*i^*\Vfi>- -* ** 1 J *y 
 
 REESE LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
THE 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE ALAMO 
 
 A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY. 
 
 KOUR ACTS, WITH: 
 
 HIRAM H. MCLANE, 
 
 Author of " IRENE VIESCA; a Tale of the Magee Expedition in 
 the Gauchipin War in Texas, in 1812-13," Etc. 
 
 Dulcc tt (ItcorWiti (:8t pro 
 
 As fall the Antinini I< i :u c<, 
 From untiini iy frosts; 
 So fell tliis band of noble men, 
 Nipped by tyranny. 
 
 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: 
 SAN ANTONIO 1 KINTTNU COM FAN Y, 1MMNTKKS AND 15INOKH!?. 
 
 1886 
 
Kntercd according to Act of Congress, in the year 1SS(5, l>y 
 
 HIRAM II. McLAXE, 
 In tlie Ollic.e of the Lilirarian of Congress, at \Vashin.u-fon, I). C. 
 
THE ALAMO AS IT NOW IS. 
 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ( UNIVERSITY ) 
 
 211991 
 
To every lover of Liberty, having the right 
 appreciation of the sacrifices made by men, in 
 alt ages of the world, to secure it for them 
 selves and, their fellow-men, this work is re 
 spectfully dedicated by 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
Jrreiace. 
 
 THIS TRAGEDY was written to be placed upon 
 the boards, and is now published to be sold for 
 the purpose in part of raising funds to erect a 
 suitable MONUMENT on the spot where they fell, 
 to that band of noble men who sacrificed their 
 lives for their country, on that memorable occa 
 sion, of which a very faint outline is herein 
 given. 
 
 References will be found in the body of the 
 work directing attention to corresponding ones 
 at the end or back part, where will be found ex 
 tracts from YoaJcum S History of Texas, contain 
 ing accounts of the scenes and incidents which 
 have served as a foundation upon which to con 
 struct the work itself. 
 
 As a venture, the object is a laudable one. 
 As to its merits, either as a literary production 
 or a successful dramatic delineation, the success 
 which may attend its presentations on the stage 
 should it be so fortunate as to ever get there 
 and the sale of the volume, will be the best cri- 
 terions by which to judge ; and to these tests it- 
 is now submitted, to stand or fall, as the case 
 may be, by the 
 
 AUTHOR. 
 
 Antonio, Texas. 
 
"Prologue. 
 
 o 
 
 The world in every age doth claim, 
 Its heroes who have died for fame ; 
 A Koine, a Greece, a Troy hath spread 
 A record broad of noble dead, 
 Who each one there his life laid down 
 For worldly honors and renown. 
 And our own Alamo doth claim 
 A list not known so well to fame. 
 But with the aid of HOMER S strain, 
 They would a place in it obtain. 
 Yet, what by pen we here record, 
 May still such place to them afford 
 As shall to you, in part portray, 
 The sacrifice they made that day, 
 When each one there his own life gave 
 To freedom for their country save. 
 Since, but for those who thus then fell, 
 None yet would there in freedom dwell ; 
 And, therefore, honor meet we d pay 
 To all who fell upon that day. 
 And what shall here to you be shown, 
 Will hist ry be together thrown. 
 Though in a fragmentary way, 
 Of what occurred from day to day, 
 As he, the Arcli Dictator came. 
 
10 Prologue. 
 
 A full surrender to him claim 
 
 Till those, who rather chose to die* 
 
 Than to surrender or to fly, 
 
 Gave up their lives at most of cost 
 
 To his o erwhelming storming host. 
 
 And this our purpose too we have, 
 Besides to honor those so brave ; 
 By in this form to you to tell, 
 How Travis and his comrades fell ; 
 To see if Shakspeare has a fame 
 To which no others may lay claim. 
 And if our style is somewhat quaint. 
 And neither gay nor grave does paint. 
 In tragic some, in comic more, 
 ]STot filled with with wit, nor yet with lore, 
 It does the trains of thought pursue, 
 As culled from facts of history through. 
 And may constructions bear, thus placed 
 By e en those rules the most straight-laced. 
 
 And though to purpose first to tell 
 How Travis and his comrades fell, 
 We have the second added to ; 
 As question put to each of you 
 We ll not for answer make demand, 
 Till you have heard unto the end. 
 
iBramati 
 
 ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA Dictator of Mexico 
 
 DON MARTIN PERFECTO COS 
 
 Brother- in- law to SANTA ANNA, and General in Mexican Army 
 
 GENERAL FELISOLA ~| 
 
 GENERAL CASTRILLON ... 
 
 GENERAL RAMIREZ I" \ Officers In 
 
 GENERAL SESMA I the 
 
 GENERAL GAONA Mexican Army 
 
 COLONEL ALMONTA J 
 
 MRS. GAONA Wife of General GAONA 
 
 MEXICAN SOLDIERS 
 
 MAJOR NIXON 
 
 JUDGE FORBES 
 
 GOVERNOR VIESCA } Nacogdoches 
 
 DON IRALA 
 
 CITIZENS 
 
 W. B. TRAVIS, COLONEL COMMANDING 
 
 COLONEL DAVID CROCKETT 
 
 COLONEL JAMES BOWIE 
 
 COLONEL J.B.BONHAM I"~" Inmates 
 
 MAJOR EVANS 
 
 LIEUTENANT DICKINSON.. . of 
 
 SCOUT AND SENTINEL 
 
 MRS. DICKINSON AND CHILD 
 
 Two MEXICAN WOMEN.... 
 
 NEGRO SERVANT TO TRAVIS... 
 
 the Alamo 
 
THE CAPTURE OF THE ALAMO. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I. Gen. GAONA S quarters at Guerrero. 
 Mrs. GAONA seated, with "book in hand. 
 
 [Enter tici-nta Atuni.\ 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Why do you come here at this hour. 
 
 To honor bring me by your presence ( 
 
 How knew you that T was alone: 
 
 And feared you not you d meet my husband? 
 
 SAXTA ANNA. 
 
 Nay, trust me; that Pve guarded well 
 Against such chance of meeting. 
 For ho a mission has awav. 
 As he obeys my special orders. 
 To answer give you to the rest, 
 I ve sought your presence now; 
 As first. Pin driven by desire 
 That hourly would bring me to you. 
 Since naught of rival you need fear. 
 Save and except my strong ambition. 
 And next, tis this does bring me here. 
 To all my plans to yon unfold. 
 Since now Pm trusting none but vou. 
 
14 The Capture of tlte Alamo. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 But why not seek one who can aid 
 To farther on your plans thus formed? 
 A woman s sphere does ill become 
 Such grand designs. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Nay; I Avould not my honors share. 
 By joining with me others. 
 No; I am iiot in search of aid, 
 But only wish for confidence; 
 And since to woman that "belongs 
 At least when man does wish to place 
 I come with mine, as with my heart, 
 Before I ve done to you. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 But pray, why not then go to her, 
 Who by the right of marriage vows 
 Will sharer "be in all your honors. 
 And should, too, have your confidence. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Aye, we as children seek for toys, 
 And then in youth to fancies go, 
 And when to manhood first we come. 
 We still retain enough of each 
 That they do oft for us then form 
 What we accept as our ideals, 
 And which may all through life remain. 
 But only though as then in form. 
 But what our riper judgments claim 
 As meet for fit companionship, 
 
Tlie Capture of tlie Alamo. 15 
 
 Is of more solid substance formed 
 Than toys or fancies. 
 And whilst in her I see the one, 
 I find in full in you the other ; 
 And so, 1 brought you my devotion. 
 And as you have accepted that, 
 I d have go with it, confidence. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Speak on, then, if to serve your will, 
 The purpose brings recital ; 
 What ear I have for such high aims, 
 I will it lend unto you. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 So far my cause is well in hand, (a) 
 
 The Congress does my will obey ; 
 
 And all who would resist my power 
 
 Do keep their opposition close. 
 
 Or else have from the country fled, 
 
 Except these few in Texas. 
 
 Aye, there s my bosom friend, Zavalla, (b) 
 
 He to whom I owe my power ; 
 
 And he would too have had me halt 
 
 And put a check to my ambition. 
 
 But then in haste I made him fly, 
 
 And when he d tied I did pursue, 
 
 And do his capture yet demand. 
 
 Since favors done, nor friendships shall 
 
 My way to powder supreme hedge up. 
 
 And as I ve said except for Texas, 
 
 Which does still the standard raise 
 
 Of rank rebellion gains i my power, 
 
16 Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 I should in peace and quiet reign 
 
 Supreme o er all the land. 
 
 For what of power that still does seem 
 
 To in the Congress yet remain, 
 
 Is but the merest sham ; 
 
 And when the plan which I ve matured, 
 
 To be for future rule for Texas, (c) 
 
 Shall have been passed by them in form,. 
 
 As I have deemed best it should be 
 
 For but prudential reasons, 
 
 I will in haste dismiss them then, 
 
 And will so rule that none shall dare 
 
 My right to rule to question. 
 
 For he, who would such rule assume, 
 
 Must have no sharer but his will ; 
 
 And since I ve willed that you should be 
 
 Made well acquaint with all my plans 
 
 Thus guarding gainst e en chance betrayal 
 
 I will unto you make that known, 
 
 Of which by purpose I have willed 
 
 Shall be my future plan for Texas : 
 
 I have it written on this sheet, 
 
 That it may to my tools be sent 
 
 For their lank-formed endorsement. 
 
 [He reads ~\ 
 
 ;i To drive from that one province all 
 
 Who have assisted in the war, 
 
 As well as all of foreign-birth 
 
 Who do reside near to the coast, 
 
 Or on the borders of the neighboring nation.. 
 
 And to remove into the Central States 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 17 
 
 Those who no part have taken in the war ; 
 To make as void all sales and grants of land 
 Now owned by those who re not residing there ; 
 And remove from Texas all who had not come 
 Into the province and enrolled, 
 In manner as prescribed by the nation s laws, 
 For colonists enacted. 
 To portion out amongst the soldiers 
 All those lands as of the parts the best ; 
 Provided they will dwell thereon, 
 And then permit no one to settle there 
 Who is of Anglo American blood; 
 Bnt sell the lands remaining 
 To the French five million acres, 
 And to England s sons the same, 
 And to the Germans somewhat more. 
 Unto the Spanish-speaking subjects, without 
 limit. 
 
 And for meeting all expenses of the war, 
 
 To make the Texans pay the same ; 
 
 To satisfy the Indian claims, 
 
 And liberate all slaves brought to the province 
 
 And make of them good citizens." 
 
 Such is the plan that I ve devised; 
 
 And I must, too, with all dispatch, 
 
 The same unto my minions send, 
 
 That I their sanction may obtain, 
 
 As I must yet, on vested rights 
 
 But tread with care, and lightly, 
 
 Lest I perchance too much arouse 
 
 True Anglo-Saxon blood. 
 
 For they whom I would thus prescribe 
 
 Have from their mothers milk imbibed 
 
18 Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 Too much of freedom to submit 
 To aught not backed with legal forms; 
 But when tis vested thus, and sent 
 To be enforced by writ of court, 
 Then shall a force be brought to bear 
 Which shall the country of them rid; 
 And I may then in safety reign 
 O er all the land supreme. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 As nature doth the fawn protect 
 By want of scent from prowling beast, 
 Till if hath strength and fleetness gained 
 To its pursuers far outstrip- 
 So hath a prescience been thy guide 
 In thus maturing all thy plans, 
 As their success thus far doth show, 
 And which does future promise give 
 Of grand results in termination. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 But hold ! one act I ve not disclosed, (d) 
 Which by decree I had them make, 
 Which w ill the "Uriiigo * Dogs" make nee 
 Like hunted wolves before the hounds, 
 Or battle do, e en unto death. 
 Which last would meet my wishes most, 
 Since them I ll meet with convict force, (e) 
 And deem them dead as but good riddance- 
 And therefore it is meet I should 
 Make all due haste, and get to Bexar 
 
 * Cr/;r<.-An ampliation -iven to the Am. ricans by the Mexican 
 in retaliation for their being- called Greasers by them; and the signifi 
 cation is much the same. 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 19 
 
 Before its purport shall "be known 
 
 To other portions of the State, 
 
 And they be roused to their defence, 
 
 As I did due precautions take 
 
 To have it reach there in advance 
 
 Of my own coming by the space 
 
 Of but a few days, at the most. 
 
 So that they cannot notice give 
 
 To other points, from which there may 
 
 Unto them succor there be sent, 
 
 As with my force I can, with ease, 
 
 Their present force o erwhelm ; 
 
 But lest they through some other way 
 
 The purport of it do obtain, 
 
 I must my stay at once cut short 
 
 And be away, as it is better they should not 
 
 From Bexar escape, and join their force 
 
 To those of others farther east. 
 
