Battle of the Alamo

Siege of the Alamo

On February 23, 1836, Texian scouts saw Santa Anna's army approaching San Antonio. The Texans barely made it into the Alamo, an old Spanish Mission, before Santa Anna's army arrived in San Antonio. Upon arrival, the Mexican army immediately began to occupy and surround the Alamo, beginning a siege. Santa Anna began flying a red flag, declaring that he would take no prisoners. In response, William Travis fired one cannon shot at the Mexican army.

Holding the Alamo

When news of Santa Anna's army reached Sam Houston, the leader of the Texan regular (paid) army, he orders the men to abandon the Alamo. Bowie and Travis, however, believed that holding the Alamo was vital to the future of Texas and did not listen to Houston's orders. With the Alamo surrounded, Bowie estimated that they would need 1000 troops to defend the Alamo against the Mexican Army. To further complicate matters, the Alamo's walls were incomplete, making it challenging to defend.

While under siege, Travis wrote several letters to the People of Texas and the United States asking them to send reinforcements. The most famous of these letters was his "Victory or Death" letter written on the second day of the siege.

In response to Travis' letter, 32 reinforcements arrived at the Alamo from Gonzales on March 1. A few days later, James Bonham, an old friend of Travis', rode into the Alamo and announced more reinforcements were on their way. The reinforcements, however, never arrived. This left less than 200 Texans to defend the Alamo.

The Final Assault

Santa Anna began the final attack on the Alamo at 5:30 AM on March 6, 1836. He had approximately 1800 troops, outnumbering the Texans 9 to 1. The Mexican army launched a 4 column attack on the Alamo, meaning they attacked the Alamo from four separate angles.

At first, the Texans were able to repel the attack by firing cannons at the Mexican soldiers. The incomplete North Wall, however, was the weakest point on the Alamo. 3 Mexican columns came together to attack there. William Travis was killed defending the North Wall, and the wall was breached by the Mexican soldiers.

After the fall of the North Wall, the Mexican soldiers were able to break through the Alamo's defenses. The soldiers broke windows and used ladders to climb over the walls to enter the compound.

Most of the Texans fell back to the long barracks. Crockett and his men fell back into the chapel when the southwestern wall fell to the Mexican soldiers. Bowie, who was sick at the time of the final assault, was bayoneted to death in his bed. At the end of the battle, Crockett and a few men were captured. All prisoners were executed.

Reading 1: Jose Enrique de la Pena's Journal, March 6, 1836

Light began to appear on the horizon, the beautiful dawn would soon let herself be seen... a bugle call to attention was the agreed signal and we soon heard that terrible bugle call of death, which stirred our hearts, alerted our expressions, and aroused us suddenly from our painful meditation... A trumpeter... was the one who inspired us to scorn life and welcome death.

Guiding Questions: As your read the primary source, think about the answers to the following questions.

• Look at the date this journal entry was written. What important event happened that day during the siege?

• How does he feel about the siege? What words does de la Pena use to make you think that?

Reading 2: Amelia Williams, "A Critical Study of the Siege of the Alamo and of the Personnel of its Defenders"

Up to the very hour of the attack the Mexicans maintained the strictest silence. But when the hour for the assault had arrived, a shout went up; then a single bugle note, followed by silence again except for the rush and tramp of soldiers.... By this time the Mexican bands at the southwest battery had struck up the notes of the dreadful deguello, and then, all was confusion, for the Texans were up at their posts, ready for their last desperate fight.