A very sad day in Texas history. Beginning at dawn Santa Anna launches an assault on the walls of the Alamo after 13 days of siege with approximately 2200 men. The Alamo defenders are outnumbered 10 to 1. The battle would only last about 90 minutes and all of the Alamo defenders were killed.
This is a drawing from 1854 of the Alamo. After the battle the Alamo was used sporatically and largely abandoned until 1891 when the Daughters of the Republic of Texas were formed and the state sold the land to them.
The Alamo was defended by men who were born in Texas, from every state in the US except New Hampshire and from half a dozen nations around the world. This stand would resonate not just with the US but with the world. The Mexican Army would pay a heavy price to take the Alamo, estimates put their death toll between 200 and 600 Mexican soldiers with an equal number of wounded. At this time, most of the wounded became ineffective as soldiers. So even taking the low end of the estimates, Santa Anna's army was effectively cut by one quarter (at least) with this battle.
As the Mexicans over ran the outer walls, the defenders fell back into the Alamo chapel where the 18 pounder (brought by the NO Gray's) was turned on the front doors and they blasted their way inside. Col Travis was killed on the wall very early in the battle. A bed ridden Jim Bowie was reported to have been killed in his cot. Many of the final defenders were bayoneted by the Mexican Army.
A word about the New Orleans Gray's. This was 2 Companies (approx 122 men) that came over from Louisiana to volunteer in the Texas fight in October of 1835. They accounted for 23 of those at the Alamo. They were uniformed and professional which was different from most of the untrained Texas volunteers. Another 20 would be lost at Goliad but a dozen would participate in the Battle of San Jacinto.
Travis' slave Joe was spared as was Susanna Dickenson and her daughter Angelina along with Juana Alsbury and her child. They would be given a blanket each and 2 pesos and would go to Gonzales where they shared the story of the battle.
The defenders bodies were stacked in a pile and burned. Santa Anna denying them a proper burial. It would not be until 1837 that Juan Sequin returned to San Antonio, collected the ashes and buried them in a coffin.
One of the great controversies of the battle was whether Davy Crockett died on the walls ala John Wayne or whether he was killed afterwards. not sure why some find it important, no one questions that he died at the Alamo or that his arrival did not spur national and international attention to the cause of the Texicans.
The 2004 movie The Alamo took great pride in it's historical accuracy. Billy Bob Thornton was outstanding as Davy Crockett. This seems like a fitting end for a great American.
The Timeline of the Texas Revolution
1823-Stephen F Austin was approved by Mexico to sell land grants to Anglo Colonists to the state of Tejas (Coahuila & Tejas). The original settlers were referred to as the Old 300 though there were actually only 297
Oct 1824-Mexico approves the Constitution of 1824, patterned closely on the US Constitution
1827-President John Quincy Adams offers to buy Tejas (Texas) from Mexico. They declined
1829-President Andrew Jackson offers to buy Tejas (Texas) from Mexico, they decline
1833 Santa Anna elected President of Mexico
1834
Santa Anna resends the Mexican Constitution of 1824. This leads to rebellion in the states of Zacatecas, Coahuila, and Vera Cruz.
These rebellions would be brutally put down by Santa Anna
Stephen F Austin charged with treason and jailed in Mexico while negotiating with Mexican govt.
1835
January Stephen F Austin publishes Exposition to the Public Regarding the Affairs of Texas outlining Texicans desires. Which includes becoming an independent Mexican state but not nation. FYI, slavery never mentioned
August Stephen F Austin returns to Texas and resumes his role as the civil head of Texas. 8 days after his return he reverses himself and calls for a war of independence
September, Juan Sequin and Salvador Flores along with Bexar County leaders pledge their support to Independence
29 September, 100 Mexican dragoons arrive at Gonzales to force the return of cannons on loan from the Mexican Army
2 October, Battle of Gonzales breaks out, Come and Take It, considered the 1st shots in the War for Texas Independence. Mexican Army driven off with no loss of Texican’s lives.
10 October Texas volunteers under the command of Austin take the Presidio at Goliad
20 October Austin orders James Bowie Jim Fannin Juan Seguin with 90 men to scout a location to lay siege to the Mexican troops in San Antonio under command of Gen Cos. Bowie and his men spend the night at the Mission Concepcion
28 Oct Battle of Concepcion. 275 members of the Mexican Army attack Bowie and his men. After a 30 minute battle, they are driven off with deaths of 15-40 to only 1 Texican defender killed. 1st major engagement.