 That act to which I have referred 
 
 Is that in which it is decreed 
 
 That all of foreign birth wlio re found 
 
 In open arms against me, shall 
 
 Be dealt with as with pirates. 
 
 And if such shall be strictly done, 
 
 Good riddance shall be got of all 
 
 Who would my peaceful rule obstruct. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Your plans do like the winged birds fly 
 From point to point, with so much ease 
 That none so wary found may be 
 As of themselves, to thwart them. 
 And though of pride my boast may seem. 
 
20 Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 I can but boast it with a pride, 
 That I have been so worthy thought 
 As to be by you so far trusted. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 None fears the brink, when cliff s not seen; 
 Nor shuns abyss, when not exposed ; 
 And they but fear a tyrant s will, 
 To whom that tyrant s power s disclosed. 
 [ The bugle-call heard in the distance.^ 
 Aye, there s the bugle-call, and I must away, 
 And to the review. 
 
 [Exit Santa Anna.~\ 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Aye, he but little knows of woman s will ; 
 He did discourse of confidence. 
 Do tyrants seek such ? Then tis well ; 
 He ll iind his in me not misplaced 
 For weal to those he seeks to rule, 
 But to his own high aims, a bar. 
 But I must play my part with care, 
 And shield myself and husband ; 
 For, whilst I seem to him to yield, 
 He ll not suspect our purpose, 
 And thus we can our plans pursue 
 To render service to our friends, 
 Whom he has said alone do check 
 Now place to his ambition. 
 I must my husband, too, acquaint 
 Of this, his coming and his plans, 
 That we together counsel take, 
 That he, perchance, be thwarted. 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 21 
 
 SCENE II. A large hall in the house of MAJ. 
 NIXON, at Nacogdoches, with citizens assembled 
 to entertain with a feast DON AUGUSTINE VIESCA, 
 the deposed Governor of Coahuila and Texas, and 
 his secretary, DON IKALA, who had escaped from 
 Mexico and sought an asylum there. A table is 
 set with dishes and the guests seated, with MAJ. 
 NIXON at the head, the Governor on the right, 
 and IE ALA next. (/) 
 
 MAJOR NIXON. 
 
 Whilst here, awaiting that the servants shall 
 bring in 
 
 And fill these empty plates with savory viands, 
 Tis well we should by other feast be fed ; 
 As all our minds and hearts do hunger, 
 And would e en fain be fed 
 
 By that which would impart more strength 
 
 unto them " 
 Than the savory viands we ve prepared, to 
 
 make the feast 
 
 In honor of these here, our guests, shall do un 
 to our bodies. 
 
 The threatened famine of the heart and mind, 
 Which at this hour does make us lank and lean, 
 Is that destruction of our chartered rights, (g) 
 In superceding all those guarantees of 24, 
 Thus blasting hopes of peace and quiet 
 Round our own hearth-stones ; 
 By that dictatorship and centralizing power, 
 Which all the States save this, our own, 
 It ready holds in thraldom ; (a) 
 And at this moment threatens us, alike, 
 
22 Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 With chains and slavery. 
 
 For what besides & peonage can come to us, 
 
 If tamely waiting for that coming horde, 
 
 Of those, the creatures of that central power 
 
 In form of standing army, (a) 
 
 Made up of minions but to do a tyrant s bid 
 ding ? 
 
 And what shall then become of all the rights 
 
 Assured by acts and laws in aid of coloniza 
 tion, (k) 
 
 And contracts made thereunder ? (u) 
 
 What says our worthy guest. 
 
 Has he fit meat with which to feed us ? 
 
 DON VIESCA. 
 
 That savory dish of most of which I d spread 
 
 your board, 
 Is that one purpose which does all your actions 
 
 strongly mark, 
 
 Of firm resistance to that central power, 
 And which alone can lead to such results 
 As shall the least of promise give of future 
 
 fatness. 
 
 The purpose is, as it to yon I would impart 
 And which by chance I did obtain- 
 Through plan submitted from Guerrero 
 By that tyrant, Santa Anna, to his pliant Con 
 gress, 
 
 And the confirmation of the Avhich, too, by them 
 Has the more become assured 
 Since they have shown themselves to be 
 The creatures of his power, 
 Set up, in forms of law, to do his bidding, (a) 
 
The Capture of tlie Alamo. 23 
 
 The plan, I say, thus formed, 
 
 And but submitted for their sanction, 
 
 That the veil, though thin, 
 
 Of seeming grant of power 
 
 May to you e en seem thus confirmed, 
 
 Is to drive from that province all 
 
 Who have assisted in the war, 
 
 As well as all of foreign birth 
 
 Who do reside near to the coast, 
 
 Or on the borders of the neighboring nation ; 
 
 And to remove into the Central States 
 
 Those who no part have taken in the war, 
 
 To make as void all sales and grants of land 
 
 Now owned by those who re not residing there ; 
 
 And then remove from Texas 
 
 All who had not come 
 
 Into the province and enrolled, 
 
 In manner as provided by the nation s laws. 
 
 For colonists enacted. 
 
 To portion out amongst the soldiers 
 
 All those lands as of the parts the best, 
 
 Provided, they will dwell thereon. 
 
 And then, permit no one to settle there 
 
 Who is of Anglo-American blood; 
 
 But sell the lands remaining 
 
 To the French, live millions acres, 
 
 And to England s sons, the same, 
 
 And to the Germans, somewhat more, 
 
 Unto the Spanish-speaking subjects, without 
 
 limit. 
 
 And for meeting all expenses of the war, 
 To make the Texan s pay the same. 
 
24 Tlie Capture of tlie Alamo. 
 
 To satisfy the Indian claims ; 
 
 And liberate all slaves brought to the province 
 
 And make of them good citizens. - (c) 
 
 Such is the disli they are preparing for your 
 
 palates ; 
 
 And, but for efforts strong and joint. 
 They yet will thrust it down your throats. 
 
 [Enter Citizen. } 
 CITIZEN. 
 
 I come to bring you tidings of good news unto 
 
 our cause. 
 A chief of note his presence presses on our 
 
 threshold now. 
 And even at this moment enters full within 
 
 the town, 
 
 Enroute to active scenes of warfare, 
 Where his former prestige and his present 
 
 valor 
 
 May be placed within the scale 
 To aid in bringing down the poise 
 Upon the side of our wronged rights. 
 And I am here to give you notice that no other 
 Than the noted son of Tennessee, 
 The daring DAVID CROCKETT, 
 Does our town thus honor with his presence, 
 And our cause does wish to strengthen 
 By the making it his own. (/) 
 
 MAJOR NIXON. 
 
 This news comes, at this juncture of affairs, 
 To bear with pleasing sense upon our minds. 
 And lift from them somewhat the weight 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 25 
 
 Which the recital to us made 
 Of plans and purpose of the central power 
 To subjugate us to its will, did thereon place. 
 And it is well that we have been assembled here 
 As we the better may him show without delay 
 A due respect unto his coming. 
 And now, with full consent- 
 As it I know I have of all those present 
 I will him bid unto the feast, 
 That we may gain, from his own lips, 
 The causes moving to his actions. 
 And perchance to learn from him 
 Of others being like-minded, 
 Who yet will follow on, to swell 
 The number of our scanty forces ; 
 And I therefore pray you bid him enter, 
 And let us his first coming greet 
 In fitting style, by rising to our feet, 
 And, with the sound of three good rousing 
 cheers, 
 
 To make the hall reverberate. (/) 
 
 [Exit one of the company, who returns with 
 Crockett, when Tie is greeted with three cheers, 
 and is placed in front of Viesca and to the left 
 
 of Nixon. ] 
 
 MAJOR NIXON. 
 
 Thrice welcome to the feast our cheers hath 
 made you ; 
 
 And not unto our feast alone, but to our cause, 
 
 Since we have been advised tis it 
 
 Hath thus you brought into our borders, 
 
26 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 And we, "before we order that these dishes shall 
 
 be tilled 
 
 With meats, to make of body cheer, 
 Do beg you to recount if so it please you 
 The reasons for your coming ; 
 Arid, too, advise us of that state 
 In which our cause is held 
 Within the land from whence you came, 
 And what of others, if such there be, 
 Who, having heard of our great straits, 
 And having deemed our cause as just, 
 Have purposed too, themselves to place 
 Within the scale, which right and justice hold, 
 And with us, aid in bringing down the poise 
 To answer to our just demands. 
 Our guests, to whom we first to honor here 
 
 were met, 
 
 And who that honor now will with you share, 
 Are with us joined, 
 And are like sufferers with ourselves, 
 In wrongs inflicted. 
 
 Since DON YIESCA, he who does you there con 
 front, 
 
 And with whom I would have you made ac 
 quaint, 
 
 Did for adherence to the right, 
 The tyrant s power feel, 
 And was from his high office forced, 
 And by his daring only did escape, 
 And reached by stratagem these shores, (li) 
 A fit companion only having in IRALA, 
 He upon his right, and being then his secretary, 
 And unto whom I would you, too, present, 
 
Tlie Capture of tlie Alamo. 27 
 
 So that in future you may know each other 
 As but worthy workers in a common cause. 
 And so, in your recital here, you none will have 
 Save those who re linked in like strong bond 
 Of common interest. 
 
 Speak on, then, if it please you to address us 
 now, 
 
 Whilst we shall list ners be. 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Friends and feller citizens : 
 Yer has struk me rite this time, yer did, 
 As yer see I ar bin usenter this kinder thing 
 For fourteen yar in old Tenner see, 
 And in congress yer see. 
 For yer see ther nabers arl reck nd 
 As I war ther best coon hunter any whar round, 
 I could also hunt out the rascallertys 
 They had hearn sumhow or ami ther 
 War gwine on in Washinton. 
 And so, yer see, they stuk me up to run 
 Agin sum on yer hiferluten city chaps, 
 And, aiitho they could tarlk 
 Like hail fallin on a board pile, 
 And use slathers o big words, 
 Yet the nabers arl thort 
 They war not my match 
 In huntin out things. 
 
 And tharfore they sent me ter Washinton 
 To try ter hunt out ther rascallory things done 
 thar. 
 
 Wall, when I got thar, 
 
 I went rite ter work ter see what I could do, 
 
28 Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 And I scented round, and scented round, 
 
 Like old Tige, my best coon dorg; 
 
 But I couldn t find nutliin but a cold trail, 
 
 And which allers run rite inter ther same hole, 
 
 And that war strate throo 
 
 Ther treasury house door, it war. 
 
 But when I got in thar, 
 
 Arl war as quiet as death thar, 
 
 And yer wouldn t have thort, 
 
 Ter have seed them chaps in thar, 
 
 That anything wrong had bin done thar 
 
 Since ther old house war built. 
 
 So I kept my eye skinned 
 
 Arl thro ther time I war thar, 
 
 And just afore my second term war up 
 
 I struk a fresh trail, 
 
 And cum home brim full of fight for anuther 
 
 trial, 
 
 And I torld my nabers 
 If tha would jest send me back agin. 
 That I knowd I could cotch ther old fox, 
 With arl ther little ones, 
 And ther coons besides, ther next time. 
 But ther fellers when ther found 
 I war on ther hot trail, 
 Tha bought up arl ther noospapers, 
 And hired arl ther blab-mouthed fellers in ther 
 
 country 
 
 Ter go round mongst my nabers, 
 And tell them arl kind er cock and bull stories, 
 And when I found how ther cat war gwine ter 
 
 jump, 
 I jest torld my nabers 
 
COL. DAVID CROCKETT. 
 
Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 31 
 
 That if ther war gwine ter listen to all ther 
 stuff 
 
 Them fellers war gittin thro them, 
 And did n t send me back ter Washinton, 
 That then ther might arl go ter 
 Wai, yer knos, ter that bad place - 
 And I would cum ter Texas. 
 For yer see when I war in Washinton, 
 I hearn so much 
 
 About the way Mexerco war treatin Texas, 
 I would have cum rite off 
 Ter have helped whip her outen her boots ; 
 But then yer see 
 I wanted ter first f oiler up 
 Ther hot trail I had found ; 
 But when my nabers arl went back on me, 
 And sent ther Mother feller ter Washinton, yer 
 see, 
 
 I skipped rite out for these diggins. 
 
 And liar I ar now, jest ready ter pitch in 
 
 And lick ther blue blazes outen old Mexerco, 
 
 In less time ner it usened ter take 
 
 My old dorg, Towser, 
 
 Ter kill er baby coon in his best days. 
 
