Alamo Day

I am reposting a previous post of mine for this solemn occasion.

March 6, 1836

On this date before dawn, after 12 days of siege, the Mexican Army under the command of Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana began the final assault on the ramparts of the Alamo.  Defended by only a handful, some say 189, other say as many as 250 had held on for 12 days.  Either way they were vastly outnumbered.  They gave a good accounting of themselves.

This day, the 13th would be the end of the siege.  None would live to see the sun set that day.  In fact it was over by 8:30 am.  All defenders were put to the sword either during the battle or after.  The Mexican troops endured heavy losses, more than would be expected for such a small force.

This is only a small part of what makes a Native Texan so proud of their heritage that the most of the rest of the world will never understand.

A few photos of the Alamo over the years.

This is the earliest known photo of the Alamo-1848, just 12 years after the battle.

A sketch  of how the compound appeared in 1836 looking East to West.

I had never seen this one before, this appears to be early 1900's

!858 after the US Army had taken control and when it got its' well known 'arch.'

How it looks today

There is a movement underway to restore most of the Alamo Grounds to it's original footprint.  But that has gotten politicians involved.  They have hired a consultant to develop plans for this.  He is NOT a native Texan so the story is getting muddied up with political correctness.  I understand their approach, but I and many others don't agree with it.  They want to tell the whole story of what the mission was well before the story that it is famous for.  But no one really cares about that story.  No one knows about the Alamo due to the Indians that Spain was trying to convert etc.  Stick to the reason this Shrine is still here.  If not for the sacrifice of blood (on both sides) the Alamo would no longer exist.  It was mostly abandoned at the time of the battle and this would continue until the early 1900s' when there was a movement to preserve it for the battle and it's significance.  Keep it that way.

Happy Trails