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.

[Rightly Biased]

Remember the Alamo!!

Remember Goliad!!

[Rightly Biased]

Good Morning Meek!

Could you ping the Texans?

[Rightly Biased]

The Lone Star flag of today is the composite of symbols from the individual banners representing the diverse philosophical, cultural, ethnic and political groups involved in the evolution of Texas to independence and regional self-determination. Symbolizing the fact that Texas is unique among states of the world, the composite Lone Star banner is a copy of no one state, yet it employs symbolic elements of its progenitors. The Lone Star banner employs the red and white colors of its parent countries Spain, the Mexican United States of America and the United States of America. Its two wide red and white stripes symbolize its uniqueness and greatness as a one-time Republic that sets it apart from any one of the thin original 13 stripes of the USA which was adopted in several unofficial banners of independence and the Burnet naval flag of the Republic. Absence of Spanish gold (yellow) distances the banner from the vice-regal tyranny of its parent Spain, yet its Spanish cultural heritage is maintained in red and white. The removal of eagle, cactus and snake and the green stripe with rotation of the wide white and red stripes of the Mexican tri-color from vertical to horizontal distances the banner from the racism, religious repression and despotism exercised by its Mexican parent while the width and colors of the two wide horizontal red and white stripes preserve the state's Mexican heritage which began with liberal revolution and principles of self-determination. Shining brightest is the single white Lone Star on pure union blue symbolizing self-reliance, independence, purity of motive and spirit. The Lone Star symbolizes the uniqueness of the state's independent cultural and political evolution among the original 13 and the current 50 stars on the banner of the USA. It is the only state of the USA which joined the union by treaty as an independent republic which had progressed through the stepwise stuggle for independence, first as a state within and then an independent republic separate from its parent country Mexico, independence won by the sacrifice of Texians from diverse ancestry and culture. The single star of Texas, first displayed on Spanish red in New Spanish Texas by Dr. James Long and then one of the two gold stars on the banner of the State of Coahuila y Tejas, was the star of hope for freedom, democracy and libertarian principles and local self-determination within the Republic of Mexico which suffered from vice-regal dictatorship, political and cleric corruption and revolution through most of the 19th century. Symbolic of the unity of the diverse elements which combined to make it independent, free and great, the Lone Star resides on pure union blue which evolved from the Burnet naval flag and the De Zavala and Burnet flags of the Republic and the United States of America. (See also Texian Poetry--The Lone Star)

[Knitting A Conundrum]

A letter written by Travis to the citizens of Texas:


TO THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS. Commandancy of the Alamo, Bejar, Feb. 24, 1836. FELLOW-CITIZENS, I am besieged by a thousond or more of the Mexicans, under Santa Ana. I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade, for twenty-four hours, and have not lost one man. The enemy have demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison is to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender nor retreat: then I call on you, in the name of liberty, of patriotism, and of every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all possible despatch. The enemy are receiving reinforcements daily, and will, no doubt, increase to three or four thousands, in four or five days. Though this call may be neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible, and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country. VICTORY OR DEATH. W. BARRET TRAVIS, Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant.

P.S. The Lord is on our side. When the enemy appeared in sight, we had not three bushels of corn; we have since found, in deserted houses, eighty or ninety bushels, and got into the walls twenty or thirty head of beeves. T.

[Rightly Biased]

Arrogant wasn't he?

I like that, I think its a Texan trait.

Thanks for the Bump

[labette]

Ever since I was a kid, Davey Crockett has been one of my heroes. If someone hadn't beat me to it, it would be my Free Republic name as well.

[Rightly Biased]

The Tennesseans and the Gonzales 32 the only ones to answer Travis's plea for help at the Alamo.

Davey Crockett a true Hero!!

[Rightly Biased]

Yall were on the Texas Independance Day Thread.(Don't be too upset about the ping)

Just a Reminder about why we have our Independance.


Remember the Alamo!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Remember the Alamo!!

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!

Full Texas Ping List

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin'! Thanks for the post and heads up.

[philman_36]

Why does everyone forget the second half?
Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!

[philman_36]

You remembered Goliad.

[Rightly Biased]

I have always Remembered Goliad. Go to my about me page

http://www.freerepublic.com/~rightlybiased/


But today is the day the Alamo Fell.

Golaid Fell later in the month March 27th look for another thread then unless you beat me to it. ;^)

[marty60]

I have tears in my eyes.

[mainepatsfan]

Has there ever been a movie that deal with Goliad?

[humblegunner]

YEEEE-HAW!

Thanks for the ping, good reading to start my day.

[basil]

Thanks for this post to Texas Independence Day! My Lone Star flies high, on this and every other day. I'm proud to be a Texan, born and bred!

[Rightly Biased]

Your Welcome

God Bless Texas!!

[Rightly Biased]

Thanks Meek

God Bless Texas!!

[basil]

Texas ping!