 And now, I want yer ter show me ther way 
 
 To ther biggest coon fite thars gwine ter be. 
 
 As for them other fellers, 
 
 What war talkin er bout cummin. 
 
 They were too slow coaches for me, 
 
 And I would n t wait for em, so I would n t ; 
 
 But I reckon as how, 
 
 There ll be a rite smart sprinkle on em 
 
 Alone- arter a while. 
 
32 Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 And now, that ther trail ar hot, 
 
 Let me go thro ther motions ter onct, 
 
 So that I can go havers with yer 
 
 In dividin ther game. 
 
 Bring on yer book, 
 
 And let me stick my fist rite ter it ter onct, 
 
 And then I shall he ready to cut ther eye-teeth, 
 
 By putt-in ther hger four over ther eyes, as big 
 
 "as a bar s foot, 
 
 Ov whoever will dare to raise a finger 
 Gainst our Texas. 
 
 MAJOR NIXON. 
 
 Come, let us first partake of the repast, wich 
 
 I fear 
 
 Has ready grown sodden, 
 By reason of our long delay 
 In the issuance of our orders for its serving. 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 No, no! Old DAVY CROCKETT never yet let his 
 
 dorgs loose 
 
 With stomachs filled with nabers food 
 And then demanded share o game. 
 Xo, no; let me first go through ther motions. 
 And then I ll jine yer in ther feast, 
 MAJOR NIXON. 
 
 Away, then, to the proper office we will go, 
 And let his wishes thus be met. (/) 
 [A scene is drawn, showing the office of Judge 
 Forbes loith the Judge seated at a table with 
 writing material. Enter Nixon, Crockett and 
 citizens. ] 
 
Tlte Capture of tli e Alamo. 33 
 
 MAJOR NIXON. 
 
 Though oft on errands like we ve come, 
 We yet have not before, like this, 
 Been called to leave a feast unserved, 
 And yet prepared and left unserved 
 For reasons strange as this has been. 
 Since this, our guest whom we have called, 
 Does so refuse to join with us 
 Until he does allegiance bear unto our cause; 
 And thus we ve brought him unto you, 
 That you may in a proper form 
 A legal subject of him make, 
 That thus he may, as he desires, 
 Be equal with us in demands of rights, 
 As well as sharer in our fasts and feasts. 
 
 JUDGE FORBES. 
 
 It is his purpose, then, to take the oath 
 That s been by our own chiefs prescribed ? 
 If such his wish, tis well ; the form is this : 
 I, A. B., of my own free will, and with intent 
 And purpose full, and knowledge clear 
 Of what I m thus required to do, 
 By this, my act, do here renounce 
 All form of liege I e er have borne, 
 Or yet do bear, 
 
 Unto the lands from whence I came, 
 And true allegiance thus assume 
 Unto that form that s been prepared 
 For rule of Texas, 
 
 Or such other form as shall in future be decreed 
 By those who shall be then her rulers. 
 Dost sign ? 
 
34 Tlte Capture of tlie Alamo. 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Old coon, I reckon, now, you ll hardly get me 
 
 thai* ; 
 The trail I m on does only have the scent of 
 
 a Republic. (./ ) 
 
 MAJOR XIXOX. 
 
 How then; shall not the change be made 
 
 To suit his wishes ; 
 
 Hath not our chiefs so thus decreed? 
 
 For who among them. 
 
 If himself thus brought to make the choice, 
 
 Would not demand the same ; 
 
 And who among them 
 
 Deems aught else but a Republic possible ? 
 
 JUDGE FORBES. 
 
 Then let it so be done ; 
 
 The change I ll make, and let him sign. (/) 
 
 [He changes. ~\ 
 
 The change is made, and thus it reads : 
 "For rule of Texas, or such other form 
 As shall in future be decreed 
 By those who shall be then her rulers. 
 If that form be a Republic." 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 That ars it now ; that s ther trail I m runniir on, 
 And let me stick my fist ter onct ter it. 
 
 [Crockett signs, (nid Judge Forbes, looking at 
 the signature, says :] 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 35 
 
 JUDGE FORBES. 
 
 What ! art thou he of whom we ve heard so oft, 
 
 As in the wilds of Tennessee 
 
 Thou didst the game with hounds pursue ; 
 
 And when to Congress thou were sent, 
 
 The hall was tilled with thy quaint speech, 
 
 And with thy rustic tales did all enchain ? 
 
 Then welcome to our cause, 
 
 Since thy valor, like thy speech, 
 
 Hath thus far made thee famous ; 
 
 And may thy acts of prowess in our cause 
 
 JSTot dim the present lustre of thy name ? 
 
 MAJOR NIXON. 
 
 And now unto the feast well go, 
 And of its savory meats partake 
 With relish, whetted sharp with fasting. 
 
ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. Gen. GAONA S quarters, in camp be 
 tween Guerrero and San Antonio. Present 
 Gen. and Mrs. GAONA ; the latter attired in male 
 apparel, and in the act of adjusting her hat. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 How think you, General, will that do 
 To pass me for a trooper ? 
 
 GENERAL GAONA. 
 
 You have with skill your sex disguised, 
 
 But I shall fear me you will lack 
 
 A proper soldier s bearing. 
 
 Still, to our patron saint belongs 
 
 The task alone of guarding you. 
 
 But you must bear the drill in mind, 
 
 As I have taught it unto you, 
 
 Of how you will approach the guard, 
 
 And for the day the word is "Hondo," 
 
 And you know the rendezvous, 
 
 Where you ll find our friend, the scout, 
 
 And, with a prayer unto the saint, 
 
 You must in haste away, 
 
 As it is meet our friends should know, 
 
 Not only of his rapid coming, 
 
 But the tyrant s threats, as well ; 
 
 So, quick, away. .. 
 
 [Exit Mrs. Gaona.] 
 
Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 37 
 
 And I must to the vulture go, 
 To learn his plans as best I may. 
 That I may shield the threatened prey. 
 
 SCENE II. Travis quarters at San Antonio. 
 Travis sitting at a table with papers, &c. upon it. 
 
 [Enter Officer of the Guard.} 
 
 OFFICER. 
 
 Whilst out remounting guard, 
 From which I ve just returned, 
 We captured quite a prize for us. 
 In person one of whom I ve oft, 
 Heard you make special mention. 
 And he will likewise to our cause 
 Be quite an acquisition. 
 And I have ordered, that as soon 
 As he shall linish the repast 
 Of which he sorely stood in need, 
 That to your quarters he be brought, 
 As he the wish did so express, 
 And it did with my will accord, 
 As I assured it would to you 
 Be likewise, too, most pleasing. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 My wish thy will would sorely press ; 
 To have at once you make it known, 
 To whom you do by speech refer, 
 As queries rise which will not down, 
 To vex my anxious spirit. 
 I therefore pray you, not to wait 
 His coming; to announce his name. 
 If one before that I have known. 
 
38 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 I then the better shall him greet, 
 And not appear confused, or rude. 
 
 OFFICER. 
 
 I hear the sound of steps approach, 
 And he does hither come. 
 
 [Enter Crockett, and the officer escorts him to 
 Trams, who rises.] 
 
 This is he, of whom I spake, 
 
 And that to each the other know, 
 
 I would, when hands are joined by you, 
 
 A CROCKETT S say a TRAVIS holds, 
 
 And so your hands you may thus join, 
 
 And by them thus be made acquaint. 
 
 [They join their hands.] 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Thrice welcome do we make you here : 
 With hand, and heart, and speech, 
 Since naught, we know, but our just cause 
 Did thus you bring to us.. 
 
 [They let go each others hands. ] 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Wall, now, Kernel, yer rite thar; 
 For, yer see, when I war in Washinton, 
 And arter I d cum home ter old Tennersee, 
 I d hearn a good deal tarlked about 
 Ther- coon fight yer fellers were havin 
 With old Santer Anner and his pack outen har. 
 And, yer see, when my nabers arl went back 
 
 on me, 
 And wouldn t send me back ter Washinton, 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 39 
 
 To foller up ther hot trail 
 
 I had found when I war thar, 
 
 As I torld them other fellers, 
 
 In that other town thar, 
 
 Whar they war havin a dinner 
 
 Without anything ter eat when I cum thar, 
 
 And whar ther wanted me ter swar I would fite 
 
 Fer a king, or any other kind of a feller 
 
 Ther wanted ter put up fer a figer head 
 
 Fer a new government fer Texas ; 
 
 But, yer bet, Kernel, I war too old er coon 
 
 Ter be caught in that trap, so 1 war, 
 
 And so I torld ther feller, 
 
 What war bossin ther job, 
 
 That ther only trail I war willin ter run on 
 
 War a good old Republic, 
 
 Like ther one I war usenter. 
 
 So, yer see, aim ther feller said he didn t see 
 
 Why I couldn t have 1113^ way bout it, 
 
 As lie know d yer fellers on ten har 
 
 Wanted it that ar way, too. 
 
 And yer see that other feller what war bossin it 
 
 He changed it rite er way, he did. 
 
 And I stuk my fist ter it ter onct ; 
 
 And arter that, don t yer think 
 
 We arl went and sot down ter ther grub 
 
 They d had in ther pots cookin ever since 
 
 mornin ; 
 
 Fer, yer see, ther war gwine ter give ther grub 
 Ter two blasted big-bug Mexicans thar ; 
 But, yer see, when I cum thar 
 They cheer d, and cheer d, and cheer d. 
 
40 The Capture of tlie Alamo. 
 
 And yer bet I put on my Washinton manners, 
 
 And strutted round purty big like, 
 
 And used my best dicshunary. 
 
 Wall, I ve kinder gotten off ther trail a leetle, 
 
 But I recken as how I ll get back agin 
 
 To whar I was sayin 
 
 That when my nabers arl went back on me. 
 
 And would n t send me back ter Washinton, 
 
 I torld them they might arl go ter 
 
 Wall, Kernel, yer knows whar that ar 
 
 It s ther bad place, Kernel. 
 
 Wall, as I war say in , 
 
 I torld them ther might arl go thar, 
 
 And I would go ter Texas, yer see ; 
 
 And so, yer see, bar I ar, rite har, Kernel, 
 
 Jist as good as my word, Kernel. 
 
 Fer, yer see, old DAVY CROCKETT 
 
 Never yet went back on his word ; 
 
 No, Kernel, for his motter allers war, 
 
 " Be shore yer rite, then go ahead." 
 
 And now, if yer got any fitiif ter do, 
 
 Jist bring on yer fellers, 
 
 And I ll lick ther Hints fer em 
 
 In less time ner it usenter take 
 
 Old Towser ter whip er baby coon 
 
 In his best days, so I will, Kernel. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Well, Colonel, I guess you ll have a chance 
 To show your skill in that line ; 
 And now I ll take a turn around with you, 
 And show you how we live here. 
 And the sights in general. 
 
The Capture of tlie Alamo. 41 
 
 SCENE III. Travis quarters ; present, Travis 
 and others (Ms staff.) 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 What! No news yet from scouts dispatched, 
 
 To but confirm, or yet disprove 
 
 The rumors of the foe s approach ? 
 
 No wary fox e er play d his game of tack 
 
 With more of skill than they their parts 
 
 As spies and scouts do play, 
 
 And therefore it can bode no ill to them. 
 
 [Enter Sentinel.] 
 SENTINEL. 
 
 There s one without, who came in haste, 
 
 And makes demand to be brought in, 
 
 As he an urgent message has, 
 
 And therefore illy brooks delay : 
 
 But thus your will, and so your orders, 
 
 And I had him stand in waiting, 
 
 Till you bid me let him enter. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Send him in ; it must be one for whom we look ; 
 And bid him come without delay. 
 
 [Exit Sentinel.] 
 
 Ah ! Now our tingling ears shall catch 
 
 The truth, no doubt, since neither would return 
 
 Unladen with the news so needed to be borne. 
 
 [Enter Scout] 
 
42 The Capture of tlie Alamo. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 What news dost bring ? 
 
 What of the rumors that have filled the air, 
 
 And rang, like chimes of church bells, 
 
 On our ears, 
 
 Of that vast host, led by that chief, 
 
 With heart so blackened with deceit, 
 
 And hands filled full of craftiness ; 
 
 Who, while the smile was on his lips, 
 
 And protestations on his breath, 
 
 Of warm attachment 
 
 To that compact made in 24, 
 
 Was seeking its full overthrow ? 
 
 Come, now, the burden of thy message quick 
 
 unload, 
 And thus our ears relieve, with its recital. 
 
 SCOUT. 
 
