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A smile passed over the face of his coeson, and rest assured I shall not doubt your stanch support in ti his arrossed in earnest, anxious thought Pausing at length, he pointed to his troops, awaiting in silence his commands

"Bryant, at least half those brave fellows have wives and children, and bright ho the hour Should o forth to man the fort, and meet the worst, I know full well not a murmur would be heard Still it is equally certain that, if we brave the conflict, not one of us shall survive to tell the tale What a;?"

"Peculiarly painful, I know full well, is the situation in which you are placed Yet one strong argued Colonel, if we desert Goliad, and sound a retreat, we cannot escape The force of the enemy is too powerful, their movements too rapid, to allow us to retire to a place of safety without a desperate encounter Is it not better policy to reht at all it must be at fearful odds; four hundred to six thousand! Yet, should I follow the dictates of ive one inch!--no, not one! Dearly they should buy the ground on which I stand!"

"Colonel, shall we not meet them on this spot and lay down our lives, as did our brethren of the Alamo?"

"No, by Jove! I shall have to leave, whether I will or not!" And cruround, and pressed it with his heel

He stepped forth, and drawing his military cap about his eyes, folded his arms upon his broad chest, and addressed his troops: "Comrades! Retreat is no test of an are of its coe and nation, circueneral welfare of the state, has been proee, safe fro Sureat Washington fled from superior forces, and waited till a more convenient season Fellow-soldiers: there is one of two steps to be immediately taken We will stand to our post, and fall to a o down to posterity as did the Spartans of old, 'Wreathed with honor, and immortal fame;'