Posted on 03/06/2004 11:57:47 AM PST by Keltik
Editor's Note: March is Texas History Month. This is another in the series of articles on Texas history.
Even before the Texans declared their independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836 the Mexican army had already advanced into the state. In December 1835, a group of Texan (or Texians) had captured the town of B/xar. However, the Texans soon realized that B/xar was a main road to get throughout the state. The Camino Real (Old San Antonio Road) crossed the Rio Grande at Paso de Francia (San Antonio Crossing) and went northeast through San Antonio de B/xar, Bastrop, Nacogdoches, San Augustine and then into Louisiana. Two forts blocked this passage--Goliad and the Alamo.
James Clinton Neill commanded the Alamo and James Walker Fannin, Jr., commanded Goliad. A majority of their troops were composed of American volunteers who had recently arrived to the state. However both commanders knew that without reinforcements neither fort could keep the Mexican army at bay. Sometime in January, Sam Houston told Governor Henry Smith that Col. James Bowie and his volunteer company had left for San Antonio and it isbelieved that Houston wanted to abandon the Alamo but the governor did not approve the idea. The governor directed Lt. Col. William B. Travis to take his "legion of calvary" and report to the Alamo. Travis did not want to go and even threatened to quit. But Travis obeyed his orders and took 30 troopers to B/xar and they arrived on Feb. 3, 1836.
But Travis, like Bowie before him, became committed to Neill and to defending the fort and the rest of Texas. On Feb. 8, David Crockett arrived at the Alamo with a group of American volunteers.
Shortly after, Neill left for his home in Bastrop because of family illness. He left Travis in charge because he was a commissioned officer and Bowie, even though he was older, was merely a volunteer colonel. This act created resentment among the volunteers who usually elected their officers. To appease them, Travis held an election. The regulars voted for Travis and the volunteers for Bowie. But the two men struck a compromise; Bowie commanded the volunteers and Travis commanded the regulars and they would co-sign all orders until Neill returned.
Travis and Bowie heard that General Antonio L—pez de Santa Anna's army had reached the Rio Grande and then reached B/xar on Feb-ruary 23. Santa Anna demanded that the Alamo surrender and Travis fired a cannonball in response. On Feb. 24, Travis assumed full command when Bowie fell ill with what is believed to be typhoid pneumonia. As commander, Travis wrote his now-famous letter requesting help from anyone who would come and in it he swore he would "never surrender or retreat" and pledged "Victory or Death."
On March 1, 32 troops from Lt. George C. Kimbell's force in Gonzales made their way into the Alamo. On March 5, after bombarding the Alamo for 12 days Santa Anna announced that he would launch an assault the following day. And around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, he attacked the Alamo from all four directions.
The fight lasted no more than 90 minutes and by 8:00 a.m., every Alamo defender was dead. Current numbers total the dead at 189 but more research may increase the final tally upwards of 260. The Mexican army suffered great losses, too. Estimates place the number of Mexicans killed and wounded at about 600.
However, Santa Anna pledged safe passage to the women and children of the Alamo, most famous among these was Susana W. Dickinson, widow of Capt. Almaron Dickinson, and their infant daughter, Angelina. Dickinson traveled to Gonzales where she reported the fall of the Alamo to General Sam Houston.
The significance of the Alamo is historic. During the thirteen-day siege, Travis never stopped asking for reinforcements and he and his men were not suicidal. But the defenders of the Alamo willingly placed themselves in harm's way to protect the rest of Texas.
The sacrifice of Travis and his men spurred the Texas army to continue their fight against Santa Anna which would be played out at the battle of San Jacinto.
This Ohioan has only the greatest respect for the heroic birth of Texas. May she always have sons and daughters who mean to preserve her.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
From what I read in the border reports, they're still doing it, with no comment from the White House and no opposition this time.
William Flax
Through no fault of his own. Neither were David Crockett or most of the heroes who died at the Alamo. Nor was John Wayne (born an Iowa native and remained one all his life). Fess Parker, on the other hand, was a Texan by birth.
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