 Those swift-winged rumors, 
 
 Which, so like the birds of passage, 
 
 Following fast within the other s track, 
 
 Did reach your ears in flocks, 
 
 Were burdened with much more of truth 
 
 Than our defenceless state, I fear, 
 
 Shall make it pleasing to your ears, 
 
 To have confirmed. 
 
 For he, the chieftain comes 
 
 As did those rumors have it - 
 
 With a well appointed force, 
 
 And numbered by the thousands ; (c) 
 
 And yet, with more from other points 
 
 To join him still, 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 43 
 
 Thus making up the flower and chief 
 
 Of his, so boastful, followers ; 
 
 And even, at this moment, does 
 
 His van-guard press upon us, 
 
 With the main force 
 
 But a few leagues distant : 
 
 With purpose full, to make that victory void, 
 
 So nobly gained, when MIL AM fell ; (i) 
 
 And wipe from off his kinsman s valor, (e) 
 
 The stain thus made, by his surrender. 
 
 And farther boasting, he does threat 
 
 To drive from off the sacred soil, 
 
 Or put to sword, those "Gringo Dogs " 
 
 As he doth please to name those 
 
 Who were ticed to enter on, 
 
 And drive from thence the savage foe, (j ) 
 
 And break the soil, to make them homes 
 
 Fair, smiling homes and ticed thus, 
 
 By those pledges made, in form of law, (k) 
 
 Which should be yet most sacred ; 
 
 But which, through want of faith well kept, 
 
 Are by him disregarded ; 
 
 And which do make the basis now, 
 
 Of this, our cause. 
 
 This much I learned from one 
 
 Unto our cause attached. 
 
 Though with the foe in favor, 
 
 Who, by appointment made, 
 
 Did from the chieftain s quarters come, 
 
 Where council, then, was held. 
 
44 The Capture of tJie Alamo. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Tis well ; liis arrogance and boastful will 
 Shall serve to lead him in that trap 
 Wherein unwary birds are caught. 
 Such is the will of Him who guides 
 When wrong against the right is waged, 
 And plighted faith is broken. 
 For, like that boasting prince who lied before 
 Those mystic sounds, borne on the breeze, . 
 When he had pitched against that chosen band, 
 He too, shall of the fears born of the right, 
 With conscience lighted up with wrong, 
 When magic power of our strong arms 
 Shall their full force of light 
 Upon the canvass throw, 
 Betake himself to whence he came. 
 Or else be made to bite the dust. 
 And each, his craven follower, shall 
 A bullet feel, from certain aim 
 Of some one trusty piece 
 Held by our patriot hands. 
 And now, let Bonham, Bowie, Crockett, Evans, 
 All be called, 
 That we may hold a council here forthwith. 
 
 [Exit one of Jds staff.} 
 TRAVIS, (TURNING TO SCOUT.) 
 And you may your own quarters seek, 
 And when refreshed, with food and sleep, 
 Then, to the foe return again, 
 That, watching, you may bring us news 
 
 Of all his movements. 
 
 [Exit Scout.} 
 
Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 45 
 
 [Enter Boriham, Bowie, Crockett and Eoans, 
 with Bowie carried in on a cot.] 
 
 TRAVIS, (TO BOWIE.) 
 
 How now, Colonel ? 
 
 It is well you re convalescing ; 
 
 And the news brought by our scout 
 
 May serve the purpose by far better 
 
 Than either splints or sticking-plaster, 
 
 To keep your fractured bones in place, 
 
 And hasten on the knitting process. 
 
 [To all.] 
 
 I ve called you all unto this council, 
 
 As one despatched but two days since 
 
 Does, on return, bring back the news 
 
 That those swift rumors, which the air did fill 
 
 Of rapid coming of the foe, 
 
 Was not without foundation, 
 
 And also says that even now 
 
 His force does number thousands, 
 
 With more yet on the way to join him ; 
 
 And that the lion doth his mane, too, shake, 
 
 And in his growls are mingled threats 
 
 Of flight by us, or slaughter. 
 
 What say you ? 
 
 Shall we thus his gage take up, 
 
 And waiting here, prepare to meet him ? 
 
 Or shall we, while we yet have time, 
 
 Before his coining, fly ? 
 
 [Turning to Bowie.] 
 What say you, Colonel ? 
 
46 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 BOWIE. 
 
 My fractured limb, with bones unknit, 
 And, therefore, lack of power of motion, 
 Unfits me quite, by force of arms, 
 Such threat to bring to naught ; 
 But, what of power or skill I have, 
 Tis yet my will to consecrate, 
 And I would counsel, not to fly. 
 But here prepare to meet him. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 What is the counsel CROCKETT gives ? 
 
 Is it, the " dogs of war let slip;" 
 
 And as, when in his native wilds. 
 
 The game to put at bay ? 
 
 Or does he counsel, that with leash in hand, 
 
 We do retrace the trail we came, 
 
 And leave the foe the field ? 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Old Towser never yet gave false alarm, 
 
 And when he opened on ther track 
 
 We know d ther game war thar, 
 
 And when they came in at ther death, 
 
 The nabers allers found 
 
 That CROCKETT, too, war thar ; 
 
 And since ther scout, like Towser, tells 
 
 That now the game ar thar, 
 
 No coward thort shall make him fear 
 
 Ter meet ther lion in ther way. 
 
TJie Capture of the Alamo. 47 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 To counsel farther, there s no need. 
 Since it is plain, we re all agreed, 
 And to at once, to perfect plans, 
 That we may here resist the foe, 
 Tis meet we should dispatches send 
 To those, our chiefs, for so much aid 
 As they may have to send to us; 
 Which by swift courier we will do. 
 
ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. Gen. GAONA S quarters at San An 
 tonio. Mrs. G. arranging articles upon a table. 
 
 [Enter Santa Anna.] 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Tis my good fortune thus to iind you, 
 As I purposed, and alone. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. . 
 
 Pray, to what saint does thanks belong 
 For this, thy coining? 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 The clinging vine to sturdy oak 
 Does no more seek for there a stay 
 Than man his heart to woman brings, 
 For sharer in its burdens. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Like fledgling in the downy nest, 
 That heeds the parent s call, 
 To its accustomed food receive, 
 So I, with waiting ears, respond 
 To your proposed, recital. 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 49 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Shall I the world s forced rules so honor 
 
 As that I shall make a demand 
 
 Of this small handful here of men 
 
 That they shall unto me surrender ? 
 
 Such "Gringo Dogs" deserve not such 
 
 High honors thus, at hands of mine ; 
 
 But nay, I may not well bring down 
 
 Upon my head one blow e en yet. 
 
 I fear the time is not quite here 
 
 When I the world may disregard ; 
 
 And therefore, I would council hold, 
 
 With those around me, 
 
 That I, at least with seeming, may 
 
 Submit somewhat unto their will. 
 
 What ! does your woman s wit, too, sanction 
 
 Such, my purpose ( 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 The eagle, as he soars aloft, 
 
 With anxious gaze doth scan 
 
 The earth, spread out thus to his gaze, 
 
 To see thereon his prey ; 
 
 But only when he feels tis sure 
 
 Will he descent upon it make. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 Ah ! Then you d have me council call? 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 As you do fear, the time s not here 
 To place your will gainst all the world. 
 You have yourself made such decision. 
 
50 Tlie Capture of tlie Alamo. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 I illy brook tills, my restraint, 
 "Which I have forced upon myself. 
 As born in me of prudence. 
 Bnt it shall be but for a season, 
 For soon Fll burst its bonds, 
 And give free rein unto my will. 
 But for the present, I ll obey 
 This self-imposed restraint. 
 
 And council call. 
 
 {Exit Santa Anna.] 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Is this tlie road that ever leads 
 To such, ambition s height ( 
 And can vain man, with e en his greeds, 
 E er tread it with delight ? 
 Are not the steeps, o er which to tread. 
 With so much danger fraught ? 
 Though gaining goal, to which he s led, 
 Is not the height too dearly sought? 
 And then, when grasping in his hand, 
 The prize by him thus won, 
 He finds not spot secure to stand. 
 But must the ra<v still onward run. 
 Then, who would wish to play such part? 
 Or seek to tyrant be > 
 Ah ! None but such as have a heart 
 From milk of human kindness free. 
 
 SCENE II. SANTA ANNA S quarters at San 
 Antonio, with seats arranged for holding a coun 
 cil ; present, SANTA ANNA. 
 
The Capture of tlie Alamo. 51 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Aye ! Prithee now if she the one, 
 
 Ol all the world, I ve dared to trnst, 
 
 Should recreant prove, and me expose ? 
 
 But then, the point tis guarded well ; 
 
 She could alone, her word, then place 
 
 Within the scale, beside 1113- own. 
 
 But, pshaw ! what thought is this obtrudes 
 
 To thus disquiet? 
 
 Would not the nation laugh to scorn 
 
 Such speech, but yet half uttered ? 
 
 But here they come, and now, once more, 
 
 My struggling pride be still. 
 
 The days of thy forced surveilance 
 
 Shall soon be passed. 
 
 [Enter FeUsola,Gaona, Sesma, Almonte and Cos} 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 It is my will, as doubtless hath 
 Been unto each of you conveyed, 
 To council hold here at this hour, 
 As to the course I shall pursue 
 Towards the foe, 
 
 Who does himself, within those walls, 
 With arrogance, now dare set up 
 The rights of Christian warfare. 
 For with decree, from supreme power, (a) 
 They should be treated as but pirates, 
 And should be hanged 
 Without the rights, e en of the church. 
 What say you? Shall I then extend 
 Unto them what the world does claim 
 
52 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 To be their due in warfare ? 
 
 Or shall they, by our own decree, 
 
 Be brought unto its bar ? 
 
 [Turning to Felisola^] 
 What say you, General ? 
 
 FELISOLA. 
 
 Tis but to answer to your will, 
 That I w^ould essay now to speak, 
 And would concur in what you say 
 In so far as to what you ve said 
 As to that one inherent right, 
 That we would have 
 
 To them to treat, as being bound by that decree 
 Which our own nation s sovereign power 
 Has deemed it fit, 
 By their own will to promulgate. 
 But, as this council you have called, 
 Does seeming right unto them give, 
 At least within your own great mind, 
 Else council would not thus be called, 
 A due regard for such might say 
 That prudence is the better way ; 
 And since no harm can to our cause 
 From such delay, at least, arise, 
 I counsel give that we obey 
 The rule the w r orld lias given us, 
 And send a flag, with a demand 
 They do at once surrender. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Would others speak, or is the sense 
 Already reached of what you d say? 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 53 
 
 And shall I send in a demand 
 
 That they to me shall thus surrender ? 
 
 GENERAL GAONA. 
 
 If council hath by you been called 
 To pass upon these rebels rights, 
 I counsel that they ve ready passed 
 Beyond all claim the world does place 
 Within the scale that justice holds, 
 When in defiance of the will 
 The nation has at large expressed, 
 They would their JDWH small wills set up, 
 And then demand their recognition. (&) 
 And I would, therefore, hold them subject 
 To the force of that decree. 
 Such is my counsel. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 If none do farther wish to speak. 
 
 And it be left with me to say, 
 
 The wise suggestion that was made, 
 
 That we shall lose not by delay, 
 
 And farther yet, that two sides are, 
 
 Or have been made by me, to it, 
 
 I therefore will that there be sent 
 
 A flag, with bearer of demand 
 
 For unreserved and full surrender, (I) 
 
 And let it so, at once, be done. 
 
 And send a copy, too, along, of that decree, 
 
 That they be made to understand 
 
 That what they choose to disregard 
 
 Is clothed with power, yet, in the land. 
 
54 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 SCENE III. TRAVIS quarters. TRAVIS seated 
 at a table. 
 
 [Enter Crockett as Officer of the Day^\ 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Wall, Kernel, what does yer think ? 
 
 Arter I had put ther boys out on stake-rope, 
 
 As these ere chaps outen ere carls it, 
 
 But we uns carls it picketern, in old Tennersee, 
 
 They hollered ter me ter cum thar, 
 
 And when I got thar, what der yer think I 
 found thar ? 
 
 Why, Kernel, it war one o 1 them Wasted 
 Greaser chaps, 
 
 Carry in a stik with er white rag on it. (Z) 
 
 And when I axed him what he wanted thar, 
 
 He said he wanted ter see ther feller 
 
 What war bossin this ere layout ; 
 
 And I torld him I war bossin ther job 
 
 Jist then myself, I war ; 
 
 And yer had orter have seed him look at me, 
 Kernel, 
 
 As much as ter say : 
 
 " I ar not lookin fer your sort." 
 
 And then he said he war wantin ter see ther 
 big boss ; 
 
 And what der yer think I tor]d him then, Ker 
 nel? 
 
