two siJcs, the house, with one end projecting back, making the two others. Here it was that the brave ?ililam fell. This bulwark proved an insufficient defence against the cannon of the Alamo, until it was strengthened by earth thrown up. \Vith crow bars we perforated the walls of the houses toward the square, making port holes, through which we kept up a con- stnnt fire at them, through theirs, with our rifies, not neglecting any who dared show themselves outside of their covert. In this way, and in opening communica- tions with each other by means of ditches, we spent the day, the besieged keeping up a raking fire through the streets by day and by night. The houses between us and the fortified corners of the public square, which were mo.stly of wood, were set on fire by us; the adjoining fences also, behind which the :Mexicans had sheltered themselves from our balls. Our nights were spent in extending ourselves by seizing upon new and more advantageous posts. This was done in the following manner : a company of soldiers, led on by a guide to doors least exposed, beat them down, fought their way in and drove occu- pants from one apartment to another, until their prudence made them retire, and give place to the more resolute and determined in the competition.
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