waste of ammunition to attempt it."
Provisions were beginning to become scarce, and the citadel was so
surrounded that it was impossible for the garrison to cut its way
through the lines and escape.

Under date of February 28th, Crockett writes in his Journal:

"Last night our hunters brought in some corn, and had a brush with a
scout from the enemy beyond gunshot of the fort. They put the scout to
flight, and got in without injury. They bring accounts that the
settlers are flying in all quarters, in dismay, leaving their
possessions to the mercy of the ruthless invader, who is literally
engaged in a war of extermination more brutal than the untutored savage
of the desert could be guilty of. Slaughter is indiscriminate, sparing
neither sex, age, nor condition. Buildings have been burnt down, farms
laid waste, and Santa Anna appears determined to verify his threat, and
convert the blooming paradise into a howling wilderness. For just one
fair crack at that rascal, even at a hundred yards' distance, I would
bargain to break my Betsey, and never pull trigger again. My name's not
Crockett if I wouldn't get glory enough to appease my stomach for the
remainder of my life.

"The scouts report that a settler by the name of Johnson, flying with
his wife and three little children, when they reached the Colorado,
left his family on the shore, and waded into the river to see whether
it would be safe to ford with his wagon. When about the middle of the
river he was seized by an alligator, and after a struggle was dragged
under the water, and perished. The helpless woman and her babes were
discovered, gazing in agony on the spot, by other fugitives, who
happily passed that way, and relieved them. Those who fight the battles
experience but a small part of the privation, suffering, and anguish
that follow in the train of ruthless war. The cannonading continued at
intervals throughout the day, and all hands were kept up to their work."

The next day he writes: "I had a little sport this morning before
breakfast. The enemy had planted a piece of ordnance within gunshot of
the fort during the night, and the first thing in the morning they
commenced a brisk cannonade, point blank against the spot where I was
snoring. I turned out pretty smart and mounted the rampart. The gun was
charged again; a fellow stepped forth to touch her off, but before he
could apply the match, I let him have it, and he keeled over. A second
stepped up, snatch