 Why, I torld him I reck ned as how 
 
 Yer had sumthin else ter do 
 
 Bersides list nin ter ther gab o chaps o his 
 sort, 
 
 But if he had anerthing ter say 
 
 Ter us fellers over har, he could say rite on, 
 
The Capture of tlce Alamo. 55 
 
 As I reck ned I could stand ter listen ter ther 
 
 stuff 
 
 He war wan tin ter get through him. 
 And, arter that, he opened ther kivers ter his 
 
 bread basket, 
 And he got throo him that old Santer Anner 
 
 had torld him 
 
 Ter cum rite over liar, and tell arl us coons 
 Ter cum right down outen ther tree, ter onct, 
 Or he would do, as my old friend, Captain 
 
 Scott, o Varmount, 
 Usenter do, jist grin us down ; 
 And I tell yer, Kernel, 
 The Captain allers brot em, when he tuk a 
 
 sot at em. 
 
 And what does yer think, Kernel, I torld him ? 
 Why, I torld him jist what I torld 
 My old nabers, in Tennersee, 
 When ther wouldn t send me back ter Wash- 
 
 inton : 
 
 That ter tell old Santer that he might go ter 
 Wall, its ther bad place, yer knows, Kernel 
 That as fer me, I war one coon 
 That war not cumin down 
 Outen ther tree fer sich chaps as him. 
 That so far as I war concarned, if he wanted me 
 He would have ter cum over har and take me. 
 As fer ther rest o yer fellers, 
 If yer wanted ter cum down, 
 And sneak over thar, like whipped dorgs, 
 Yer mite do it ; but as fer me, 
 I war n t gwine ter do it, fer sich chaps as him. 
 
 a hundred more like him, so I war n t. 
 
56 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 Wall, what der yer think he said then, Kernel ? 
 
 Why, he said I orter to cum over 
 
 And tell yer bout it, anerhow. 
 
 So I toiid him I would do that much 
 
 Fer old Santer, anerhow, 
 
 As I never seed an old, "broken down, 
 
 Arid superannerated coon dorg, 
 
 But what war good for sum thin , 
 
 If it war only ter eat up 
 
 Ther old scraps lyin round like ; 
 
 And I thort, maber so, old Santer 
 
 War as good as one o them ; 
 
 And he said, "much obliged, 1 
 
 Or sumthin like it, 
 
 And I left, and cum rite off liar, 
 
 And now I ar liar. Kernel ; 
 
 And if yer got anerthing to say, 
 
 Its yer say, Kernel. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Well, Colonel, I guess in your w"ay, 
 You represented the sentiments of us all, 
 And if he didn t understand it, 
 He will soon do so, as it is my orders 
 That a single shot be fired (/) 
 In the direction of Santa Anna s quarters. 
 That is all the answer I have to make 
 To his demand; and you will see 
 That the order is complied with. 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Yer bet yer bottom dollar, Kernel, 
 I ll see that ar thing done ; 
 And, blast his old hide, 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 57 
 
 If I could knock ther hind sites offen him, 
 With that ar ball, I should be monstrous glad, 
 JSTow mind I tell yer, Kernel. 
 Good day, Kernel. 
 
 [Crockett turns to go, fait puts Ms hand in the 
 bosom of his hunting shirt, and turns quickly 
 around, having in his hand a paper, and says: ] 
 Blast my buttons, Kernel, 
 But I cum near fergettin this ere thing, 
 I had stuk in my bosom fer safe keepin , 
 As that ar Greaser chap said ter gin it ter yer, 
 As it mout be of some use ter yer ; 
 So, har it ar, Kernel, maber so, 
 Yer can do sumthiir with it. 
 
 [Saying which, he hands to Trams, who takes 
 and looks at it, and says ;] 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Hah ! That foul decree, 
 And to be treated but as pirates ; 
 Such is its terms. 
 
 And does he think to frighten us to terms, 
 By sending this along with his demand. 
 
 [Crushing the paper in his hand, lie extends 
 toward Crockett.] 
 
 Here, put it in the cannon s mouth, 
 And let the powder, 
 
 That shall take unto his ears our answer, 
 Also take unto him this, his argument, 
 With which lie would enforcement make 
 Of his demand. 
 
 [Crockett takes and looking at it.} 
 
58 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Does yer wish that this ere be made patchin uv 
 Fer ther ball, Kernel ? If that s what yer wants, 
 Yer bet, Kernel, Betsy here 
 
 [Holding up his rifle .] 
 
 Can send it ter him as strate as a die, Kernel. 
 Yer see she war gin ter me, 
 As yer knows, Kernel, 
 By them fellers in Philerdelpher thar, 
 When I war makin ther tower 
 O them ar Northern States, as one o them 
 Honorable members from Tennersee ; 
 And yer had or ter have hearn me speechiiien 
 
 ter em, 
 
 So yer had ort, Kernel, 
 When ther gin her ter me, 
 And yer bet, Kernel, I ar killed many a bar 
 
 with her, too. 
 
 And, as I war sayin ter yer, 
 If yer wants this ere made patchin nv, 
 And sent back ter old Santer, 
 Yer bet, Kernel, Betsy s what can do it ; 
 And if yer ll jist say ther word, 
 I ll put it right dab in, now. 
 And if he ll show a patch o 1 his old carcass 
 As big as a squirrel s ear, blast me 
 If I don t put ther ball rite dab thar, 
 Patchin and all, so I will, Kernel. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Well, Colonel, you can either put it in the 
 
 cannon s mouth, 
 Or use it for patching for Betsy, as you like. 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 59 
 
 As for the effect he hoped for in sending it here, 
 
 He has counted without his host this time ; 
 
 And as before ordered, you will see 
 
 That the single shot is fired 
 
 In the direction of his quarters, 
 
 As all the answer I have still to give 
 
 To his demand. 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Yer bet, Kernel, I ll see that ar thing done. 
 Now, good day, Kernel. 
 
 SCENE IY. SANTA ANNA S quarters; present, 
 SANTA ANNA and FELISOLA. 
 
 [Enter Officer, with flag.~\ 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 What say the rebel dogs ? 
 Dost cringe before my power, like spaniels 
 
 whipped ? 
 
 Or is their rebel flag pulled down, 
 And have they opened wide their gates. 
 That I may enter in. 
 And make my victory sure ? 
 
 OFFICER. 
 
 Did st hear that cannon s sound ? 
 Twas one of bold defiance sent, 
 The only answer they would give 
 To your demand. (Z) 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Hah ! By the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Our 
 
 Lord, 
 Their hearts shall quake, their hands shall pall, 
 
60 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 Before my power, yet. 
 
 Here, see you to it, 
 
 That the red flag s run high up, (e) 
 
 Upon the church s dome, (q) 
 
 Where all may see it, and may know 
 
 That none, who thus my power brook. 
 
 Shall quarter have. 
 
 {Exit Officer.] 
 
 That blood red flag, I never ran 
 Upon its staff on high, 
 
 But some foul, traitorous blood was spilled, 
 , To mark its stains with deeper dye ; 
 And, lest the Virgin has withdrawn 
 Her favors far from me, 
 These traitors blood before the dawn 
 Shall to its crimson added be ; 
 
 [ Tummy to FelisolaJ] 
 And let the bugle sound, 
 To call the troops from quarters, 
 And have the tight begin, and make advance, 
 As best we may, to reach the walls in safety. (I) 
 
 [Exit Felisola.} 
 
 And shall I to her presence go ? 
 Who has so much of magic power, 
 That e en ambition folds its wings, 
 And treads with soft and silent step. 
 Within my heart, whilst she is near? 
 And my strong will does sway and bend, 
 Like tender stein, of spring time flower, 
 When touched, by passing zephyr s breath, 
 As her soft voice, in warning strikes my ear; 
 And I do then forget myself, 
 And my high aims, ambition s goal ; 
 
The Capture of tlie Alamo. 61 
 
 And if I d follow where twould lead, 
 
 I d sink to plane of other men, 
 
 Who are mere plodders in life s way. 
 
 And yet, so pleasing is the sense, 
 
 That though, like fowler s net, 
 
 With meshes strong, 
 
 It may me hold secure as prey. 
 
 I shun it not, but to her go, 
 
 And there again, I ll wend my way, 
 
 As I do need that magic power 
 
 To rid me of this choler ; 
 
 And yet, I must from her still keep 
 
 The knowledge that she holds such power, 
 
 Lest a Delilah, she may be, 
 
 And I be made a Samson shorn. 
 
 SCENE V. Gen. GAONA S quarters; present, 
 Mrs. GAONA. 
 
 [Enter Santa Anna.~\ 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 What impulse brings you now to me ? 
 Methinks your noble visage bears 
 Too plainly marks of anger. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Heed not that angry flush on brow, 
 It bodes no ill to you ; 
 But rather temper now your speech 
 To drive that wrath away. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Pray, then, reveal the moving cause 
 For this, your shaded brow ; 
 
62 Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 Aye, who so bold as but to dare 
 
 To give just cause for bringing there. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 That traitor band within those walls, 
 The cause most just then gave, 
 When that defiant shot they sent, 
 As all the answer they would give 
 To my humane demand. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 Hah ! What is this I hear ? 
 What form of message did you send, 
 They thus did cfare to spurn I 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Twas such as that the world prescribes 
 Tis meet to make by foe to foe, 
 When asking for surrender. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 What terms did st make you, in your offer? 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Much better, e en, than they deserve, 
 As they did lack conditions ; 
 Whereas there should have gone with them 
 Some stringent form of penalty. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 But if obeying your demand, what then? 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 Their lives would then be at my mercy. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 Which, of a generous impulse born, you d spare? 
 
Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 63 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Nay, press me not, since what they ve done 
 Puts all beyond contingencies, 
 And they the issue must abide. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Which yon will cast in mercy s mould, 
 If you obtain the Virgin s favor. 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 ? Tis not the Virgin, but the fate of war, 
 That holds now poised the issue. 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 And what does then the fate of war demand, 
 If you the victor ? 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 If captured, then, to be all slain, 
 Such are the terms of this, onr warfare. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Then, why be angered by refusal, 
 If there comes at best but forfeit ; 
 And they, knowing such the terms, 
 Is it not far too much to look for, 
 That they ll yield without a struggle. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Then, that struggle they shall have 
 "With such results as follow it ; 
 And I must haste, and be away, 
 To press the battle I have ordered. 
 
 [Exit Santa Anna.*] 
 
64 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 O ! Virgin Mother ! Shield the brave, 
 Who battle for the right, 
 Gainst such, ambition s wrong; 
 And I must, too, away, 
 To see what may be done. 
 If aught, to give them succor. 
 
ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE I. TRAVIS quarters ; present, CKOCK- 
 ETT, EVANS, DICKINSON and BOWIE, the latter on 
 
 his cot. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Companions in arms, I have called you to 
 gether in council, 
 
 As our straitened circumstances seem to de 
 mand it ; 
 The foe has been gradually drawing closer 
 
 upon us. 
 They have their batteries placed one at the 
 
 bridge, (m) 
 
 One on the Alamo ditch, to the northeast, 
 One at the powder-house, 
 And one at the old mill ; 
 And we have, as you know, sustained 
 An uninterrupted bombardment, 
 For the last twenty -four hours ; (m) 
 But, thank God, we have not lost a man, 
 And the Hag of our country still proudly waves 
 Where we ourselves have placed it ; 
 And while, like the noble 300 at Thermopylae, 
 We have thrown ourselves into the breach, 
 For our country s cause, and, like them, 
 We may all, too, perish; 
 Yet, it would be worse than cowardly, 
 
66 Tlie Capture of tlie Alamo. 
 
 Not to struggle to the last ; 
 
 I have dispatched BONK AM 
 
 To FAN-NIX, at G-oliad, for assistance; (n) 
 
 I have sent urgent appeals 
 
 To those in authority over us. 
 
 Through these sources, succor may reach us yet, 
 
 But to ourselves we must at present look, 
 
 For possible prospects of deliverance, 
 
 And it is that we may make what may be to iis 
 
 Our final and last arrangements for defence, 
 
 That this conference is called, 
 
 As we know not how soon the foe 
 
 May make an assault which may be successful, 
 
 Then, what we do must be done quickly ; 
 
 As you know, our supply of provisions, 
 
 And much more, our ammunition, (q) 
 
 Is fast dwindling away ; 
 
 And if an assult is made, 
 
 We have scarcely enough of the latter 
 
 To cany us through successfully 
 
 For the space of one day only, 
 
 If all our forces should be engaged therein. 
 
