The Fall of the Alamo

I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & of everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. If this call is
neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country.

-Colonel William Barret Travis February 24 1836

"....One, a lad of but sixteen, was the bravest of them all, for he fought after his weapon's were useless. He died throttling an
antagonist, not relaxing his grip on the latter's throat even when death seized the boy. He and his foe died together.....they had to
tear the boy's hands from the throat of his assailant."

Mexico was a relatively new government, having only just gained its own independence from Spain in 1821. It had gone
through 13 presidents already when General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna seized control in 1833. In September of 1835
Santa Anna redefined the constitution, thus reducing the guaranteed rights of the people living in Texas. Its citizens
petitioned for independent statehood. Santa Anna did not want a revolt on his hands, and he dispatched 1,200 Mexican
troops to squash the rebellion and disarm the angry Texans.

They quickly took control of San Antonio de Bexar and then moved on to Gonzales, which was East about 50 miles away.
The Mexican commander General Martin Perfecto de Cos, demanded that Gonzales return a cannon that had been loaned to
their city to ward off Indian attacks, knowing that the cannon could be used against his own troops. The people of Gonzales
refused and taunted with "Come and get it!" They loaded up some chains and old metal scrap into the tiny cannon and shot
it out at the Mexicans. Only one Mexican was injured, but the people of Gonzales became famous for their spirit and the
city came to be known as the "Lexington of Texas."

On December 5, 1836 Texan volunteers commanded by Ben Milam attacked the Mexican troops at San Antonio de Bexar.
After furious fighting, the Mexicans surrendered.

Upon hearing the news, Santa Anna was very angry. He immediately pulled together an 8,000 man army and marched
back toward Texas. The mid-winter trek through Northern Mexico was difficult and decreased their numbers.

Meanwhile, the Texans reassumed control of San Antonio, and within it, the Alamo garrison. About 80 soldiers and
volunteers were stationed there. On January 17, 1836 General Sam Houston ordered Jim Bowie and 25 men to go to the
Alamo, move its artillery Eastward, and destroy the remaining fort. Bowie went, but decided against destroying the Alamo.
He knew that Houston would need time to build a big enough army to defeat the Mexicans. He began reinforcing the Alamo
to slow down the Mexican attack.

On February 2, Colonel William Barret Travis arrived in San Antonio with a small calvary company. This brought the
Alamo's total number of defenders to 130. It was decided that Bowie would command the volunteers, and Travis would
command the regular army.

On February 9, Davy Crockett arrived with 14 Tennessee Mounted Volunteers. Crockett had been a politician in
Tennessee, and having lost re-election he decided to have an adventure, and volunteered for the Texan cause.

Santa Anna's troops reclaimed the city of San Antonio on February 23, and began the siege on the Alamo. He had a red
"no quarter" flag raised at the top of the bell tower of the San Fernando Church. The Texans responded with a cannon shot.

The next day Travis wrote a letter to "The people of Texas & all Americans in the world." He begged for reinforcements, and
signed it "Victory or Death." His was a letter that not only captured the spirit of Texas, but also appealed to patriots across
the country.

Santa Anna's troops continued to bombard the town with cannon shots day and night. He wanted to tire out the Texans.
Still, on March 2, reinforcements arrived to the Alamo from Gonzales, bringing the number of defenders up somewhere between
180 and 190 (approx. 188). Gonzales was the only city to answer Travis's cry for help. General Sam Houston would arrive
several days too late.

"The Grand Canyon of Texas," supposedly came just before the end. It is an event that has passed into Texas legend.
Inside the Alamo grounds, Travis drew a line in the sand and asked that all those who were ready to fight to the death, cross
over. It's said that all but one crossed. Louis Rose of France, whom the story came from said that he "wasn't ready to die,"
and left the fort just in time.

On the morning of March 6, 1836 Mexican troops stormed the Alamo. Travis's deadly fire pushed back the invaders twice,
but the Mexicans were finally able to scale the walls. Fighting was chaotic. When the guns were used up, knives were used,
and when that was gone, the Texans defended the Alamo with their bare hands. In the end, all 188 of the Texan defenders
perished.

The time that it took to finally take the Alamo was just enough for General Sam Houston to prepare for the Mexican army.
The news of the slaughter at the Alamo, and then later at Goliad would incite the Texan fury, and would call together a battle
cry that would bring the Mexican army to its knees, and Texas its independence.

"Remember the Alamo!"

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