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THE IMMORTAL ALAMO.
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only a dead shot, but a cool and determined fighter against odds, and a figure of such note that his mere presence in the garrison caused Santa Anna to proceed with caution.
The Americans had time to place all surplus arms, ammunition and provisions in the fortress over which they unfurled a large flag of thirteen stripes with a lone star surrounded by the name "Texas." The surplus provisions amounted to a few beeves driven in from the town and a dozen extra bags of corn.
The Mexicans raised a blood-red banner over the town, a significant intimation that no quarter would be given, then posted their troops with deliberation. Santa Anna had been told by Xavarre that the garrison was weak in numbers, but the informer urged a demand for surrender on account of the woman he desired to spare from death and injury for a worse fate.
A detachment of Mexican cavalry came forth, making a fair appearance
in their gay uniforms, and a messenger bearing a flag of truce approached the mission. He was allowed to enter blindfolded and make a demand for unconditional surrender. This demand, accompanied by a threat to put every member of the devoted band to the sword in case of refusal, was made to Travis while he stood near a loadpiece of artillery on the mission roof. He gave the messenger time to escape, then hurled his note of defiance by firing the cannon with his own hands.
The memorable battle was on.
Fannin at Goliad with five hundred men made an effort to relieve Travis but his transportation failed, his ammunition wagons broke down and he could not get his artillery over the rivers, so he abandoned the attempt. A small detachment of his force under James Butler Bonham got thru the Mexican lines at night, but this reinforcement could not defer the inevitable. The Mexicans placed batteries in their three hundred and fifty
THE DEATH OF THE MEXICAN.