Remember the Alamo

War of Independence ^ | 1997-2004 | Wallace L. McKeehan,

[Rightly Biased]

3 March 1836: Travis' Report and Appeal for Aid for the Alamo. On the night of 3 Mar, Travis sent out the last message from the besieged Alamo with courier John W. Smith. He penetrated enemy lines with the message from Travis to the Texas Independence Convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos which describes the situation at the Alamo in detail:

In the present confusion of the political authorities of the country, and in the absence of the commander in chief, I beg leave to communicate to you the situation of this garrison. You have doubtless already seen my official report of the action of the twenty fifth ult. made on that day to Gen. Sam Houston, together with the various communications heretofore sent by express. I shall therefore confine myself to what has transpired since that date. From the twenty-fifth to the present date the enemy has kept up a bombardment from two howitzers—one a five and a half inch, and the other an eight inch--and a heavy cannonade from two long nine-pounders mounted on a battery on the opposite side of the river at a distance of four hundred yards from our wall. During this period the enemy have been busily employed in encircling us with entrenched encampments on all sides, at the following distance, to wit: In Bexar, four hundred yards west; in Lavileta, three hundred yards south; at the powder house, one thousand yards east of south; at the ditch, eight hundred yards northeast, and at the old mill, eight hundred yards north. Notwithstanding all this, a company of thirty-two men from Gonzales made their way in to us on the morning of the first inst. at three o'clock, and Colonel J. B. Bonham (a courier from Gonzales) got in this morning at eleven o'clock without molestation. I have fortified this place, so that the walls are generally proof against cannon balls and I will continue to entrench on the inside, and strengthen walls by throwing up the dirt. At least two hundred shells have fallen inside our works without having injured a single man; indeed we have been so fortunate as not to lose a man from any cause, and we have killed many of the enemy. The spirits of my men are still high although they have had much to depress them. We have contended for ten days against an enemy whose numbers are variously estimated at from fifteen hundred to six thousand men, with General Ramirez Sesma and Colonel Batres, the aides-de-camp of Santa Anna, at their head. A report was circulated that Santa Anna himself was with the enemy, but I think it was false. A reinforcement of about one thousand men is now entering Bexar, from the west, and I think it more than probable that Santa Anna is now in town, from the rejoicing we hear. Col. Fannin is said to be on the march to this place with reinforcements, but I fear it is not true, as I have repeatedly sent to him for aid without receiving any. Colonel Bonham, my special messenger, arrived at La Bahia fourteen days ago, with a request for aide and on the arrival of the enemy in Bexar, ten days ago, I sent an express to Colonel F. which arrived at Goliad on the next day, urging him to send us reinforcements; none have yet arrived. I look to the colonies alone for aid; unless it arrives soon, I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms. I will, however, do the best I can under the circumstances; and I feel confident that the determined valor and desperate courage heretofore exhibited by my men will not fail them in the last struggle; and although they may be sacrificed to the vengeance of a Gothic enemy, the victory will cost the enemy so dear, that it will be worse to him than a defeat. I hope your honorable body will hasten on reinforcements ammunition, and provisions to our aid as soon as possible. We have provisions for twenty days for the men we have. Our supply of ammunition is limited. At least five hundred pounds of cannon powder, and two hundred rounds of six., nine, twelve and eighteen pound balls, ten kegs of rifle powder and a supply of lead, should be sent to the place without delay under a sufficient guard. If these things are promptly sent, and large reinforcements are hastened to this frontier, this neighborhood will be the great and decisive ground. The power of Santa Anna is to be met here, or in the colonies; we had better meet them here than to suffer a war of devastation to rage in our settlements. A blood red banner waves from the church of Bexar, and in the camp above us, in token that the war is one of vengeance against rebels; they have declared us as such; demanded, that we should surrender at discretion, or that this garrison should be put to the sword. Their threats have had no influence on me or my men, but to make all fight with desperation, and that high souled courage which characterizes the patriot, who is willing to die in defense of his country's liberty and his own honor. The citizens of this municipality are all our enemies, except those who have joined us heretofore. We have but three Mexicans now in the fort; those who have not joined us, in this extremity, should be declared public enemies, and their property should aid in paying the expenses of the war. The bearer of this will give your honorable body a statement more in detail, should he escape through the enemy's lines. God and Texas---Victory or Death. P.S. The enemy's troops are still arriving, and the reinforcements will probably amount to two or three thousand.

