upon the Mexicans, and at sundown Texas was free.
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XXII.
A TENNESSEEAN IN TEXAS.
FROM being a poor country boy Sam Houston had by dint of hard work made a competent fortune and risen to the position of Governor of Tennessee at the early age of thirty-four years. Imagine, then, what a shock it was to the entire State when, soon after his inauguration, Governor Houston resigned his office and stepped down from his place as ruler of the common- wealth. Without a word of explanation, he gave up his political hopes; and at the same time, without a word of explanation, he abandoned his young bride, to whom he had been married only a few months be- fore, and left his native State as a self-made exile.
A sad secret which has never yet been fully told lay behind his strange conduct. A disappointment or a sorrow, the nature of which the young statesman would not tell even to his nearest friends, had wrecked his life, as it appeared, forever. Turning his back on home and friends alike, Sam Houston forsook civilized parts and took refuge in the wigwams of the Cherokee Indians, who had lately been removed by the gov- ernment from the Hiwassee country to Arkansas.
But wherever he might be placed, Houston was des- tined to be a leader. Whether in the legislative assem- blies of Tennessee or in the councils of a savage tribe, it seemed that he was to be head man. He gained great influence over the Cherokees, and soon rose to be
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the principal chief of the nation. From holding this singular position he was called on a few years later to become the head of still another government.
The Texans were at that time struggling to throw off the yoke of Mexican despotism. Believing that they could find no more fit leader for their cause than the brave, honest Sam Houston, they urged him to come to them and take charge of their tangled govern- ment affairs. Though a man of simple ways and one who had received little military training, he was chosen as the commander in chief of the Texas army. As such he must cope with the skillful Spanish-Mexican general, Santa Anna, whom his followers styled the "Mighty and Glorious." Nothing had heretofore checked the success of the ambitious President-Gen- eral of Mexico. The Alamo had recently fallen into his hands, and soon afterwards a number of Texans under General Fannin, leaving Goliad to join Houston, had been forced to surrender to one of Santa Anna's officers and return to Goliad as captives. By the terms of surrender the Texans were to be treated hon- orably as prisoners of war, and were to be sent in a few days to the United States. On the evening of March 22, 1836, the prisoners were solacing themselves with music and songs. The thoughts of many were turned to "the States" by the strains of "Home, Sweet Home" upon the flute, when a courier from Santa Anna rode into the gate of Goliad. The mysterious manner and sinister glances of the messenger, together with the secret dispatches given by him into the hands of the commanding officer, boded no good in the opinion of Dr. Shackleford, a Texas surgeon who was quartered · with the Mexican colonel in command. Suspecting
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A Tennesseean in Texas.
that treachery was intended, he looked appealingly at his host for an explanation. But the question in Shackleford's eyes was not answered.
At dawn next day the surgeon's uneasiness was still greater on being aroused from sleep by an unusual stir in camp. The Texas soldiers were being separated into two divisions. One half were marched off toward the south, and the other half were conducted eastward a little way from the camp. Now came the loud noise of many guns firing from the south, then volleys were heard from the east. Shackleford exchanged startled glances with the Mexican colonel. Shouts of "Hur- rah for Texas !" mingled with cries of pain rose above the uproar of the guns. "Can it be possible," asked the surgeon, "that they are murdering our men?" The Mexican officer bent his head in shame as he reluctantly replied : "It is true, but I did not give the order nor execute it."
What is known in history as the massacre of Goliad had taken place. At Santa Anna's order three hun- dred and thirty prisoners of war had been put to death. On hearing of this inexcusable violation of the rules of civilized warfare General Houston resolved to con- quer the commander who was responsible for it or die in the attempt. He considered that the treacherous policy of the opposing general must be met by vig- orous, firm action on his own part. There must be no uncertainty, no delays. He determined in carrying out his plans to rely solely on his own judgment and to conduct his campaign without consultation with any one else. "I hold no councils of war," he said; "if I err, the blame is mine." Accordingly, on his own responsibility, he began on March 26 the
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memorable retreat which drew the Mexicans after him across a great part of Texas. Starting from Gonzales, his little army traveled many weeks, followed by the large force under Santa Anna. It was disheartening to the handful of men to be led, as it appeared to them, aimlessly over weary stretches of prairie where there was but little food and less water to sustain life. Yet, however hungry or thirsty or tired they might be, they were not allowed to stop. Dragging with them their only two pieces of artillery (the gift of the city of Cincinnati to Texas) which the soldiers called the "Twin Sisters," they moved forward steadily, follow- ing Houston, they knew not whither nor to what end. Rather than continue in this state of doubt, starvation, and fatigue, they would have been glad at any time to meet the Mexicans in pitched battle. But Sam Hous- ton had other views for his army. To their entreaties for a fight he replied: "Texas cannot survive two bat- tles. You cannot afford to merely check the enemy. He must be completely whipped, and the work must be done in one fight." Knowing that the time had not come to make a stand, Houston retreated, with the Mexicans at his heels, until the 20th of April, when both armies were encamped near the San Jacinto River. Then, his plans being matured, Houston said to his men: "Be ready for action at any moment. You shall soon have fighting to your satisfaction."
