Posted on 04/05/2007 9:35:27 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
SAN ANTONIO — Historians say an old trench discovered in San Antonio might have been used by Mexican soldiers as fortification against Texan rebels during a siege that preceded the Battle of the Alamo.
Workers found the trench off Main Plaza, San Antonio's historic city center, as they were digging up the street a couple of weeks ago to install a storm-water line, city officials said.
Archeologists think the trench was built by Mexican forces under the command of Gen. Martin Perfecto de Cos. From October to December 1835, the city was under siege by Texas rebels in an early campaign of the Texas Revolution.
"Amazingly, just totally amazingly, we're pretty sure we've got about a 6-foot-wide section of that thing that's intact," said Mark Denton, an archaeologist with the Texas Historical Commission.
The Mexican soldiers appeared to have dug into bedrock, created embankments with dirt and refuse, and lined the inside of the trench with caliche, Denton said. Archeologists have discovered pieces of pottery, gunflints and a metal sword point.
"You got all these 1800-1835 vintage artifacts, all mixed up in this dirt that is used as fill material in this fortification," Denton said.
Cos lost San Antonio on Dec. 9 to the army of 300 Texas volunteers led by Ben Milam, according to The Handbook of Texas Online, which is published by the University of Texas.
The Texans released Cos and his men on the condition that they never return to Texas. But Cos returned to San Antonio with Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on Feb. 23, 1836. The Mexican army began a 13-day siege that ended with the defeat of the Texan rebels encamped behind the Alamo's walls.
City officials said they're working with archeologists to carefully excavate the buried artifacts, which could take about 10 days.
Denton and city officials said the trench won't be preserved because it doesn't offer much to see and it's in the way of the drainage project.
Denton said the trench is most valuable for its connection to the past.
"Is there going to be a buried cannon or the head of a Mexican officer? Probably not," Denton said. "But it's a miracle that this little tiny sliver of history has survived."
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Interesting. I look forward to news of any findings.
Thanks for posting, I didn’t know about this story. Treachery by Cos was the reason Deaf Smith became a Texian. Smith negotiated with a Mexican officer to pass Cos’s lines (the trench) and join his wife and children in San Antonio. He was betrayed, and survived a saber blow which glanced off his head. He went to Stephen F. Austin, offered his services, and was appointed “chief spy.” Smith became a major figure in the upcoming battles for Texas independence. I wish I could get there so see that piece of the trench before it gets covered up, Deaf Smith one of my ancestors.
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The Texans released Cos and his men on the condition that they never return to Texas. But Cos returned to San Antonio with Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on Feb. 23, 1836.”
Where was our Guantanamo when we needed it?
Why not "Texan patriots" (or "Texian patriots") or "Texan heroes of the war for independence"?
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Killing all of your enemies without mercy is the only sure way of sleeping soundly at night.
Is that from the koran?
They weren’t rebels you twit........they were CITIZENS!
Nope, more along the lines of Roman Imperial philosohpy.
They rule the world through meetings. They ruled the world by killing everyone that opposed them.
What’s wrong with being called a “Texan rebel?”
Be something to be proud of, as far as I can see.
--Calgacus, leader of the Caledonians, speaking of the Romans
(quoted by Tacitus, Agricola 30)
They were rebels, before being a Rebel was cool. Actually the article seemed to be saying that the Mexican authorities were in the right and the Texans in the wrong, by its use of terminology.
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