On 5 Mar, General Santa Anna issued the formal written order to his troops to storm the Alamo garrison (translated from the Spanish):

To the Generals, Chiefs of Sections and Commanding Officers: The time has come to strike a decisive blow upon the enemy occupying the Fortress of the Alamo. Consequently, His Excellency, the General in Chief, has decided that tomorrow at 4 o'clock a.m., the columns of attack shall be stationed at musket-shot distance from the first entrenchments, ready for the charge, which shall commence, at a signal given with the bugle, from the Northern Battery. The first column will be commanded by General Don Martin Perfecto de Cos, and, in his absence, by myself. The Permanent Battalion of Aldama (except the company of Grenadiers) and the three right center companies of the Active Battalion of San Luis, will comprise the first column. The second column will be commanded by Colonel Don Francisco Duque, and, in his absence, by General Don Manuel Fernindez Castrillon; it will be composed of the Active Battalion (except the company of Grenadiers) and the three remaining center companies of the Active Battalion of San Luis. The third column will be commanded by Colonel Jose Maria Romero and in his absence Mariano Salas; it will be Composed of the permanent Battalion Of Matamoros and Jimenes. The fourth column will be commanded by Colonel Juan Morales, and in his absence, by Colonel Jose Minon; it will be composed of the light companies of the Battalions of Matamoros and Jimenes and of the Active Battalion of San Luis. His Excellency the General in Chief will, in due time designate the points of attack, and give his instructions to the Commanding Officers. The reserve will be composed of the Battalion of Engineers and the five companies of Grenadiers of the Permanent Battalions of Matamoros, Jimenes and Allama, and the Active Battalions of Toluca and San Luis. The reserve will be commanded by the General in Chief in person, during the attack; but General Augustin Amat will assemble this party which will report to him, this evening at 5 o’clock, to be marched to the designated station. The first column will carry ten ladders, two crowbars and two axes; the second, ten ladders; the third, six ladders; and the fourth, two ladders. The men carrying the ladders will sling their guns on their shoulders, to be enabled to place the ladders wherever they may be required. The companies of Grenadiers will be supplied with six packages of cartridges to every man, and the center companies with two packages and two spare flints. The men will wear neither overcoats nor blankets nor anything that may impede the rapidity of their motions. The Commanding Officers will see that the men have their chin straps of their caps down, and that they wear either shoes or sandals. The troops composing the columns of attack will turn in to sleep at dark; to be in readiness to move at 12 o'clock at light. Recruits deficient in instruction will remain in their quarters. The arms, principally the bayonets, should be in perfect order. As soon as the moon rises, the center companies of the Active Battalion of San Luis will abandon the points they are now occupying on the line, in order to have time to prepare. The cavalry, under Colonel Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma, will be stationed at the Alameda, saddling up at 3 o'clock a.m. It shall be its duty to scout the country, to prevent the possibility of an escape. The honor of the nation being interested in this engagement against the bold and lawless foreigners who are opposing us, His Excellency expects that every man will do his duty, and exert himself to give a day of glory to the country, and of gratification to the Supreme Government, who will know how to reward the distinguished deeds of the brave soldiers of the Army of Operations.

On 6 March 1836 about 3:00 AM, Andrew Kent's daughter Mary Ann Kent related that the sound of distant cannons woke the family. Lying on pallets spread on the floor of the Zumwalt residence, the children could hear and feel the boom of the cannons as they fired 70 miles away in San Antonio. By daybreak there was silence which continued past noon and then sundown and the next day and the next. Travis had sent word to Gonzales that he would fire three daily "all’s well" volleys from the walls of the garrison as long as it was in Texan hands. For over six days the people of Gonzales and riders that ventured close to San Antonio to try to hear the three times per day volleys heard nothing. Anxiety mounted and the worst was feared among the residents.

There were few that did not have a relative or close friend in the garrison.

[af_vet_rr]

One thing puzzles me. I once read a list (I don't have it now) of the names of the men who died defending the Alamo (some names are lost). I'm sure that a good many more than three of the names were Hispanic.

Out of the 189 or so that died at the Alamo, only about 60-80 were actually from Texas. Out of those 189, only six were actually born in Texas: Juan Abamillo, Juan A. Badillo, Carlos Espalier, Gregorio Esparza, Antonio Fuentes, and Andrés Nava. There were more Hispanics at the Alamo before the battle, but most were sent out to find reinforcements (Juan Seguin being the most well-known).

Most who fought at the Alamo were from back east (30+ from Tennesse alone), or Europe (20-30), and had recently arrived and had rushed to the Alamo with Travis and weren't expecting things to turn out the way they did. (which in some ways makes their sacrifice all the more heroic/tragic).

If things had turned out the way many people both inside and outside of the Alamo had expected, the Alamo would have been a footnote (or on par with Goliad - which most people outside of Texas have never heard of). Of course, if the battle hadn't turned out to delay the Mexican Army as much as it did, the war could have been much more difficult.

The majority of Hispanics that fought against Mexico, fought elsewhere (under General Houston, etc.). That's where most of my relatives fought for Texas (my ancestors came from Spain from the 1500s through the 1700s). They were already organized into units (even if they were informal units) and/or were in other parts of the state.

When the USS San Jacinto was commissioned several years ago, there was a large group of us who were invited for a small ceremony, for those who were descendents of those who fought under General Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto. I wouldn't be surprised if a good third of the group were Hispanic. I was invited by a friend to attend a memorial service that is held each year by the Alamo Defenders Descendants Association. Surprisingly (or maybe not), about half the crowd was Hispanic. One of the most somber, back-of-the-nect tingling events I have ever been to. It's held at night, and closed to the general public. The names of each Defender are read off, and as they are read, descendants stand up. Worlds really can't describe the ceremony.