At noon of the 21st, at the request of his officers, a council was held. Houston thought an attack should be made at once, but the majority of his officers feared the strength of the enemy's position. Santa Anna was reported to be there in person, and it was believed that his eighteen hundred veteran troops would be
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more than a match for the seven hundred raw recruits of the Americans. Notwithstanding these reasonable objections, Houston resolved, on his own responsibility, to make the attack. He had chosen his ground care- fully and had made up his mind that here was the place and now was the time to give battle. He be- lieved firmly that he could defeat the Mexicans, and he made all his arrangements for victory alone. With this end in view he resolved to cut off the retreat of the enemy across the Brazos River, though in doing so he would make it impossible for his own army to es- cape in case they were not successful. Calling two of his soldiers to him, he placed an ax in the hands of each and said: "Now, my friends, take these axes and make your way to Vince's bridge; cut it down and burn it up, and come back like eagles, or you will be too late for the day."
At dawn the next morning Houston, lying in his tent, gave three loud taps on the drum that stood be- side his bed, then calmly turned over to take the rest that had been denied him during the anxious night. Instantly the camp was astir. With much commotion horses were being saddled, arms put in order, and everything was being made ready for the attack. Dur- ing all the clatter of preparation Houston slept quietly. Not until the earliest sunbeams pierced his closed eye- lids did he spring from his cot, exclaiming buoyantly : "The sun of Austerlitz has risen again !" At his order the "Twin Sisters" were wheeled to within two hun- dred yards of the Mexican breastworks, and the troops were drawn up in line of battle. Addressing them, their commander said: "Fellow-soldiers, do you wish to fight? There is the enemy before you." "We do!"
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was the answering shout. "Well, then," said the gen- eral, "remember it is for liberty or death. Remember the Alamo. Remember Goliad." "We shall remem- ber," rang along the lines in a mighty volume of sound. At that moment the messengers who had been sent to destroy the bridge across the Brazos came riding furiously among the troops, each crying aloud : "I have cut down Vince's bridge. Now fight for your lives and the Alamo !"
The Texans realized that retreat was cut off for them as well as for the Mexicans. They must win the fight or perish. An advance movement began all along the line. The Americans pressed forward, shouting as they ran: "Remember the Alamo! Re- member Goliad !" Without a halt, they went directly against the breastworks of the enemy and, poking their guns across them, poured their bullets straight into the columns of the Mexicans at close range. At the same time the "Twin Sisters" were pounding away at the solidly massed eighteen hundred Mexicans. With enthusiasm the Texans drove their astonished foes before them. The cavalry on the right and the infantry on the left were equally successful in herd- ing the enemy before them like startled sheep, while the center won its full share of glory on the field of San Jacinto by capturing the whole of the Mexican artillery and turning their own guns on the flying foe. On the right, on the left, in the center, General Hous- ton was one moment here, the next moment there, ever in the thickest of the fight, regardless of bullets, heedless of the danger of being often in front of his own firing line. Within twenty minutes the battle was won. The Mexicans were in confused retreat.
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The Texans were after them in hot pursuit. It mat- tered not that the way led through a deep morass-the dead bodies of Mexican men and horses soon formed a bridge over the swamps upon which the Americans safely crossed. Though few of the Texans were hurt, their commander had two or three horses shot from under him, and was himself severely wounded in the ankle. Still he did not falter. At the head of his men he followed the fugitives. The slaughter of the Mexicans was enormous. Six hundred and thirty were killed, and seven hundred and thirty were taken prisoners. £ Houston, on the other hand, lost but eight men. A large quantity of arms, numbers of horses and mules, and all the enemy's camp equipage, including an army chest containing twelve hundred dollars in silver, fell into the hands of the Americans.
The chase was stopped only by nightfall. Early next morning it began anew. Detachments were sent in every direction to hunt for fugitives. A party of five, searching along the edge of a morass, spied a Mexican, who ran from them and stumbled into the quagmire. They closed in around the man, and found him sunken almost to the armpits. With hard work the Americans lifted him out. When the mud which bedaubed him had been partially scraped off, an offi- cer's fine uniform began to show through the remain- ing mire. "Who are you?" inquired the rough West- erners of the soiled exquisite. "A private soldier," was the mendacious reply. With loud, derisive laughter the Texans pointed to the jeweled studs in the muddy shirt, and called for a more reasonable an- swer. "If you must know," said the pitiable creature, "I am an aid-de-camp to Santa Anna."
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