resign his commission and return to his colony. His resignation was accepted, though with sincere regret, and Col. Edward Burleson was elected in his place. Skirmishes were now frequent, and some of them very severe; among these was the grass fight; several of the Mexicans were killedand a few of the Texans; quite a number were wounded on both sides. A brisk cannonade was kept up both by Mexicans and Texans. At length Col. Burleson came to the conclusion that he would force his way into town. This he did in the night. _We entered the town on the morning of the fifth of December and look possession of the Veramendi house, and the north part of the town in which the Veramendi house is situated. Our riflemen were now so situated that they could fire the Mexicans as they came up to their cannon; so they did us but little injury, and, at length we got possession of a part of their cannon. Soon after we came into the town, on the tenth day of the month, the Mexicans surrendered the town and army to the Texans. The Mexican army was permitted to retire from Lown and take away all their munitions of war, on condition that they would never fight against any of the Texan forces any more. It gives me pain to mention that the brave and noble hearted Col. Milam was killed at the laking of San Antonio, by receiving a musket ball in his head. A great many of the Mexicans were killed; The Texans sustained a loss of comparatively few in number. The army elected Barret Travis, Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, and after leaving him in possession of a part of the army, the rest dispersed to their homes. Col. Travis with Cols. Crockett and Bowie now fortified themselves in the Alamo for the purpose of keeping possession of the town. Our army owe many thanks to the brave inhabitants of San Antonio, who, although native Mexicans, still ranked themselves on the side of liberty, and fought bravely with the Texan forces. Were all the Mexicns such ardent lovers of liberty as the citizens of San Antonio, we should not now be left to fight our battles alone. A gloomy future lays spread out Lefore us. We know not what success will attend our arms. We are but a mere handful of men to fight against a powerful nation. But we are determined that we will not submit Lo the will of a tyrant. Born and bred in a boasted land of freedom, where the bright sun of
321
Powered by FlippingBook