1 Nov Texicans begin the Siege of Bexar
3 Nov The Consultation (they meet at San Felipie de Austin near the current town of Sealy) to decide overall goals of the revolution. Consultation made up of elected delegates from around the state. Sam Houston elected Commander in Chief of the Texas Army
7 Nov The Consultation announces that as long as the Constitution of 1824 remains invalid, the Texans have the right to seek Independence. Henry Smith named Governor of the Provincial Govt.
26 Nov The Grass Fight Jim Bowie lead 40 calvary and 100 infantry to intercept a pack mule train south of San Antonio. They thought the mules carried silver and supplies. They would repulse the Mexicans and several attempts to reinforce only to find the mules loaded with grass for the Mexican horses.
28 Nov Santa Anna leaves Mexico City with an Army of 3,000 marching towards Texas to put down the rebellion
1 Dec Ben Milam and Frank Johnson launch assault on San Antonio
10 Dec Mexican General Cos surrenders to the Texicans with 1000 troops. He and his troops are paroled back to Mexico with the promise to not return to Texas. Another promise broken
1836
5 Jan, James C Neill (JC) is elected the commander of the Alamo
14 Kam JC Neill, Alamo requests supplies and men to hold the fort
19 Jan James Bowie and James Buchannan return to the Alamo with 30 men
3 Feb William Travis arrives at the Alamo with 30 men
8 Feb Davy Crockett arrives at the Alamo with 12 Tenn Volunteers
23 Feb Santa Anna reaches San Antonio and begins an artillery siege of the Alamo
24 Feb Travis pens his famous “Letter from the Alamo”
26 Feb Col James Fannin from Goliad starts 320 men with cannon to reinforce the Alamo but the next day turns back.
27 Feb Mexican Gen Urrea defeats the Texican’s lead by Frank Johnson at San Patricio.
1 Mar Between 32 and 60 Texicans from Gonzales arrive at the Alamo, the Gonzales Mounted Volunteers.
2 Mar The elected delegates at Washington-on-the-Brazos declare Independence from Mexico. David Burnet elected interim Governor.
3 Mar James Bonham arrives back at the Alamo and informs Col Travis that Fannin’s force is not coming.
4 Mar Sam Houston appointed Commander in Chief of all Texas Armie
This is a drawing from 1854 of the Alamo. After the battle the Alamo was used sporatically and largely abandoned until 1891 when the Daughters of the Republic of Texas were formed and the state sold the land to them.
As the Mexicans over ran the outer walls, the defenders fell back into the Alamo chapel where the 18 pounder (brought by the NO Gray's) was turned on the front doors and they blasted their way inside. Col Travis was killed on the wall very early in the battle. A bed ridden Jim Bowie was reported to have been killed in his cot. Many of the final defenders were bayoneted by the Mexican Army.
A word about the New Orleans Gray's. This was 2 Companies (approx 122 men) that came over from Louisiana to volunteer in the Texas fight in October of 1835. They accounted for 23 of those at the Alamo. They were uniformed and professional which was different from most of the untrained Texas volunteers. Another 20 would be lost at Goliad but a dozen would participate in the Battle of San Jacinto.
Travis' slave Joe was spared as was Susanna Dickenson and her daughter Angelina along with Juana Alsbury and her child. They would be given a blanket each and 2 pesos and would go to Gonzales where they shared the story of the battle.
The defenders bodies were stacked in a pile and burned. Santa Anna denying them a proper burial. It would not be until 1837 that Juan Sequin returned to San Antonio, collected the ashes and buried them in a coffin.
One of the great controversies of the battle was whether Davy Crockett died on the walls ala John Wayne or whether he was killed afterwards. not sure why some find it important, no one questions that he died at the Alamo or that his arrival did not spur national and international attention to the cause of the Texicans.
The 2004 movie The Alamo took great pride in it's historical accuracy. Billy Bob Thornton was outstanding as Davy Crockett. This seems like a fitting end for a great American.
