History & Heroes of the Alamo

Learn about the heroes and history of the Alamo!

Here is the link if you would like to listen to an audio of the text below. The Battle of the AlamoThe Battle of the Alamo was fought between the Republic of Texas and Mexico from February 23, 1836 to March 6, 1836. It took place at a fort in San Antonio, Texas called the Alamo. The Mexicans won the battle, killing all of the Texan soldiers inside the fort.What was the Alamo?In the 1700s, the Alamo was built as a home to Spanish missionaries. It was called the Mission San Antonio de Valero. Over time, the mission was turned into a fort for Spanish soldiers who called the fort the "Alamo." In the 1820s, American settlers arrived in San Antonio and began to settle the area.1854 Alamo, drawing unknown Photo of the Alamo today.Leading up to the BattleIn 1821, the country of Mexico won its independence from Spain. At the time, Texas was part of Mexico and Mexico had a government similar to the United States. Many Americans moved to Texas and became Mexican citizens.In 1832, a powerful Mexican general named Santa Anna took control of the government. The Texans (called "Texians" at the time) didn't like the new ruler. They rebelled and declared their independence on March 2, 1836. Santa Anna gathered an army to march on Texas and take it back.Who were the leaders?General Santa Anna Author: Craig H. Roell The Mexican forces were led by General Santa Anna. He led a large force of around 1,800 troops. The Texans were led by the frontiersman James Bowie and Lieutenant Colonel William Travis. There were around 200 Texans defending the Alamo which included the famous folk hero Davy Crockett.What was the fort like?The Alamo covered around 3 acres of land which was surrounded with an adobe wall that was between 9 and 12 feet tall. There were buildings inside the fort including a chapel, a barracks for soldiers, a hospital room, a large courtyard, and a horse corral. Cannons were placed along the walls and on top of buildings.Defend or Retreat?When the Texans heard that General Santa Anna was coming there was much debate on whether the fort should be abandoned. Sam Houston wanted the fort abandoned and the cannon removed. However, James Bowie decided he would stay and defend the fort. The rest of the soldiers decided to stay as well.The BattleGeneral Santa Anna and his troops arrived on February 23, 1836. They laid siege to the fort for 13 days. On the morning of March 6, the Mexicans launched a major attack. The Texans managed to fend off the first few attacks, but there were too many Mexican soldiers and they managed to scale the walls and get inside the fort. The fighting was fierce, but eventually the Mexicans won. They killed every soldier in the fort.AftermathAlthough the Texans lost the battle, it galvanized the rest of Texas against Mexico and General Santa Anna. A few months later, Sam Houston led the Texans to victory over Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. The Texans rallied to the cry of "Remember the Alamo!" during the battle.Interesting Facts About the Battle of the Alamo- Between 400 and 600 Mexican soldiers were killed in the battle. Estimates on the number of Texans killed vary from 182 to 257.- Not everyone in the fort was killed. Most of the survivors were women, children, servants, and slaves.- The Alamo was used by Confederate forces during the Civil War.- During the 1870s, the Alamo was used as a warehouse.- Today, the Alamo is a popular tourist destination with over 2.5 million people visiting the site each year. Who were the heroes of the Alamo William Barrett Travis was Co-commander of the Alamo. He shared this responsibility with James Bowie. Travis was commander of the regulars (men who signed for a period of time to serve the Texas army) and Bowie commanded the militia (volunteers).Travis abandoned his pregnant wife and daughter when he came to Texas after failing in many business enterprises and falling into debt. He soon got himself involved in Texas politics becoming a firebrand for independence. His involvement in the so-called “disturbances at Anahauc” was a major reason Mexico sent General Cos to Texas.He found redemption at the Alamo leading the Texas forces there with great bravery. His letter (below) calling for help became one of the most famous documents in American history. According to his slave Joe who survived the battle, Travis was killed on the North wall early in the assault after firing his shotgun. He was just 26 years old. Fellow citizens and compatriots;I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and 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, and 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 and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and 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 and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country. VICTORY or DEATH.-William B. Travis 2 Bowie was a career criminal before coming to Texas in the 1828. Some of his criminal exploits include smuggling slaves in the U.S., massive land fraud, and a duel where he murdered a man with his massive knife his brother Rezin made him, This last event known as the “Sandbar Fight” made him famous around the nation.He served bravely as a soldier in the Texas Revolution but an unknown illness debilitated him during the Alamo siege. He was most likely unconscious when he was killed in his sickbed during the battle. His famous knife disappeared but many copies survived. The Texas Rangers famously wore them in their heyday. David (Davy) Crockett Crockett was one of the most famous men in the U.S. when he died at the Alamo. The Congressmen from Tennessee had become famous for his backwoods ways and folktales like “riding a lighting bolt.”After running afoul with President Andrew Jackson, also from Tennessee, he lost his re-election campaign. Looking to speculate land he famously told his constituents who didn’t vote for executed after the battle while others say he died fighting at the palisade him “You can all go to hell, I will go to Texas!”Crockett’s death at the Alamo is a mystery as the primary sources differ on how he died. Some say he was located to the right of the Alamo chapel entrance. Almaron Dickinson Almaron Dickinson was a Texian soldier and captain of artillery during the Battle of the Alamo. During the seige he was responsible for the twenty one cannons at the make-shift fort. During the skirmish that led to the burning of the huts, he loaded grapeshot and fired on Mexican soldiers. According to the Mexican Army accounts, the last of the Texians to die were the eleven men manning the two 12-lb cannon in the chapel. The entrance had been barricaded with sandbags, over which the Texians were able to fire. A shot from the 18-lb cannon destroyed the barricades and Mexican soldiers entered the building after firing an initial musket volley. Dickinson's crew fired their cannon from the apse into the soldiers at the door. With no time to reload, the Texians, including Dickinson, Gregorio Esparza, and James Bonham, grabbed rifles and fired before being bayoneted to death.Dickinson is best known as the husband of one of the only three non-Mexican survivors to live through the battle, Susanna Dickinson, as well as the father to their infant daughter Angelina, whose life was also spared. 1. In what future state did the Battle of Alamo take place? New Mexico Georgia Texas Florida Arizona 2. What was the Alamo before it became a fort? A mission A Native American village A plantation mansion A palace It was always a fort 3. What famous Mexican general led the attack on the Alamo? Robert E. Lee Pancho Villa Emiliano Zapata Santa Anna 4. What year did the Battle of the Alamo take place? 1812 1861 1918 1836 5. What Texan leader thought that the fort should be abandoned? Sam Houston Davy Crockett John Coker James Bowie 6. Who decided to stay and defend the fort? Davy Crockett James Bowie John Coker William Clark 7. How many of the Texan soldiers survived the battle? None of them 10 76 All of them 8. Around how many Texan soldiers were there defending the Alamo? 50 200 500 1000 9. Around how many Mexican soldiers attacked the Alamo? 50 200 500 900 1800 10. What rallying cry about the Alamo did Texan troops yell in future battles? Texan or die! Remember Davy Crockett! Remember the Alamo! Revenge the Alamo!