ing slaves, swelled the tide of Texas immigration. This tide, rolling down from the Northern and Western states, at last excited the jealousy of the Mexican government, and finally brought on a war with Mexico, which ended in the independence of Texas.

GALVESTON ISLAND.

From the discovery of this island, in 1686, by the French under La Salle, until 1816, it remained unsettled. A few roving Indians occasionally resorted to the western end of the island for the purpose of fishing, but there were no human habitations on it. As late as 1816, it was covered with a long, green grass, on which fed herds of deer. It also abounded in serpents, and was hence called by the pirates of the Gulf, Snake Island. In 1816, Don Louis Aury, commodore of the fleet of the Republics of Mexico, Venezuela, La Plata, and New Granada, consisting of fifteen small vessels, was chosen governor of the province of Texas and Galveston Island. He immediately set out upon a cruise against Spanish commerce, and soon swept from the Gulf the vessels of the mother country. The rich prizes brought into Galveston soon enabled Aury and his little garrison to live handsomely. African slaves were also smuggled into the place, and sold at about one hundred and fifty dollars apiece, and sent across the country into Louisiana. In 1817, it fell into the possession of the celebrated Lafitte, who had for many years been the terror of the Gulf-a man of great accomplishments and of many crimes-who, when the war between England and the United States broke out in 1812, had his headquarters at Barataria, in Louisiana, and after refusing to join the British, offered his services to the American Government, was pardoned by the Legislature of Louisi

ana, and fought bravely at the battle of New Orleans under General Jackson.

After the battle of New Orleans, Lafitte returned to his former occupation, and he and his followers on Galveston Island numbered nearly a thousand men. They were of all nations and languages, and though pretending to be engaged, under their distinguished leader, as privateers, were actually nothing but pirates. Lafitte was a man of handsome person, winning manners, generous disposition, and had a wonderful influence over his men. He built his town on the ruins of Aury's village, erected a dwelling called the red house, and constructed a fort, a small arsenal and dock-yard. From New Orleans he was supplied with building materials, provisions, and many of the luxuries of life. A "Yankee" boarding-house sprung up, and Galveston soon became a place of many attractions to the wild free-booters of the Gulf. But, in 1820, Lafitte and his men committed some acts which brought on him the displeasure of the United States Government, who sent an armed vessel and broke up his establishment. This prince of pirates entertained the captain of the American vessel with great hospitality at the red house. He then assembled his followers, made them an address, supplied them with money, advised them to disperse, and bidding the American officer farewell, sailed out of the bay, and left Galveston forever.

Galveston, in 1822, was again desolate, and for some years it was only visited occasionally by sailors in search of Lafitte's hidden treasures. In 1836, the eastern end of the Island was occupied by some Texas troops under Colonel Morgan, who had charge of some Mexican prisoners. Two years after this, when Texas had established its independence, and crowds of strangers commenced coming into the country, the town began to

rise in importance. Commerce had sought out the harbor as the best in the young Republic, and responsible merchants began to make it their permanent abode. In 1838, vessels were arriving and departing daily, and the harbor presented the appearance of an Atlantic port. In the first quarter of the year 1840, ninety-two vessels arrived at the port of Galveston.

THE FALL OF THE ALAMO.

In 1836, Santa Anna, who was at that time President of Mexico, determined to invade Texas, and either drive the Americans out of the country, or crush out the spirit of independence which had broken out among them. Accordingly he set out for the Rio Grande on the 1st of February of that year, at the head of seven thousand troops, and on the 27th of the same month, he marched into the city of San Antonio. The few Texas soldiers who were stationed in that city retired across the river in good order, and took refuge in the Alamo. The Alamo, though strong, was not properly a fort, but a presidio or mission. It had been standing for nearly one hundred and fifty years, and had been the scene of many strange and interesting events. Here Colonel Travis, with his small force of not more than one hundred and fifty men, determined to make a stand, and conquer or die. He had only eight cannon, and was greatly deficient in provisions and ammunition. When the enemy first appeared before the place, he had only ninety bushels of corn and thirty head of cattle. But the watch-word of the little band of heroes was, "Victory or death!" Santa Anna immediately demanded a surrender, which was answered by a shot from the fort. The enemy then hoisted the red flag, and commenced the attack. They erected a number of batteries, and for several days kept up a constant skirmish

ing. Travis and his little band frequently sallied out and met their assailants, whom they drove back with considerable loss. On the 1st of March, thirty-two gallant men, from Gonzales, forced their way into the Alamo, thus swelling the force of Travis to one hundredand eighty-eight. For several succeeding days the contest was kept up with spirit on both sides, the Texans firing but seldom, in order to save their ammunition; and the Mexicans advancing their batteries nearer and nearer to the walls. Travis succeeded in sending out, through the enemy's lines, a last appeal to his country for help in this his terrible extremity, setting forth his position, and stating that if not soon reinforced, he and his men had solemnly determined to perish in the struggle. By the same courier he wrote to a friend in Washington County the following affecting message: "Take care of my little boy. If the country is saved, may make him a fortune. But if all is lost, and I shall perish, I will leave him nothing but the proud recollection that he is the son of a man who died for his country."

I

Thus for one long week did this little band of heroes defend themselves against the overwhelming force of the enemy, until they were completely worn down by constant watching and fighting. On Sunday morning, the 6th of March, Santa Anna determined to take the place by storm, and the Alamo was completely surrounded by the whole Mexican army. The infantry was placed in a circle nearest the fort, and the cavalry around them, so that not a single straggler might escape. At a given signal, the whole host advanced rapidly, under a tremendous fire from the Texans. Just at daylight, ladders were placed against the walls, and the soldiers began to climb up. But they were hurled down by the brave defenders within. Again the charge was sounded, and a

second effort made to reach the top of the wall; but again the assailants were beaten back. For a few minutes there was a pause. A third attempt was made with more success. Some reached the top of the wall, wavered and fell; but their places were supplied by hundreds pressing up behind them on every ladder. At last, cut down, killed and wounded, the Texan defenders began to give way. Instantly the fort was filled with hundreds of infuriated murderers. The survivors within the walls still continued the battle. They clubbed their guns, and with shouts and yells of defiance, fought from wall to wall, from room to room. Some few cried for quarter, but no quarter was given. Travis and Crockett fell with piles of dead Mexicans around them. Major Evans, in attempting to set fire to the magazine, was shot down. Colonel Bowie, who was sick in his bed, was murdered and his body mangled. Major Dickinson, in attempting to leap from the wall with his child tied on his back, was instantly killed. Thus, one by one those noble heroes sold their lives; and by sunrise on that Sabbath morn, every one had perished, and all was still. But around them lay the dead bodies of over five hundred Mexicans, with an equal number of wounded.

The only survivors of this terrible conflict were Mrs. Dickinson, her child, a negro servant of Colonel Travis, and two Mexican women. The bodies of the Texans were stripped, mutilated, and then thrown into heaps and burnt.

As not one of all the defenders of the Alamo escaped, we shall never know the full particulars of that desperate struggle.

About a year after, their bones and ashes were collected, placed in a coffin, and buried with due solemnity. A small monument was made from the stones of the fortress in 1841, was purchased by the State, and now