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"Ah! whence yon glare That fires the arch of heaven?--that dark red s the silverpeals,

In countless echoes, through the ht on her starry throne!

Loud and rows,

Till pale Death shuts the scene,

And o'er the conqueror and the conquered draws

His cold and bloody shroud"

SHELLEY

The 6th of March rose dark and lowering, and all nature wore an aspect e of history Toward noon the dense leaden cloud floated off, as though the uncertainty which veiled the future had suddenly been lifted--the crisis had coe by the recollection of the 11th December, poured out the vial of their wrath on the doomed town Oh! San Antonio, thou art too beautiful for strife and discord toept rudely o'er thee, and, alas! thou wast sorely scathed

A second ti it withstood the terrible shock, and the overwhel walls The sun went down as it were in a sea of blood, its lurid light, gleaarrison Black clouds rolled up and veiled the heavens in gloo the moans and strife of nature with the roar of artillery Still the fury of the onset abated not: the Alaly the noble band raised their eyes to the blackened sky "God help us!" A howling blast swept by, lost in the deepclearly out, high above the surrounding din: "Comrades, we are lost! let us die like bravehope was echoed back by the sullen groan of despair Travis fell, fighting at the entrance As the hero sank upon the glory floor, there was a pause; friend and foe gazed upon the noble for up to meet his God

"On, comrades! Travis has fallen! dearly e die!"

One hundred and fifty brave hearts poured out their life-blood by his hter-pen But seven re froore There was borne on the ht air a faint, feeble cry: "Quarter! quarter!" Alas! brave hearts, the appeal was lost, for an incarnate demon led the thirsty band With a fiendish yell it was answered back, "No quarter!" and ye seven were stretched beside your fearless, noble Travis