The Alamo fell. <object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/Z-0lGiLZj48?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/Z-0lGiLZj48?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Commandancy of the The Alamo Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836 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 Barrett 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 and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves. Travis
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A good thread in remembrance of the brave who resiliently fell there for Texas. Not sure what the rest of the crap posts are about besides being out of place.
most people at san jacinto definitely wanted it, but if you really think about it, houston's decision to not execute him was the strategically smart thing to do. i used to be a pretty big critic of houston's actions leading up to san jacinto, but the more i study and read about it the more i realize that he was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. it was only part of the mexican army that was defeated at san jacinto. there was still great fear that the rest of the army would attack, especially if the rebels executed the commander-in-chief/president of their country. part of the terms of surrender was that santa anna had to order his 2nd in command to take charge of the army and march them back to mexico. and diplomatically, it would have been a disaster. no country, including the united states would have recognized our sovereignty. santa anna was actually held prisoner in texas for about 6 months then sent by boat to washington D.C. where he dined with andrew jackson, stayed in the white house and was a guest at all these big functions. my thoughts on the alamo is basically that it was a stupid waste of life that should have never happened. there was no strategic value to holding san antonio either. those dudes died due to their own arrogance and overconfidence. only 2 months before you had 500-600 rebels surround and lay siege to the entire city of san antonio with about 1200 mexican troops in the alamo. when they finally decided to storm the town they took it in about 2 days. and then they think they can turn around and defend the same position with less than 200 against thousands. all that being said, it took some major balls to hold up in there for almost 2 weeks - after about a week every single one of them had to know they were f***ed. and the mexican army too - think how terrifying it must have been to charge the alamo in total darkness knowing that you very well might get killed.
less than 200 rebels died compared to about 500 mexican troops. considering that the entire assault consisted of about 1500 that is a pretty gruesome kill ratio. santa anna is the one who said something like "soldiers lives are like chickens" when one of his generals questioned the need for an assault on the alamo. he also totally failed to set up any field hospitals so scores more died after the battle due to neglect.
A cherished battle in Texas history. Brave men, knowing they were doomed if they stayed, remained and fought, when some, at least, could have escaped. Their stand at the Alamo, along with the slaughter of Fannin's surrendered troops, at least double the number of Texians at the Alamo, inspired our forces under Houston. I wish I could ask my ancestor, who fought at San Jacinto, about not only that battle, but what it was like in Texas back then, both before and after the revolution. It's always been an interest of mine.
I just got married in San Antonio about three weeks ago. Not The Alamo...at marriage island on the River Walk. San Antonio is loaded with rich history, but we also have had our own battle. It may have started there, but it ended here. "Remember The Alamo"!
I wonder how the old-school Mexicans view him? The biggest coward in Texas history, and for that I would like to thank you. Houston is the best "city" in the U.S.
