The Alamo is hallowed ground to many native Texans. The sacrifice of the brave men who died there loved freedom more than their own lives as they died to give General Houston sufficient time to get the Texan Army ready to repel the enemy.
Nothing says it like Colonel William Barrett Travis’ final letter from the Alamo to General Sam Houston on the eve of their deaths:
To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World:
Fellow citizens & compatriots—I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna—I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken—I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch—The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death.
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. comdt
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 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis
Over 300 Texan soldiers were captured at Goliad and also murdered by the Mexican Army as they were led to a watering place.
The Houston Army was hopping mad by the time they defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto.
The broad shoulders on which future Patriots stand.....Travis, Bowie, Crockett......my own proud Tennessee volunteers ..and all the others
When I visited the Alamo ....before we entered....the guide told us to be reverent and hushed, as we were entering sacred ground.