SPANISH

Mexico Marzo 19 del 1874

Mr. H.A. McArdle
Independencia
Tejas

Muy sur mio:

Sa[tisf]acienda a su fa 
vorecida fha 4 de Enero te dire: que respecto de 
la toma o restauracion de la fortaleza del Alamo 
en Abril de 1,836,pues hay que anadir a lo que 
se dijo entonces en los partes oficiales, y a lo que 
es de notoriedad. Sin embargo, por satisfacer 
a los deseos de Ud anadire que aquel hecho de 
armas fue sangriente porque el Gefe Travis 
que mandaba las fuerzas del Alamo no quiso 
entrar en acomodamiento algun y sus contesta 
ciones eran insultantes, se hizo preciso asultar la 
fortaleza antes de que fuera auxiliada por 
Samuel Houston que caminaba en su asisto 
con fuerzas respetables. La obstinacion de 
Travis y sus soldados dio lugar a la muer 
te de todos ellos, pues ninguno quiso rendirese. 
La lucha duro mas de dos horas desde que los
soldados Mexicanos pesaron aquellos muros 
escalandolos con resolucion.

ENGLISH

Mexico March 19, 1874


Mr. H.A. McArdle
Independence,
Texas


Dear Sir:


In response to your fa
vor of the 4th of January, I have to say that in regard to
the restitution or restoration of the fortress of the Alamo,
in April 1836 there is but little I can add to what
was said in my official dispatches, and what
was notorious. Notwithstanding, for your satisfaction, 
I will add that, that conflict of
arms was bloody, because the chief Travis,
who commanded the forces of the Alamo, would not
enter into any capitulation, and his responses
were insulting, which made it imperative to assault
the fort before it could be reinforced by 
Samuel Houston who was marching to its succor
with respectable forces. The obstinancy of
Travis and his soldiers was the cause of the death
of the whole of them, for not one would surrender.
The struggle lasted more than two hours, and until the
ramparts were resolutely scaled by Mexican soldiers.