The enemy became apprised of their situation by the supposed treachery of a Mexican in the Fort and surrounded with their whole force of infantry and cavelry they were roused from their sleep by the cry of the enemy on the walls; and as gian ls they arose to the fight and thrice drove them back. Before undaunted courage the whole host covered and were forced again to the charge al the point of the lance. They camethousands, and as a herd of catlle overrun a handful of men. But the gallant band remained undaunted to the last, and the conflict was terrible & almost superhuman. Five hundred and twenty one of the enemy were slain and as many wounded. In previous encounters they had sustained an equal loss. This statement is?- - from the fact that the fort contained cannon & musket to a very large amount captured by the Gallant Milam at the surrender of Gen'l Coss, and that each man was armed with from five to ten loaded pieces for every assault on the 6th. Capt. Jamison is said to have discharged the artilery under his command thirty times. · The generous Bonham, who with thirty-three brave fellows had entered the Fort during the siege, was found apart from his comrades with eighteen Mexican dead around him. David Crocket (now rendered immortal in Glory) had fortified himself with sixteen guns well charged, and a monument of slain foes encompasses his lifeless body. These few details are evidence of the feats of all. They were determined to conquer or die. From a merciless enemy they had no quarters to expect, and resolved to ask none. Every man fought to his last breath and not one survives. The chivarlic Travis fell in the breach, and prostrate with wounds grasped his sword and with the last ebb of life felled to the earth the officer who first entered the Fort and they both were extended lifeless corpses. The tongue of every noble spirit of whom we speak is silent in death and we anticipate in a succint and imperfect narrative the future Glory of their fame. They died martyrs to liberty; and on the alter of there sacrifice will be made many a vow that shall bread the shackles of tyranny. Thermopylae is no longer without a paralel, and when time shall consecrate the dead of the Alimo, Travis and his companions will be named in rivalry with Leonidas his Spartan band.
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