Today marks the day Generalisimo Juan Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana arrived in San Antonio, Texas in response to the rebellion that was forming. He immediately sent a demand to the Commander of the garrison at the Alamo, Col. William Barrett Travis who had yet to reach the age of 30. Travis answered this demand with a cannon shot. The courage this took when he could clearly see that he was greatly outnumbered by the Mexican troops is impressive to say the least. He was in command of less than 200, not enough to fully man the walls of the Alamo compound. There are no figures that can verify the exact number of troops the Mexicans brought to the siege. The numbers vary from around 1500 to over 5000 by the end of the siege with more arriving daily as Santa Ana's army did not arrive all at once. I have no doubt that either number was overwhelming since the Texian's were untrained in this sort of warfare. I personally believe that the number is on the higher side due to the nature and unknown length of this mission Santa Ana undertook. the courage the Texian's had made up for their lack of training is spades.
Thus began what is known as the 'Thirteen Days of Glory.'
Below is a sketch and map of the Alamo made a few months after the siege. No it doesn't have to iconic shape. It never did until the US Army made a depot out of it in the late 1840's after Texas became a state.
Happy Trails
2 comments:
When I was a brand new Second Lieutenant, I went home on leave, and then heading back across country to Quantico, I passed through San Antonio. I went to see the Alamo and was very impressed. I remember , even though it's been 43 years ago now, that there was a sign that said " Gentlemen, remove your hats. This is a shrine."
Growing up, John Wayne's "The Alamo" was always one of my favorite pictures.
Harry Flashman_ I believe that sign or one similar about it being a shrine is still there.
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