The Timeline of the Texas Revolution
1823-Stephen F Austin was approved by Mexico to sell land grants to Anglo Colonists to the state of Tejas (Coahuila & Tejas). The original settlers were referred to as the Old 300 though there were actually only 297
Oct 1824-Mexico approves the Constitution of 1824, patterned closely on the US Constitution
1827-President John Quincy Adams offers to buy Tejas (Texas) from Mexico. They declined
1829-President Andrew Jackson offers to buy Tejas (Texas) from Mexico, they decline
1833 Santa Anna elected President of Mexico
1834
Santa Anna resends the Mexican Constitution of 1824. This leads to rebellion in the states of Zacatecas, Coahuila, and Vera Cruz.
These rebellions would be brutally put down by Santa Anna
Stephen F Austin charged with treason and jailed in Mexico while negotiating with Mexican govt.
1835
January Stephen F Austin publishes Exposition to the Public Regarding the Affairs of Texas outlining Texicans desires. Which includes becoming an independent Mexican state but not nation. FYI, slavery never mentioned
August Stephen F Austin returns to Texas and resumes his role as the civil head of Texas. 8 days after his return he reverses himself and calls for a war of independence
September, Juan Sequin and Salvador Flores along with Bexar County leaders pledge their support to Independence
29 September, 100 Mexican dragoons arrive at Gonzales to force the return of cannons on loan from the Mexican Army
2 October, Battle of Gonzales breaks out, Come and Take It, considered the 1st shots in the War for Texas Independence. Mexican Army driven off with no loss of Texican’s lives.
10 October Texas volunteers under the command of Austin take the Presidio at Goliad
20 October Austin orders James Bowie Jim Fannin Juan Seguin with 90 men to scout a location to lay siege to the Mexican troops in San Antonio under command of Gen Cos. Bowie and his men spend the night at the Mission Concepcion
28 Oct Battle of Concepcion. 275 members of the Mexican Army attack Bowie and his men. After a 30 minute battle, they are driven off with deaths of 15-40 to only 1 Texican defender killed. 1st major engagement.
1 Nov Texicans begin the Siege of Bexar
3 Nov The Consultation (they meet at San Felipie de Austin near the current town of Sealy) to decide overall goals of the revolution. Consultation made up of elected delegates from around the state. Sam Houston elected Commander in Chief of the Texas Army
7 Nov The Consultation announces that as long as the Constitution of 1824 remains invalid, the Texans have the right to seek Independence. Henry Smith named Governor of the Provincial Govt.
26 Nov The Grass Fight Jim Bowie lead 40 calvary and 100 infantry to intercept a pack mule train south of San Antonio. They thought the mules carried silver and supplies. They would repulse the Mexicans and several attempts to reinforce only to find the mules loaded with grass for the Mexican horses.
28 Nov Santa Anna leaves Mexico City with an Army of 3,000 marching towards Texas to put down the rebellion
1 Dec Ben Milam and Frank Johnson launch assault on San Antonio
10 Dec Mexican General Cos surrenders to the Texicans with 1000 troops. He and his troops are paroled back to Mexico with the promise to not return to Texas. Another promise broken
1836
5 Jan, James C Neill (JC) is elected the commander of the Alamo
14 Kam JC Neill, Alamo requests supplies and men to hold the fort
19 Jan James Bowie and James Buchannan return to the Alamo with 30 men
3 Feb William Travis arrives at the Alamo with 30 men
8 Feb Davy Crockett arrives at the Alamo with 12 Tenn Volunteers
23 Feb Santa Anna reaches San Antonio and begins an artillery siege of the Alamo
24 Feb Travis pens his famous “Letter from the Alamo”
26 Feb Col James Fannin from Goliad starts 320 men with cannon to reinforce the Alamo but the next day turns back.
27 Feb Mexican Gen Urrea defeats the Texican’s lead by Frank Johnson at San Patricio.
1 Mar Between 32 and 60 Texicans from Gonzales arrive at the Alamo, the Gonzales Mounted Volunteers.
2 Mar The elected delegates at Washington-on-the-Brazos declare Independence from Mexico. David Burnet elected interim Governor.
3 Mar James Bonham arrives back at the Alamo and informs Col Travis that Fannin’s force is not coming.
4 Mar Sam Houston appointed Commander in Chief of all Texas Armie
