Thanks for the thread.
Posted on 03/06/2008 4:17:28 AM PST by DJ Taylor
One of the most gallant stands of courage and undying self-sacrifice which have come down through the pages of history is the defense of the Alamo, which is one of the priceless heritages of Texans. It was the battle-cry of "Remember the Alamo" that later spurred on the forces of Sam Houston at San Jacinto. Anyone who has ever heard of the brave fight of Colonel Travis and his men is sure to "Remember the Alamo."
Besieged by Santa Anna, who had reached Bexar on February 23, 1836, Colonel William Barret Travis, with his force of 182, refused to surrender but elected to fight and die, which was almost certain, for what they thought was right. The position of these men was known but no aid reached them. The request to Colonel James W. Fannin for assistance had gone unheeded. No relief was in store. As the Battle of the Alamo was in progress, a part of the Texas Army had assembled in Gonzales under the command of Mosely Baker in the latter part of February. From this army, a gallant band of 32 courageous men under the command of George C. Kimble left to join the garrison at the Alamo. Making their way through the enemy lines, these 32 men joined the doomed defenders and perished with them.
On March 2, 1836, during the siege of the Alamo, Texas independence was declared. Four days later, the document was signed with the blood shed at the Alamo. It was under such conditions that Travis and his men fought off the much larger force under Santa Anna. It was with the love of liberty in his voice and the courage of the faithful and brave that Travis gave his men the none too cheerful choice of the manner in which they wished to die.
Realizing that no help could be expected from the outside and that Santa Anna would soon take the Alamo, Travis addressed his men, told them that they were fated to die for the cause of liberty and the freedom of Texas. Their only choice was in which way they would make the sacrifice. He outlined three procedures to them: first, rush the enemy, killing a few but being slaughtered themselves in the hand-to-hand fight by the overpowering Mexican force; second, to surrender, which would eventually result in their massacre by the Mexicans, or, third, to remain in the Alamo and defend it until the last man, thus giving the Texas army more time to form and likewise taking a greater toll among the Mexicans.
The third choice was the one taken by the men. Their fate was death and they faced it bravely, asking no quarter and giving none. The siege of the Alamo ended on the dawn of March 6, when its gallant defenders were put to the sword. But it was not an idle sacrifice that men like Travis and Davy Crockett and James Bowie made at the Alamo. It was a sacrifice on the altar of liberty.
The cry later of “Me No Alamo” sealed the deal for this great state.
Thanks for the thread.
Good for Texas. Here in LA. we surrendered to the Mexicans long ago.
Regards
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It didn't do a lot of them any good that afternoon at San Jacinto...
Those were the days.
Sadly, we have to fight this today because the Mexican flag is being raised again.
For all, a terrific book on this is Wm. C. Davis, "Three Roads to the Alamo," about Travis, Crockett, and Bowie. Davis, I hear, is a guy with plenty of personal money and abundant time who has checked out every detail of this, right down to the types and colors of flowers on the roads as the men marched! It sure doesn't take anything away from their courageous stand, which FORCED Santa Anna into a "sneak attack," having been repulsed once and unable to reduce the fort by cannon fire.
Not really on the subject, but yesterday I received an email with link to a test to see if I could ID 16 famous locations, snapshots taken from the sky. I only got 60% correct. One I got wrong was the Alamo. Why? Well, first I’ve never been there but the aerial shot showed the Alamo surrouned by lots of buildings. I always had the impression that it stood off by itself.
A curious painting, almost a composite of the battle it would seem. The central figure would seem to be William Travis, and the fellow to his left with what appears a coonskin cap would appear to be Davy Crockett.
But their stations during the battle were at opposite ends of the walls; Travis being at the Southwest corner (where he was killed) and Crockett being at the log bulwark that ran diagonally from the mission itself to the East wall. Most historians, though, believe he was one of the few who were executed after the battle ended...for the most part.
Also, the focus of the painting seems to come from the East, with what appears to be the mission building itself in the upper-right corner of the painting. That would make the opening at the right of the painting the main entrance to the walled yard. Travis certainly never made it to that area during the battle. He was killed quickly, almost immediately after the battle began.
But, then again, maybe these individuals aren’t Travis and Crockett. Bowie certainly wouldn’t be portrayed. He was virtually comatose in a room of the mission when the battle occurred, and was killed in bed.
...but that's wrong thinking on my part!
They DID buy us time....and freedom..
...and paid the ultimate sacrifice, God love them.
But we squandered their hard fought battle and.... now we pay, God help us.
My question to all of you....
Do we have what it takes.....Do we have what THEY had.....to keep our freedom?
REMEMBER THE ALAMO!
The Alamo today is a tourist attraction in metropolitan San Antonio. Only a small part of its structure remains. And the facade has been rebuilt and the arch as shown in photos wasn’t there at the time.
You may be thinking of Alamo Village that stands near Bracketville, TX. That’s where John Wayne’s “The Alamo” was filmed, as well as other such movies. It’s a rebuilt version of the Alamo as it was perceived during the war for Texas independence.
I've been twice and even though it is surrounded by a town & hotels and gift shops, once you enter the hallowed grounds of the Alamo (which is surrounded by a wall) you leave the noise and bustle of life behind....
There is a reverence there, even with hundreds of tourist, there is a respect & silence which is appropriate.
As you enter the main old chapel, there's a sign that states simply
Please show respect, men died here....
The city proper does not take away from the sanctity of this beacon of liberty....
...The Alamo stands on its own merit......nothing can detract.
Being a Texan I hold a an endearing love for this state and respect for what our forefathers endured for us. I know there are those who scoff at the legendary story of our fight for independence but whether or not it is literally true as recorded (And I believe it is true) these were men larger than life and I am humbled when ever I hear the story of their deads.
Well said.
Remember the Alamo....
Sadly “Remember the Alamo” has become a question instead of a rally cry. And too many “residents” down Texas way would applaud the movie Viva Max.
I’m going back to Texas for spring break.
There’s no place I’d rather go or be.
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