 Under this state of affairs, 
 
 What is the best to be done, is the question 
 
 For us to settle ; 
 
 And what says Colonel CROCKETT? 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Wall, now, Kernel, my old friend, Captain 
 
 SCOTT, o 1 Varmount 
 Perhaps you ve hearn of him, Kernel 
 
 Wall, he allers said "whar thar s life, thar s 
 hope," 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 67 
 
 And I, fer one, don t feel at arl 
 
 Like givin up this bar hunt ; 
 
 No, Kernel, I cuin har ter see it out, 
 
 And I m gwine ter stik ter yer 
 
 Till tlier last day in tlier niornin , 
 
 And when ther last rooster s done his crowin , 
 
 Then I intend ter be thar, 
 
 Armed and equipped accordin ter law, 
 
 As ther usenter have us ter do 
 
 When we war musterin 
 
 In ther merlisher, in old Tennersee ; 
 
 But them good old days 
 
 Am passed and gone, Kernel, 
 
 And, as ther poeter says, 
 
 We ll pass em by without ther sound o a drum. 
 
 I must say, Kernel, yer speech has tuk 
 
 Arl the fine speechiflcatdon outen me, 
 
 But I aint er gwine ter give it up so, Mister 
 
 Brown ; 
 
 No I aint, Kernel, and I ll wind up my speech 
 By sayin ter yer, and arl ther boys, 
 That old DAVY CROCKETT will stick ter yer 
 As long as thar s a button on his old jenes coat. 
 
 ^Looking at and taking hold of Ids limiting 
 shirty 
 
 Wall, Kernel, that s what I usenter say, 
 When I war speechifien in congress, yer see, 
 As that ar war ther kind I wore thar, 
 But this liar ar nuthin but my old huritin shirt 
 Tied up with strings, with nary a button on it, 
 
 Kernel, 
 But never mind, Kernel, 
 
68 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 I ll stik ter yer all ther same, 
 So help me Moses, and that s ther same 
 As our Masonicer friends says 
 When they says " so mote it be." 
 
 MAJOR EVANS. 
 As the chief of ordnance, 
 It is proper, perhaps, I should say to you 
 That one reason of the scarcity 
 Of our supply of ammunition, 
 Was occasioned by there having been 
 A large part of the powder in the magazine 
 Damaged, from its leaky condition. (0) 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 That s it, Kernel, now I has it ; 
 
 Yer see, if these ere blasted Greasers 
 
 Do cum hoopin on ter us, 
 
 So as thar s no show fer a far fite, 
 
 Then let us stik a coal of lire 
 
 Rite dab inter that ar blasted old powder, 
 
 And blow em all to whar I torld my nabers 
 
 They might go ter when I cum ter Texas ; 
 
 And if yer ll jist say ther word, Kernel, 
 
 Blast me, if I don t blow em higher ner a kite, 
 
 In less time than they could say Jack Rober- 
 
 son twice ; 
 Thar now, Kernel, that s my say agin. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Well, Colonel, your suggestion is a very good 
 
 one, so far as it goes, 
 
 And if it be decreed that we shall be overcome, 
 I will take with you all this pledge : 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 69 
 
 That whoever may be left with strength and 
 
 opportunity, 
 
 Shall touch off that powder, and by its explosion 
 Blow these glorious old walls down 
 Upon the heads of the foe. (o) 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Blast me, if them aint my sentiments, zactly, 
 Kernel. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 And what say the rest ? 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 O, don t ax em Kernel, fer yer knows 
 Thar aint one o aii ther boys as would nt glory 
 Ter see old Santer and aii his blasted pack 
 Flyin higher nor Hamer that ar feller 
 It tells erbout in ther good book, yer knows, 
 
 Kernel, 
 And I ll bet my bottom dollar thar s not one 
 
 on em 
 
 Would ever git to that ar good place, 
 In goin that ar way, neither ; 
 And that s my say, agin, Kernel. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 Well, let that be the pledge of all ; (o) 
 
 And in order to make, as I have decided to do, 
 
 One last appeal and call 
 
 Upon the outside world for immediate aid, 
 
 I will dissolve the council, 
 
 And retire to my room for that purpose. 
 
 \_A scene is drawn, showing a room, into which 
 Trams enters and picks up some papers lying on 
 the tdble^\ 
 
70 The Capture of tlie Alamo. 
 
 TRAVIS. 
 
 I had finished this before calling the council, 
 But lest I omitted something I should say, 
 I will read it over. 
 
 [Reads. "\ 
 
 " Fellow citizens and compatriots : (p) 
 I am besieged by a thousand, or more, 
 Of the Mexicans under SANTA ANNA. 
 I have sustained a continuous bombardment 
 For twenty-four hours, 
 And have not lost a man. 
 
 The enemy have demanded a surrender at 
 discretion, 
 
 Otherwise the garrison is to be put to the sword, 
 
 If the place is taken. 
 
 I have answered the summons with a cannon 
 
 shot, 
 
 And our flag still waves proudly from our walls; 
 I shall never surrender, or retreat. 
 Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of 
 
 Patriotism, 
 
 And everything dear to the American character, 
 To come to our aid with all dispatch. 
 The enemy are receiving reinforcements daily, 
 And will no doubt increase 
 To three or four thousand in four or five days. 
 Though this call may be neglected, 
 I am determined to sustain myself 
 As long as possible, 
 
 And die like a soldier, who never forgets 
 What is due to his own honor, 
 And that of his country 
 Victory, or death /" 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 71 
 
 And this I ve added, by way of postscript : 
 
 " The Lord is on our side. 
 
 When the enemy appeared in sight, 
 
 We had not three bushels of corn ; 
 
 We have since found, in deserted houses 
 
 Eighty or ninety bushels, 
 
 And gotten into the walls 
 
 Twenty or thirty head of beeves." 
 
 And this I must, with all dispatch, 
 
 Send off unto our friends ; 
 
 But on their failure to respond, what then? 
 
 This now our foe, with overwhelming force, 
 
 And come, as he has done, to place 
 
 The last strong chain upon the nation, 
 
 Does, with bold arrogance, demand 
 
 That we surrender at discretion ; 
 
 And which refused, he still by force 
 
 Would make us it obey ; 
 
 And armed, too, with that foul decree, 
 
 Which he his pliant congress made 
 
 Through forms alone of law, 
 
 Bear impress of their sanction, 
 
 And what would such surrender be, 
 
 But deatli or slavery f 
 
 For but as pirates, as decreed, 
 
 With one so base to it enforce, 
 
 What hope have we for quarter ? 
 
 The lamb from wolf might better look 
 
 For freedom and security. 
 
 No, our purpose taken, 
 
 We ll here abide the issue of the contest, (r) 
 
 And my own heart I must relieve 
 
72 Tlie Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 By making some provision for my boy. 
 I have a friend in Washington, 
 To whom I will this note dispatch, 
 "Which let me read, since I penned it 
 With so much then of feeling, 
 I know not if it does contain 
 What I then meant to say. 
 
 [He reads. ,] 
 
 " Take care of my little boy ; (q) 
 If the country should be saved, 
 I may make him a splendid fortune ; 
 But if the country should be lost, 
 And I should perish, 
 He will have nothing 
 But the proud recollection 
 That he is the son of a man 
 Who died for his country;" 
 
 [Folding tlie papers.] 
 And I must these dispatches place, 
 Within some trusty hand, 
 To have them reach their destination. 
 
 SCENE II. SANTA ANNA S quarters ; a table, 
 with a drum upon it ; SANTA ANNA walking back 
 and forth ; time, late in the evening. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 I do so chafe, from this restraint of mine, 
 That I do fear me, 
 Like the bit t?> horse s mouth, 
 It will my spirit make so callous, 
 I ll ne er again feel tender touch 
 With which to guide me 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 73 
 
 To ambition s height. 
 
 See how that small, defiant band, 
 
 Cooped up by my vast force, 
 
 Within those walls of stone, 
 
 Doth check ambition s flight. 
 
 For they alone my way hedge up, 
 
 And but for them 
 
 My rule would be supreme ; 
 
 Why, then, do I so tamely yield 
 
 To this, my self-imposed restraint ; 
 
 For what, save my own will, prevents me now 
 
 From crushing out by force 
 
 This barrier in my way ? 
 
 But prudence, ah ! thou dost for aye, 
 
 Thy silent whisp rings bid me hear ; 
 
 And hearing, I have heeded now, 
 
 Till patience hath of woof so small 
 
 That it is threadbare. 
 
 Arid yet, one effort more I ll make 
 
 To calm thy clamors, 
 
 And will a council call, 
 
 That I may its poor sanction have 
 
 For what I might without it do 
 
 This one obstruction here remove 
 
 To my ambition. 
 
 Then, I will strike, and orders give 
 
 To have the council called. 
 
 [He strikes the drum, and a sentinel enters. ] 
 The members summon here forthwith, 
 That form niy council ; 
 And bid them come without delay, 
 As I have business urgent. [Exit Sentinel.] 
 
74 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 Ah ! With myself to hold commune, 
 And fathom all the depths to which 
 This degredation leads me, 
 And then to soar to where I d rise 
 By height of my ambition ; 
 Tis more of strain than long I ll bear, 
 This is my last submission. 
 [Enter Felisola, Cos, Castrillon, Ramirez. 
 Sesma and Almonta. ] 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 A task imposed, a burden laid, 
 Is this my call upon you, 
 Since but to sanction what is plain 
 My duty bids that I should do, 
 I ve called you thus together. 
 Those rebels, as you are aware, 
 Their lives did then there forfeit 
 By that defiant answer sent 
 From cannon s mouth to my demand ; 
 And what doth hindrance make that I 
 Should pour my force upon them, 
 And like the Red Sea, as of old, 
 Their force o erwhelm and swallow up ? 
 Should mingling streams of blood deter 
 Of victors and the vanquished slain ? 
 What liower upon the earth does bloom, 
 But owes its life to some decay ; 
 And where has yet there been e er reared 
 A power to rule o er man s estate 
 Except that blood to it was brought 
 A holocaust, or sacrifice ? 
 But as before I did submit 
 
Tlie Capture of tlie Alamo. 75 
 
 To you, as council, what to do, 
 I have it deemed still "best of you 
 To ask what shall by me be done. 
 Shall I assail by bold assault, 
 Or shall I by degrees approach ? 
 What say you all ? 
 Those who the first to counsel would, 
 Their places take here, on my right ; 
 And they the other would approve, 
 Their places take upon my left. 
 
 \T~tiey divide, with Ramirez, Sesma and Al- 
 monta on tlie right, and Felisola, Cos and Cas- 
 trillon on the left.] 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Tis well the council so divides, (s) 
 Decision yet with me remains, 
 And I will, ere the morrow dawns, 
 My own decision then have made; 
 And to your stations you may go, 
 And there await the coining morn, 
 As it shall to you then reveal my will. 
 
 [Exit all but Santa Anna.} 
 O, fate ! O, providence, or whatsoe er tliou art, 
 That dost our destinies control, 
 To thee I here would pay my court, 
 And pray thee be propitious ; 
 The sun s bright ray that first shall cast 
 His beams athwart yon eastern sky, 
 Shall bear a message unto me, 
 To build ambition s hopes upon, 
 Or bear them down to earth, 
 
76 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 As I the gage of battle will 
 
 Ere that have full thrown down ; (t) 
 
 And on the issue hangs my fate 
 
 To be a ruler over all, 
 
 Or menial be to strong restraint ; 
 
 And I must to her once more go, 
 
 And carry this, my burden. 
 
 III. Gen. GAONA S quarters; present, 
 Mrs. GAONA. [Enter Santa Anna.] 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 What! The honor do you seek, 
 To thus upon me now confer ; 
 Or what the burden would you lighten 
 By this coming of your s here. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Like the shadows that are falling, 
 Bringing on the night, now near, 
 The veil that is the future hiding, 
 Does obstruct our anxious peer. 
 The will hath gained my purpose over 
 To the foe at once assault, 
 And I the plan to you uncover, 
 To approve, or yet find fault ; 
 Since, perforce by wisdom, woman 
 Does the future oft reveal, 
 And if it be not from you hidden, 
 I pray you not from me conceal ; 
 Since my council called divided, 
 And decision left to me, 
 I to make assault, decided, 
 Would your counsel thus, too, be ? 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 77 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 The zephyr s breath soft whisp ring sounds, 
 From forest leaves, do oft us bring, 
 But when the thunder clap resounds, 
 The very vaults of Heaven ring ; 
 And shall the still, small voice be heard, 
 From woman s cautious counsel given ; 
 What to ambition s ears her word, 
 Though it convey the w^ill of Heaven. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Hah ! Would you have my hand to stay 
 From shedding those foul traitors blood; 
 Or, do you counsel better way 
 Than by assault to be, there would ? 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Nay ; I no counsel would you give ; 
 I did but answer to your will. 
 For what we do ourselves believe, 
 Though counsel gainst, we hold, too, still. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Then it is lixed, the purpose formed, 
 And in the coming dawn they ll see 
 Their boasted shield of stone walls stormed 
 By cannon and with infantry, (t) 
 
 [Exit Santa Anna.] 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 All, well I knew, his purpose fixed, 
 Twould folly be to say him nay ; 
 And I will haste and them apprise 
 Of what awaits them in the morn. 
 