[af_vet_rr]

One thing puzzles me. I once read a list (I don't have it now) of the names of the men who died defending the Alamo (some names are lost). I'm sure that a good many more than three of the names were Hispanic.

Out of the 189 or so that died at the Alamo, only about 60-80 were actually from Texas. Out of those 189, only six were actually born in Texas: Juan Abamillo, Juan A. Badillo, Carlos Espalier, Gregorio Esparza, Antonio Fuentes, and Andrés Nava. There were more Hispanics at the Alamo before the battle, but most were sent out to find reinforcements (Juan Seguin being the most well-known).

Most who fought at the Alamo were from back east (30+ from Tennesse alone), or Europe (20-30), and had recently arrived and had rushed to the Alamo with Travis and weren't expecting things to turn out the way they did. (which in some ways makes their sacrifice all the more heroic/tragic).

If things had turned out the way many people both inside and outside of the Alamo had expected, the Alamo would have been a footnote (or on par with Goliad - which most people outside of Texas have never heard of). Of course, if the battle hadn't turned out to delay the Mexican Army as much as it did, the war could have been much more difficult.

The majority of Hispanics that fought against Mexico, fought elsewhere (under General Houston, etc.). That's where most of my relatives fought for Texas (my ancestors came from Spain from the 1500s through the 1700s). They were already organized into units (even if they were informal units) and/or were in other parts of the state.

When the USS San Jacinto was commissioned several years ago, there was a large group of us who were invited for a small ceremony, for those who were descendents of those who fought under General Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto. I wouldn't be surprised if a good third of the group were Hispanic. I was invited by a friend to attend a memorial service that is held each year by the Alamo Defenders Descendants Association. Surprisingly (or maybe not), about half the crowd was Hispanic. One of the most somber, back-of-the-nect tingling events I have ever been to. It's held at night, and closed to the general public. The names of each Defender are read off, and as they are read, descendants stand up. Worlds really can't describe the ceremony.

[Nita Nupress]

He and several others attempted to found a bank to aid in the growing business in St. Louis...wonder what would have happened to American history if his bank hadn't foundered and he went to plan two, set up a colony of Americans in Texas?

Something to think about. I don't know, and I don't want to think about it. lol!

Thanks. I didn't know all that before now.

[Nita Nupress]

Words really can't describe the ceremony.

Cool. I'd give my right arm to be at one of those.

I enjoyed reading your post. Thanks.

[StrictTime]

Uh, can I ask what is at the Texas Prison Museum? I have a weak stomach ( :

[deport]

Yes you can ask if'n I can tell tell you I have no idea?.... lol .. I've never been to it although I've pasted it many times up and down I-45. Here's a link to it that will give you some ideas I'd guess. My guess is it's a history of the Texas prison system and items related to system.

http://www.txprisonmuseum.org/

Up the road a 100 miles or so is Waco the where the Texas Ranger Musuem and the Dr. Pepper Museum.. And Crawford and the Western WhiteHouse are just a little farther to the west...

Good luck

[Rightly Biased]

Go to Monument Hill in La Grange and then on down to Goliad and the Persidio La Bahia.

The persidio has been used in every major engagement up to the civil war that Texas was involved in.

[potlatch]

I stole your picture of the Alamo Meek! It's a nice one.

[Senator Pardek]

See, Pardek? It all originated from you Yankees, so now you can stop rolling your eyes (although I'll acknowledge it must be nauseating to people who don't understand it). :-)

The only thing of value Yankees gave to Texas is Alfonso Soriano.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Mexican general Castrillon was an honorable man. He advised Santa Anna NOT to kill prisoners taken at Goliad and was ignored. He also advised Santa Anna at the Alamo NOT to kill prisoners and was again ignored. At the battle of San Jacinto, he tried to rally his contingent and did NOT turn and run. He stood his ground facing the charging Texans with his arms crossed. Just before he died, he said, "I've been in more than 40 (?) battles and I've never turned my back. I'm too old to do it now." Then he was killed.

[RebelTex]

Thanks for the ping, guys.

Remember the Alamo!!

FReegards,

       RebelTex

[mysto]

Uh, can I ask what is at the Texas Prison Museum? I have a weak stomach ( :
You can go visit Old Sparky at the prison museum...

P.S. Thanks for the ping, MeekOne... God Bless Texas!

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks! (I stole it, too!).

:^D

[MeekOneGOP]

Ole Sparky! That's the ticket!

[March I up]

A very respectfull (& now Texan transpalnted) BTTT!!!!

"Yee-Haw!!!"

[March I up]

TY as ever, MOGOP!

[MeekOneGOP]

My pleasure. :^)

[BellStar]

Flag's battle never ends (Alamo flag)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1357420/posts?page=1

[TexasRepublic]

Remember the infamy at Goliad and the harsh lesson: Never, never, never surrender!

[Rightly Biased]

March 27th is comming up Remember Goliad!