The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 34, July 1930 - April, 1931 Page: 145
359 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Through Texas and Northern Mexico in 1846-1847 145
icans. In '36, it was reduced to a heap of ruins, by the latter,
before they succeeded in recapturing it; and the brave handful of
patriots, its defenders. The names and heroism of this brave band,
has render'd it immortal. Several large breaches were made in the
wall, numberless marks of cannon shot are yet visible. After tak-
ing it, the Mexicans attempted to blow it up with gun-powder. The
whole of the roof then remaining was destroyed with the exception
of two small cells or cloisters, one on either side of the principal
entrance. The roof was supported by arches of stone, 30 feet high,
above, filled to the level with the center of the arch, with earth and
stones. The whole covered with a cement of lime and gravel.
Above this, the wall four feet in thickness formed a parapet breast
high. The roof and part of the wall, falling in buried the pave-
ment and bodies of many of the dead, ten feet deep in rubbish and
ruins. This portion of the castle is in better state of preservation
than any other, being much stronger and of more recent construc-
tion than the remainder. I send you a pencil sketch of its western
front. I claim no merit for it, except that I believe the propor-
tions are correctly drawn. I had not, nor could I get any other
implements than a cedar pencil, and it not a good one. In order
to send it by mail, I was compelled to take it so small, I found it
impossible to coppy the carving and embellishments with the exact-
ness and effect I could wish. By shading with mezzo-tinto these
portions I have attempted with the pencil, it may be very much
improved. Had I materials and implements, I would take others
and I flatter myself better ones. The Castle is an irregular paral-
lelogram built of large blocks of soft limestone finely cemented
together. A wall formerly enclosed the fortress, court-yard, offices
etc containing an area of about one acre of ground, this wall
has the appearance of having been in a state of utter ruin for a
long time past: and is only disernable from the heap of rubbish
elevated a few feet above the surrounding plain. To the left of
the main building is a long gallery or wing, this has been a place
of great strength, below it is divided into a number of low rooms
or cells with arched ceilings, the roof capable of supporting a bat-
tery of 20 heavy peices of ordinance. One of these rooms is shown
as the place where Travis, Bowie, and Crocket fell. The dark
stain of blood, is yet upon the walls. In these dark characters is
preserved the chronicle of their heroic deeds. The monuments of
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 34, July 1930 - April, 1931, periodical, 1931; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101091/m1/155/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.