Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
 

Interesting facts about the battle of the Alamo

Ian Harvey

Until March of 1836, Texas was part of Mexico. After several battles in Texas, independence was declared, but the Mexican Government did not acknowledge The Republic of Texas until after the end of the Mexican-American War in February of 1848. One of these battles was fought at the Alamo fortress in the city of San Antonio in December of 1835.

In December of 1835 a group of Texans, or Texians as they called themselves at the time, took over San Antonio and the old mission fort, the Alamo. The Texans were fighting against Mexican control of the area and believed the territory should be independent of any outside rule.

The Alamo, as drawn in 1854.
The Alamo, as drawn in 1854.

General Sam Houston felt that because most of the Anglo settlements were in the eastern section of the region the occupation of the Alamo and the surrounding lands was unnecessary. Jim Bowie was sent to the Alamo to destroy the fort and return with the rebels and their weapons. Bowie disobeyed orders, stayed at the Alamo, and strengthened its defenses.

Although Bowie is regarded as a hero in Texas and in the pages of history he was a con man and a slave trader. As a young man, he lived in Louisiana and sold timber for a living.  He was known for being quick to anger and inclined to violence. After meeting smuggler Jean Lafitte, he became involved in the slave trade. Bowie illegally bought contraband slaves, claimed he had captured them, and sold them in an auction.

He also claimed land in Louisiana using fraudulent documents. He illegally claimed land in San Antonio in 1830 in his quest to evade debt collectors in the United States. His diligence in fighting Mexicans, however, made him a favorite among the people of Texas.

This plan of the Alamo was created by José Juan Sánchez-Navarro in 1836. Places marked R and V denote Mexican cannon; position S indicates Cos’s forces.
This plan of the Alamo was created by José Juan Sánchez-Navarro in 1836. Places marked R and V denote Mexican cannon; position S indicates Cos’s forces.

The commander in charge of the Alamo, Lieutenant Colonel William Travis, had little influence over the men as most of them were volunteers and not trained soldiers required to obey orders. The men identified more with Bowie than a military leader, and Bowie did not get along well with Travis. Bowie’s refusal to obey orders only served to create further discord.

The men ultimately united against the Mexican army as a common foe, and Bowie’s behavior was subdued when he contracted a respiratory infection. The strain of the situation was relieved when Davy Crockett, an able diplomat, arrived in San Antonio.

In February 1836 the Mexican army under the leadership of General Santa Anna reached San Antonio. The rebels moved to the Alamo fortress for protection. Santa Anna made no attempt to cordon off the fortress or the town for the first few days. The soldiers and the Texans could easily have escaped unharmed, but overconfidence caused them to remain and fight which proved to be their undoing.

First stamp to commemorate battle was issued in 1936, the 100th anniversary of the battle, depicting Sam Houston and Stephen Austin.
First stamp to commemorate battle was issued in 1936, the 100th anniversary of the battle, depicting Sam Houston and Stephen Austin.

Some of the rebels were Tejanos, Mexicans born in Texas. Their loyalties, however, were with the Texans. As native-born inhabitants, their allegiance caused them to fight with the same fearlessness and conviction as the soldiers and Anglos, and at least a dozen Tejanos were found among the dead after the battle concluded.

Lieutenant Colonel Travis sent for assistance from Colonel James Fannin in Goliad on more than one occasion, believing the additional forces were on their way. However, Fannin refused to come, believing his three hundred troops would not arrive in time and would not be a strong enough force to help the Alamo defenders accomplish their goal. The rebels waited for help that would never come.

The declaration of independence of Texas from Mexico occurred on March 2, 1836, during the siege of San Antonio and the Alamo.  Although the siege was begun before the Republic of Texas was formed, the last few days of the siege, the battle and the lives that were lost could have been avoided if the news had been delivered sooner. Because of the sweeping victory of the Mexicans, Santa Anna refused to acknowledge the declared independence of Texas.

 

The Fall of the Alamo, painted by Theodore Gentilz in 1844, depicts the Alamo complex from the south.
The Fall of the Alamo, painted by Theodore Gentilz in 1844, depicts the Alamo complex from the south.

Davy Crockett, a former United States congressman and frontiersman, hailed from Tennessee. He was an industrious young man who served in the Creek War as a scout and fed his fellow soldiers with his hunting skills. Crockett was never formally educated but was bright enough to become a respected politician and was elected to Congress in 1827. By 1835 he tired of the political intrigue in Washington and left for Texas. Many of those who had migrated to Texas to fight did so with the understanding that when independence was declared, they would be rewarded for their service with free land.

Crockett saw an opportunity to gain a foothold in the politics of the new Republic and set his sights on San Antonio. How Crockett met his death has been a matter of debate. Some historians believe he was killed during the battle while other say he was one of the 400 survivors who were taken to Goliad and executed, burned and dumped into a mass grave by Santa Anna’s men.

Davy Crockett Photo Credit
Davy Crockett Photo Credit

A legend evolved regarding the battle at the Alamo. Supposedly Lt. Colonel Travis used his sword to make a line in the dirt demanding that all who were willing to defend the fort to the death to step over it. Jim Bowie, who was too ill to stand, requested his fellow men to carry him over the line. The veracity of this story is questionable as it first surfaced forty years after the fact and has never been verified by any real evidence.

While Santa Anna was successful in his siege of San Antonio and the battle at the Alamo, Mexican officials questioned his methods. Six hundred Mexican soldiers were lost at the Alamo, a number that was considered excessive by Mexican authorities.

He had a history of betraying the Mexican people to his own benefit. He manipulated other politicians to put his policies into effect, and when they were not well received, he would use them as a scapegoat to avoid damaging his career. Eventually, his nefarious ways caught up with him. He was exiled, convicted of treason and the Mexican government confiscated his property and riches.

Deserters are common when a hopeless battle is being waged. At the Alamo, the situation was quite the opposite. Sympathizers with the Texans’ cause found their way through the enemy forces to join in the defense of the fort. Unfortunately, they were all killed in the battle, latinamericanhistory.about.com reported.

Daguerreotype of Antonio López de Santa Anna
Daguerreotype of Antonio López de Santa Anna

Santa Anna’s force of six hundred soldiers attacked the Alamo, and in less than two hours, all three hundred defenders were killed or captured and summarily executed. The incident drew even more volunteers to join in the battle for Texan independence. The goal was finally achieved at the cost of many lives.

We have another story for you: US Marines used chewed-up Tootsie Rolls to patch up damaged vehicles at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir

The Battle of the Alamo has remained in popular consciousness and has been adapted in books, Hollywood movies, and historical reenactments. The defenders have been lionized and had streets, buildings, and counties in Texas, particularly in San Antonio, named for them. The legend will live forever as long as the battle cry “remember the Alamo” is spoken.

Ian Harvey

Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News