ugle-signal for the
advance. At double-quick time the columns advanced simultaneously
against the little fort, one rushing through a breach which had already
been made in the walls at the north, a second storming the chapel and a
third scaling the west barrier.

General Cos, who had been captured by the Texans the year before and who
was released on parole, broke his word of honor and led the storming
column against the chapel. All this had been so planned that the several
columns should reach the walls of the fort just as the coming dawn gave
light enough to guide their movements. When the hour came, the bugle
sounded, and the Mexicans, maddened by their losses and determined to
avenge themselves on this courageous little troop, rushed forward to the
walls while their bands played the assassin music that signified "no
quarter."

It is difficult to give an orderly account of the conflict which
followed, but some incidents stand out boldly. General Cos was repulsed
from the chapel, and the column which attacked the north wall was badly
cut before it succeeded in making an entrance. Here at the breach they
met Colonel Travis in person, and here after the action he was found
dead with a bullet hole through his head, and by his side a Mexican
officer pierced to the heart by a sword still held in the hand of the
dead Texan. On the west side the walls were scaled, and after bitter
fighting the garrison, driven from the outer defenses, took refuge in
the low barracks and other buildings, where, being more united, they
could fight to better advantage. However, there was no easy means of
communication between the buildings, and thus the surviving Texans soon
were broken up into small groups, fighting desperately against the
overwhelming numbers of the Mexicans. There was no need of leadership,
however, or of direction from officers. The Mexicans purposed to allow
no quarter, and nothing remained for the Texans except that each man
should fight to the last, doing as great execution as he could before
finally falling under the weight of numbers.

[Illustration: THE DEFENDERS FIRING FROM WINDOWS]

Again and again the enemy charged upon the little buildings, while from
the windows and loop-holes the crack of rifles and the whiz of bullets
showed that the living defenders were still active. It is not
exaggerating to say that the assailants fell in heaps, for around each
little building and before the long barracks the carnage was