enemy was inconsiderable, and our people were occupied in making and filling sand bags, and otherwise strengthening our lines. Al daylight on the 7th, it was discovered lhal Lhe enemy had, during the night previous, opened a trench on the Alamo side of the river, and on the left flank, as well as strengthening their battery on the cross-street leading lo the Alamo. From the first they opened a brisk fire of small-arms, from the last a heavy cannonade, as well as small-arms, which was kept up until eleven o'clock, when they were silenced by our superior fire. About twelve o'clock, Henry W. Karnes, of Captain York's company, exposed lo a heavy fire from the enemy, gallantly advanced lo a house in front of the first division, and with a crowbar forced an entrance, into which the whole of the company immediately followed him and made a secure lodgment. In Lhe evening, the enemy renewed a heavy fire from all the positions which could bear upon us; and al half-past three o'clock, as our gallant commander, Colonel !Vlilam, was passing into the yard of my postion, he received a rifle shot in the head, which caused his instant death, an irreparable loss al so critical a moment. Our casualties otherwise during this day, were only Lwo men slightly wounded. At a meeting of the officers at 7 o'clock, I was invested with the chief command, with Major Robert C. Morris (late captain of the New Orleans Grays) as second. At Len p. m. Captains Lewellyn, English, Crane and Landrum with their respective companies, forced their way into and took possession of the house of Don Jose Antonio Navarro, an advanced and important postion, close lo the square. The fire of the enemy was interrupted and slack during Lhe whole night, and the weather exceedingly cold and wet. The morning of the 8th continued cold and wel, with but liLLle firing on either side. At nine o'clock the same companies who look possession of Don Jose Antonio Navarro's house, aided by a detachment of the Grays, advanced and occupied Lhe Zambrano Row, leading to the square, without any accident. The brave conduct on this occasion, of William Graham, of Cook's company of Grays, merits mention. A heavy fire of artillery and small-arms was opened on this position by the enemy, who disputed every inch of ground, and who, after suffering a severe loss in officers and men, were forced
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