Chapter 48: Chapter 47: The Battle of the Alamo 2

Washington, the White House.

Martin Van Buren held a thick stack of letters and petitions, then dropped them heavily onto the desk.

"Mr. President, this is today's batch. Would you like me to open them one by one for you?"

Andrew Jackson set down a half-bottle of gin, picked up a letter with one hand, and took a deep drag from the cigar clenched in his other hand, exhaling a long ring of smoke.

"Damn it! Are these people bored out of their minds? The Southern slave trade has been around for ages, and now they actually say we must strictly enforce the decrees prohibiting it. Are they going to go pick the cotton in the Southern fields themselves?"

"But Mr. President, the British are already prepared to cast us out of the civilized world. They say we are white-skinned savages with black hearts, unworthy of possessing the territories of the British Empire."

Before 1815, Britain and the United States had fought two major wars, and since then, they had remained in a stalemate due to issues regarding tariffs and raw materials; the Monroe Doctrine had further fueled British resentment.

Thus, at this moment, the vanguard of anti-American sentiment was Britain, who were even more anxious than the French or the Mexicans.

Viscount Palmerston even claimed that "troops should be dispatched to Texas immediately to drive those American scum out of the civilized world. American land belongs to the British Empire, and Americans are merely a group of thieves who have stolen the property of the British Empire."

Viscount Palmerston's rhetoric received widespread support in Britain, because the continued expansion of the United States would undoubtedly affect British interests, and as the global hegemon, Britain would not allow a challenger to emerge.

"Damn the British! We have already declared our neutrality, what more do they want?" Andrew Jackson was in a foul mood. The price of American land had risen again; he dared say that even all the metallic currency in the entire United States combined could not buy half of New York City.

The Indians had just migrated west of the Mississippi River, yet those politicians were already studying how to make the Indians migrate even further west.

"Perhaps we should suspend the slave trade," a cabinet member suggested.

"That is impossible! If we announce a ban on the slave trade today, those Southern politicians will drive us out of office tomorrow!" Andrew Jackson roared.

"Mr. President, I mean, we issue a statement without actually doing anything—just maintaining the status quo."

Andrew Jackson thought that made sense; after all, it wasn't the first time they had voiced an opinion.

"Fine. Draft a statement declaring that our country prohibits the slave trade and that we will continue to maintain a neutral stance in the Mexican Civil War."

March 6, 1836, the Alamo.

Upon the suggestion of two military observers, Tassan Anna sent an officer with his letter to the foot of the walls to persuade the Alamo defenders to surrender.

[General Tassan Anna, Liberator of San Antonio, President of Mexico, Hero against Spain, Protector of the Indians, the Napoleon of North America.

It is hereby declared that Texas is the Texas of the Mexicans, a province belonging to Mexico. Your actions are blatant acts of treason, but I, Tassan Anna, am a merciful man.

As long as you agree to disarm and surrender immediately, I can guarantee your safe departure from this place, I swear to God.

Otherwise, I shall ensure you bleed to death on the spot!]

Up on the walls, Bowie took the cigar out of his mouth and shouted, "Are you finished?"

Not understanding what he meant, the officer replied, "We are finished. These are the orders of General Tassan Anna!"

"Then you can die."

Bowie placed the cigar against the cannon's fuse. Boom!

A cannonball struck the officer dead center, splitting him in two on the spot, scattering red and white across the ground.

Before the surrounding cavalry could even recover from their shock, the cannons and gunfire erupted from the walls; the Alamo defenders had long since aimed at the Mexicans before them.

A small squad of cavalry, including the officer, totaling eleven men—not one survived.

An infuriated Tassan Anna directly ordered, "Light cavalry, charge!"

Leaving only Stadion and Gabrunz standing in the wind, bewildered. Cavalry charging a fortified city???

(End of Chapter)