A Road Trip – Stop #2 The Alamo, Texas
The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas was not always called that. It actually began as a Spanish mission and was completed in 1744 with the name San Antonio de Valero Mission. But over the years, it was abandoned and later served as a fort for the army.
It became an unforgettable piece of American history in 1836 when the battle of the Alamo took place.
But first let me give you a little background as to how the Alamo became involved.
Spain held the area of Texas until 1821 when Mexico declared its independence. Mexico then decided to try and colonize the area since it was so sparsely populated. Their plan was to snag immigrants from the United States. This proved to be very successful and within 5 years the population had grown from 500 to 30,000.
Texas wanted to become a separate state within Mexico but was denied. Then in 1830 Mexico prohibited further immigration from United States. This did not set well with the people and the final straw came when the government sent men to take a small cannon from the town of Gonzales. This cannon was used to defend the people from the Comanches and they refused to give it up and on October 2, 1835 the colonists fired on the soldiers and the Texas Revolution began.
The battle would continue in some fashion over the next several months with fighting subsiding at times but then on February 23, 1836, General Antonio López de Santa Anna and his army arrived to help smother the rebellion.
The rebels fled to what is known as the Alamo. Santa Anna surrounded the Alamo (which was a 5 acre compound) and raised a red flag which meant, “No quarter given to the traitors within.”
(an original cannon from the battle)
The commander of the fort, William Travis, sent out pleas for help and on the 8th day of the siege, 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived which brought the numbers within the walls of the Alamo to almost 200.
Here is Travis’s famous Victory or Death letter.
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 and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis, right before the final battle on the 13th day, took his ring and placed it around 15-month-old Angelina Dickinson’s neck knowing the Mexican army would more than likely spare her.
(The ring is on display inside the museum but no photography is allowed inside.)
(standing in front of the long barracks – the church and the barracks are all that remain from the 5-acre compound)
On the 13th day of the siege, the army of Santa Anna charged the Alamo and within 90 minutes the battle was over. All were killed within (excepting 20 women and children) the Alamo including Jim Bowie, the famous knife maker, and Davy Crockett.
(standing in the rain in front of the Alamo church where the last part of the battle happened)
The Mexican army called this “a small affair” not knowing that it would incite patriotism and cries of “Remember the Alamo”.
However, the battle between Mexico and Texas would continue for another 10 years until the United States joined Texas to the United States in 1845. This action then started the U.S. Mexican War.
But that… is a whole other story of our American history.
While the facts surrounding the siege of the Alamo continue to be debated, there is no doubt about what the battle has come to symbolize. People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For this reason, the Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty. –The Alamo.org