78 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 SCENE TV. Storming of the Alamo, with noise 
 of the battle outside. The two Mexican women 
 hurry on to the stage, accompanied by Mrs. 
 GAONA dressed in male attire, and when the two 
 enter a door (which should represent the entrance 
 to one of the cells in the wall) and it is closed 
 behind them, Mrs. GAONA takes from her pocket 
 the necessary badges to complete a Colonel s 
 uniform, and attaches them to the suit she has 
 on, then she draws out a sword she had con 
 cealed on her person.] 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 These will serve to shield me from detection, 
 And I must see what can be done, if aught, 
 To serve them. 
 
 \_Exit Mrs. Gaona. ] 
 
 [As soon as she is off the stage, Travis negro 
 servant comes running on, and, looking wildly, 
 runs around upon the stage.] 
 
 SERVANT. 
 
 O, Massa Travis ! Massa Travis ! Massa Travis ! 
 
 They have killed Massa Travis, 
 
 And they will kill me ; 
 
 Whar shall I go ? Whar shall I go ? 
 
 What shall I do ? What shall I do ? 
 
 [At which lime lie comes opposite the door 
 througJi which the Mexican women entered, who 
 having opened it, lie darts in, and it is closed be 
 hind him. Mrs. Dickinson then comes running 
 on, carrying her child. ] 
 
STORMING OF THE ALAMO. 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 81 
 
 MRS. DICKINSON. 
 
 O, my God ! what shall I do ? 
 They have gotten over the wall ; 
 They are killing the men 
 They will kill my husband ! 
 They will kill us all. 
 O, my child, my child, 
 What shall I do ? What shall I do ? 
 O, God, have mercy upon us. 
 
 [The two Mexican women rush out and drag 
 her in and close tlie door behind them, (n) A 
 scene is then drawn, showing Bowie on his cot, 
 resting half reclining, supported on his left 
 elbow, with an empty pistol in his right hand, 
 whicJi lie throws away and lies down on Jiis cot, 
 ivhen two Mexicans with fixed bayonets approach 
 and are in the act of thrusting tliem into Mm, 
 when Mrs. Gaona, in her ColoneVs uniform 
 comes up, and throws up their guns with Jier 
 sword.~\ 
 
 MRS. GAONA. 
 
 Hold, there, ye craven coward dogs, 
 Would you dare strike a foe unarmed, 
 You d put the savage beasts to shame, 
 That spare the sick and wounded prey. 
 Begone, ye cowards! Off! Away! 
 And seek a stalwart foe, 
 With strength of arm, backed by a will, 
 To pit against your own. 
 
 [JSnter Santa Anna.] 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 Hall ! What have we here ? 
 Who is so bold, as by command to dare 
 To supreme orders disobey, 
 And e en one traitor s life to spare ? 
 
 [Turning to Soldiers. ~\ 
 
 This Gringo dog at once dispatch, 
 
 And supreme orders thus obey. 
 
 [ They thrust their bayonets into Bowie, and 
 Santa Anna, turning to Mrs. Gaona, says to 
 soldiers.} 
 
 And, here, this traitor closely guard, 
 
 And to the guard house take 
 
 To for this daring act he s done, 
 
 To answer a court martial. 
 
 [They start off with her one way, and Santa 
 Anna goes another. A scene is then drawn, 
 showing a room, which should represent the mag 
 azine, with a pile of old powder in mew, into 
 which Evans enters.} 
 
 MAJOR EVANS. 
 
 And, is it true the rest have fallen, 
 And I have been by Heaven spared, 
 To here redeem the pledge as given, 
 And vengeance take upon the foe ? 
 The noble TRAVIS, as he manned the gun, 
 Upon the western wall, 
 To thus relieve the exhausted men, 
 Received the deadly shot, and there expired ; 
 And, as we came upon the wall, 
 To repel the invading host, 
 
The Capture of the Alamo. 83 
 
 Where they pressed on us the hardest, 
 
 The gallant BONIIAM and DICKINSON 
 
 Fell before their murderous fire ; 
 
 And as I came hither, 
 
 I passed BOWIE on his cot, with life extinct, 
 
 And CROCKETT, I know not of him. ; 
 
 But if fallen, he has not spared the foe, 
 
 But has demanded life for life, by many fold ; 
 
 And those, our other comrades in arms, 
 
 All, all, have given their lives for their country. 
 
 A noble band of martyrs ! Oh, sacred Alamo, 
 
 Thou shalt go down in history with Thermopylae 
 
 \_He Jiears a noise from without.} 
 Hah ! Hear how they yet pour in, 
 Like beasts of prey around their victims, 
 When the scent of blood is wafted on the breeze, 
 But now they shall themselves be made the 
 
 victims, 
 
 As vengeance shall be meted out to them, 
 Since Providence does will it so. 
 
 [Turning to the pile of old powder .] 
 And thou trash ! Thou more than trash ! 
 For thou didst mock us, 
 When we would have loaded thee within our 
 
 guns ; 
 
 But now, thou shalt be made a Samson of, 
 To bring these glorious old Avails all down 
 Upon the heads of these Philistian foes of Texas 
 And oh, thou sacred Alamo ! 
 That thou shouldst be made a heap of ruins, 
 And I, even I, the Heaven-favored one, 
 To make thee so. 
 
The Capture of the Alamo . 
 
 And come, ye spirits of my dead comrades, 
 And witness here the fulfillment of my vow, 
 As I shall touch this pile of powder off, 
 And thus take vengeance on the foe. 
 
 [He strikes Ms flint and steel, and stoops down 
 to put liis lighted tinder to the powder .] 
 
 O God, receive my spirit ! 
 
 [A shot is fired through the door, and lie falls 
 away from the powder and a Mexican enters and 
 bayonets him. Another scene is then drawn, 
 showing Crockett pursued by the Mexicans, when 
 he takes up a position in the angle of the wall, 
 with his back to it, (o) and with his gun clubbed, 
 he wields it furiously^} 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 Bring on yer lioners and tigers, 
 Yer cattermounts and allergaters, 
 Fer I m er half hoss and half allergater my 
 
 self, I ar ; 
 Bring on yer sea hoss, yer red hoss, and yer 
 
 land tarrapin, 
 Yer white bar, yer black bar, and yer grizler 
 
 bar, 
 
 Yer big fish, yer leetle fish, and yer whales, 
 Yer boer-constricters, yer snappin turtles and 
 
 tad poles, 
 Yer black-and-tans, yer grey hounds, and yer 
 
 terriers, 
 Yer bob-tail cats, yer long-tail cats, and yer 
 
 ring- tail roarers, 
 
 Fer I m ther he-coon uv ther valleys, 
 And ther she-coon uv ther ridges ; 
 
Tlie Capture of tlie Alamo. 85 
 
 I m tlier old eriginal zip-coon, 
 
 And that uther coon er sottin on er rail ; 
 
 And I m that same old coon 
 
 What allers war er coon, 
 
 And that never got er lickin till yet. 
 
 [ One of tliem gets up close enough to punch him. ] 
 And that s ther way yer puts in yer licks, ar it? 
 [Crockett knocks him down witli Ills gun.] 
 
 And zip I tuk yer, and now pitch in, thar, 
 
 With yer double -shuffle, pigeon-wing, 
 
 And all-fours, too ; 
 
 With yer double-quick, and turn erbout, 
 
 And do jist so. 
 
 With yer whisker-toddies, 
 
 Lemonade and soder-water, too, 
 
 And yer don t know who yer tryin ter lick, 
 
 Now does yer * 
 
 [Another one gets up close enough to stick him.] 
 
 Hip, hurra ! now let me see yer try ter do that 
 ar ergin. 
 
 [He knocks him down.] 
 
 Now I haz yer ; zip, I tuk yer. 
 Cum on, thar, with yer eaglers, 
 And yer ostrichers and buzzards, 
 With yer bed-bugs and yer fire-flies, 
 Yer snakes and yer grass-hoppers. 
 Bring all creation with yer, 
 And I ll whoop yer up together, 
 Like hot soup on er ladle-handle, 
 Or a slidin on greased lightnin ; 
 
86 The Capture of tlie Alamo. 
 
 And yer don t know who you re tryin ter lick 
 now, does yer? 
 
 [Another one sticks 1dm and lie knocks 7dm down] 
 
 Now, hip, hurra ! kerzip, yer tuk me ; 
 Now I has yer; zip, I tuk yer. 
 
 [Several of them crowd upon him.] 
 
 Whoopee, thar ; Greenland ! Christmas ! 
 Sunday, Monday any day but this. 
 
 [He knocks another one down.] 
 And now yer has it ; zip, I tuk yer. 
 [Another one gives him a thrust J] 
 
 Gerusalem, Tom Payne, 
 And all ther tother saints ! 
 And I say, yer don t know who yer tryin ter 
 lick now, does yer ( 
 
 [He knocks 1dm down.] 
 
 And now yer has it ; zip, I tuk yer. 
 
 Git up thar afore day in ther iriorin will yer ? 
 
 Arid wipe out all yer eyes out thar, will yer? 
 
 [Several of tliem make a rash at him.] 
 
 Gershoserfat ! and yer don t know 
 Who yer tryin ter lick now, does yer ? 
 
 [Enter Santa Anna.\ 
 
 SANTA ANNA. 
 
 Ho, here ! what now ? would the lamb the wolf, 
 Or kid the lion put to bay ? 
 Base, coward wretches, strike ! 
 
The Capture of tlie Alamo. 87 
 
 Your arms there wield, 
 And this last foe despatch, 
 That I may rule supreme. 
 
 [Crockett, seeing him come up without any 
 arms, and not understanding what he is saying, 
 but thinking he wants to take up the fight him 
 self, and not wishing to have the advantage, sets 
 his gun down in the corner behind him and puts 
 his coon-skin cap beside it, which action throws 
 the Mexican soldiers off their guard as icell as 
 arrests the attention of Santa Anna. Then 
 Crockett begins taking off his hunting -shirt, 
 which when done, he rolls up his sleeves, accord 
 ing to the old Tennessee method, and while he is 
 doing all this he is going over with : ] 
 
 CROCKETT. 
 
 What s that ar yer gittin through yer thar, 
 
 old coon ? 
 Yer wants ter tuk up this har lite yerself, does 
 
 yer 2 
 
 A far and squar fiite no bitin ner gougin , 
 Ner no dorg falls then I m yer man, I ar; 
 But maber so, yer don t know 
 Who tis yer wants ter lick, does yer? 
 Wall, then I ll tell yer. 
 
 It ar old DAVY CEOCKETT, o Tennersee, it ar. 
 And yer wants ter tuk up 
 This har ftte yerself, does yer? 
 
 \Then, with a wave of the hand to the others. .] 
 
 Thar, flank round thar, little ones, 
 And let me pitch inter him 
 
88 The Capture of the Alamo. 
 
 Like a thousand o brick ; 
 
 I ll show an old blab-mouthed blatherskite 
 
 like him 
 
 How ter come round har 
 And tuk up uther folks lites, I will. 
 Whoopee, thar ! look out thar, old coon, 
 I m a cummin , I ar ! 
 And now squar yerself, 
 Fer kerzip, I ll tuk yer ! 
 
 [Ife spits on Ids li inds, and leaps over the 
 bodies around liim, in the direction of Santa 
 Anna, wlien lie Is knocked down l>y tlie soldiers, 
 and bayoneted^] 
 
COL. WILLIAM McLANE, 
 
 Who died at his residence, at the head of the San Antonio river, 
 adjoining the city limits of San Antonio, Texas, Mav nth, 1873, 
 and who was the last of the Magee expedition, which expedition 
 aided materially in securing the freedom of Mexico from Span 
 ish rule, and which ultimately led to the independence of Texas, 
 and the account of which expedition, as penned bv himself, is 
 embodied in a 4OO-page work now in press by the San Antonio 
 Printing Co., entitled "IRENE VIESCA, A TALE OF THE MAGEE 
 EXPEDITION, IN THE GAUCHIPIX WAR IN TEXAS, IN 1812-13;" 
 and by the author of the present work. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM YOAKUM S HISTORY OF TEXAS, 
 
 The following extracts are taken from Toakum s 
 History of Texas, and are inserted here with corres 
 ponding reference marks to those employed in the body 
 of the work, to show the inquiring reader who may 
 not be familiar with the history, and to save those who 
 are, the trouble of hunting them out the particular 
 passages to which the author of the present work is 
 indebted for the foundations upon which to construct it. 
 And it will be seen that he has followed as closely the 
 facts as the nature and scope of the work would war 
 rant. The parts assigned GENERAL and MRS. GAONA 
 being the only departures from a strict adherance to the 
 actual facts of history. Her part being assigned her to 
 meet a general demand for some leading female charac 
 ter in all works of the kind. And while the part assign 
 ed her might have been repugnant to her loyalty to Santa 
 Anna, as well as to her womanly modesty, yet, as we 
 have taken the liberty we have with her, we can only 
 make amend by giving this explanation and offering this 
 our suitable apology. The selection of GEN. GAONA 
 as a friend of the Texans was not altogether unwarrant 
 ed, from the fact that he disapproved of much that Santa 
 Anna did in his dealings with the Texans. 
 
 (d) In the meantime, Santa Anna was engaged in Mexico 
 in the consolidation of a despotism. There were in that nation 
 many genuine friends of liberty, ardent supporters of the con- 
 
92 Appendix. 
 
 stitution of 1824; but the terrors of banishment and death 
 restrained them. Those who dared to oppose him were pursued 
 and hunted down, like wild beasts. Of this number were Zavalla 
 and Mexia. The congress was completely in his hands. With 
 the clergy and the army he fulminated his spiritual and military 
 thunders. Over a timid and superstitious people his power had 
 become nearly omnipotent. All but Texas had bowed the neck 
 to the imperious tyrant. To him she was like Mordecai sitting 
 in the king s gate. His plan for her subjugation was, however, 
 skilfully laid. It was to fill the country gradually with military 
 forces, under different pretences. In fact, five hundred troops 
 were embarked for Texas in April of the present year (^1835), but 
 disturbances in Zacatecas caused them to be recalled. The time 
 which the dictator had fixed for the overthrow of the constitu 
 tion was in the following October. Events had, however, hurried 
 him on so rapidly, that he was compelled to change his plan, 
 and dispatch troops to Texas more rapidly. In July he accord 
 ingly sent two hundred and fifty; in the first days of August 
 three hundred more; and there were a thousand more on the 
 route. Page 351; Vol. I. 
 
 By the month of August it was clearly understood that the 
 federal constitution was to be destroyed. The plan of Toluca 
 countenanced, and perhaps started by Santa Anna proposed a 
 central government. The doctrine had already gone forth that 
 the authority of the national congress was unlimited that it 
 could do anything which Santa Anna desired. It was farther 
 understood that the president was to hold his office for eight 
 years, and was to have some sort of advisory body, a council or 
 congress, but this body was to be dependent on him. Page 
 352; Vol.1. 
 
 * * * Santa Anna asked for opium. A piece of about five 
 grains was handed him, which he swallowed. He immediately 
 proposed to enter into negotiations for his liberation, but Gen 
 eral- Houston answered him that it was a subject of which he 
 could not take cognizance, inasmuch as Texas had a government 
 to which such matters appropriately belonged. Santa Anna ob 
 served that he disliked to have anything to do with civilians; 
 that he abhorred them, and would much rather treat with the 
 general of the army. "And," continued he, "General, you can 
 afford to be generous; you are born to no common destiny you 
 have conquered the Napoleon of the west," * * * General 
 
Appendix. 93 
 
 Houston then asked him how he expected to negotiate under the 
 circumstances that had occurred at the Alamo. About this time 
 Colonel Almonte, who had been sent for, arrived, and after salu 
 tations between him and his chief, the latter replied that "Gen 
 eral Houston knew that, by the rules of war, when a fortress, 
 insufficient to defend itself, was summoned to surrender and 
 refused and caused tl.e effusion of human blood, the vanquished, 
 when it was taken, were devoted to execution." General Hous 
 ton replied that "he knew such to have been the rule at one 
 period, but he thought it now obsolete, and a disgrace to the 
 nineteenth century." "But," continued Houston, "General Santa 
 Anna, you can not urge the same excuse for the massacre at 
 Goliad. They capitulated, were betrayed, and massacred in 
 cold blood." Santa Anna replied: " If they ever had capitulated 
 he was not aware of it. Urrea had deceived Him, and informed 
 him that they were vanquished; and he had orders fro m his gov 
 ernment to execute all that were taken with arms in their 
 hands." Houston rejoined: "General Santa Anna, you are the 
 government a dictator has no superior." " But," answered 
 Santa Anna, " I have the order of our congress to treat all that 
 were found with arms in their hands resisting the authority of 
 the government, as pirates. And Urrea has deceived me. He 
 had no authority to enter into any agreement; and if I ever live 
 to regain power he shall be punished for it. Pages 147, 148 and 
 149; Vol. II. 
 
 (7>) In the meantime, early in July, Lorenzo de Zavalla, 
 late governor of the State and City of Mexico, and embassador to 
 France, had fled from the tyranny of Santa Anna and sought 
 refuge on the shores of Texas. No sooner had the Mexican 
 authorities learned this fact than an order was dispatched to have 
 him arrested. Page 344; Vol. I. 
 
 Santa Anna was extremely solicitous to obtain possession of 
 the person of Zavalla. The latter had been his friend, and had 
 sustained him in a trying hour. But the aid was given for the 
 cause of liberty! Santa Anna had deserted that cause, and now 
 wished to sacrifice an ancient friend, who might live to reproach 
 him for his perfidy. I give this supreme order, says Tornell to 
 Cos, having the honor to direct to you, requiring you to pro 
 vide and bring into action all your ingenuity and activity in 
 arranging energetic plans for success in the apprehension of 
 Don Lorenzo Zavalla, which person, in the actual circumstances 
 
94 Appendix. 
 
 of Texas, must be very pernicious. To this end, I particularly 
 recommend that you spare no means to secure his person, and 
 place it at the disposition of the supreme government. Cos, in 
 transmitting this order to Ugartachea, on the 8th of August, 
 directed him, if Zavalla was not given up, to proceed, at the 
 head of all his cavalry, to execute the command, and to give to 
 the local authorities on the route, information as to his sole 
 object. Pages 347-348; Vol. I. 
 
 (c) General Santa Anna, the Mexican president, having 
 determined to lead the invading army in person, reached Saltillo 
 in January, where, for a time, he made his headquarters. On the 
 ist of February, he set out for the Rio Grande, b_y wav of Mon- 
 clova, with a force of six thousand men. He reached the river 
 on the 1 2th, where he halted till the i6th, waiting for the troops 
 to come up, and to make suitable preparations for crossing the 
 uninhabited prairies which lay between him and Bexar. While 
 tarrying at Guerrero, he was engaged in dictating to the central 
 government his views as to the policy to be pursued towards 
 Texas, when it should be reduced. His plan was as follows: 
 To drive from the province all who had taken part in the revolu 
 tion, together with all foreigners who lived near the sea coast, or 
 the borders of the United States; to remove far into the interior 
 those who had not taken part in the war; to vacate all sales and 
 grants of land owned by non-residents; to remove from Texas 
 all who had come to the province, and were not entered as colo 
 nists under Mexican rules; to divide among the officers and 
 soldiers of the Mexican army the best lands, provided they 
 would occupy them; to permit no Anglo-American to settle in 
 Texas; to sell the remaining vacant lands at one dollar per acre 
 allowing the French to buy only five millions of acres, the 
 English the same, the Germans somewhat more, and to those 
 speaking the Spanish language, without limit; to satisfy the 
 claims of the civilized Indians; to make the Texans pay the 
 expenses of the war; and to liberate and declare free the negroes 
 introduced into the province. Pages 64-65; Vol. II. 
 (d) Here are the decrees referred to by Santa Anna: 
 " i . Foreigners, landing on the coast of the Republic, or invad 
 ing its territory by land, armed, and with the intention of 
 attacking our country, will be deemed pirates, and dealt with 
 as such, being citizens of no nation presently at war with the 
 Republic, and fighting under no recognized flag. 
 
Appendix. 95 
 
 " 2. All foreigners, who shall import, by either sea or land, 
 in the places occupied by the rebels, either arms or ammunition 
 of any kind, for their use, will be deemed pirates, and punished 
 as such. 
 
 " I send you these decrees, that you may cause them to be 
 fully executed. 
 
 "TORNEL. 
 
 "MEXICO, December 30, 1835." Note on page 749, Vol. II. 
 
 " To General Urrea^ Commanding, Etc.: 
 
 [Official.] 
 
 "In respect to the prisoners, of whom you speak in your last 
 communication, you must not fail to bear in mind the circular 
 of the supi-eme government, in which it is decreed that foreign 
 ers invading the Republic, and taken with arms in their hands, 
 shall be judged and treated as pirates; and as, in my view of the 
 matter, every Mexican guilty of the crime of joining these 
 adventurers, loses the rights of a citizen by his unnatural con 
 duct, the five Mexican prisoners, whom you have taken, ought 
 
 also to suffer as traitors. 
 
 [Unofficial.] 
 
 " In regard to foreigners, who make war, and those unnatural 
 Mexicans, who have joined their cause, you will remark, that 
 what I have stated to you officially is in accordance with the for 
 mer provisions of the supreme government. An example is 
 necessary, in order that these adventurers may be duly warned, 
 and the nation be delivered from the ills she is daily doomed to 
 suffer. 
 
 " ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. 
 
 "GENERAL QUARTERS, BEXAR, March 3, 1836." 
 " To General Urrea, Commanding, Etc.: 
 
 " Under date of the present, I have stated to the commandant 
 of the Post of Goliad, as follows: 
 
 " By a communication, made to me by Colonel D. F. Gray, of 
 that place, I am informed that there have been sent to you by 
 General Urrea, 234 prisoners, taken in the action of Encinol del 
 Perdido (Coleta), on the iQth and 2Oth of the present month; 
 and as the supreme government has ordered that all foreigners, 
 taken with arms in their hands, making war upon the nation, 
 shall be treated as pirates, I have been surprised that the circular 
 of the said supreme government has not been fully complied 
 with in this particular. I therefore order, that yon should giT e 
 immediate effect to the said ordinance in respect to all those for- 
 
Appendix. 
 
 eigncrs who have yielded to the force of arms, having had the 
 audacity to come and insult the Republic, to devastate with fire 
 and sword, as has been the case in Goliad, causing vast detri 
 ment to our citizens; in a word, shedding the precious blood of 
 Mexican citizens, whose only crime has been fidelity to their 
 country. I trust that, in reply to this, you will inform me. that 
 public vengeance has been satisfied by the punishment of such 
 detestable delinquents. I transcribe the said decree of the gov 
 ernment for your guidance, and that you may strictly fulfill the 
 same, in the zealous hope that, for the future, the provisions of 
 the supreme government may not, for a moment, be infringed. 
 
 "ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. 
 "HEADQUARTERS BEXAR, March 23, 1836." pp. 516-517, Vol. II. 
 
 (e) * * Cos and his officers were permitted to retire with 
 their arms and private property, upon their word of honor that 
 they would not, in any way, oppose the re-establishment of the 
 constitution of 1824; the Mexican convict soldiers were to be 
 taken beyond the Rio Grande * * It is proper here to state 
 that during the attack, notwithstanding General Burleson had 
 out a constant patrol, Ugartachea made his way into San Antonio 
 with five hundred convicts, guarded by a hundred regular 
 infantry. Pages 30-31 ; Vol. II. 
 
 (f) We have seen the preparations of the contending forces, 
 and have followed Santa Anna, with a well appointed army, to 
 the walls of Bexar, and Urrea to San Patricio. We have seen 
 Travis, with some thirty men, sent by Governor Smith to the 
 former place, and Bowie dispatched by Houston, with a like 
 number, from Goliad. One other worthy is yet lacking to take 
 part in the death struggle at the Alamo. David Crockett was a 
 Tennesseean. His education, which consisted mostly in the 
 fearless rifle, he had himself acquired in the then unsettled for 
 ests of West Tennessee. Having strong natural powers of mind, 
 he was elected to the State Legislature, and subsequently as rep 
 resentative to Congress. But he did not comprehend the 
 machinery of the federal government. The rules of Jefferson s 
 manual were to him as mysterious as the Delphian oracles. 
 Hence, his efforts in the House of Representatives were abortive, 
 and so notoriously so, that he was not returned. The struggle 
 then pending in Texas was more to his taste, and he came to 
 take part in it. 
 
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