CHAPTER 10

PA G E S 2 2 2 - 2 4 3

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

• Santa Anna was not please with general Cos for surrendering San Antonio

to the Texans

• This caused Santa Anna to be determined to punish the Anglo rebels and

the Tejanos. They had gone against the Mexican government

• The distance between Mexico City and San Antonio was around 800

miles, meaning it would take time for Santa Anna to get there

• This was a critical time period for the Texans, yet they didn’t utilize that

– They should have been organizing and training to volunteer soldiers, instead

they sent them home

– This caused the Texas army to become smaller and smaller

MISSED OPPORTUNITY CONTINUED

• The soldiers who stayed in San Antonio were mainly those who had

recently arrived from the US

• Some came to obtain land that was promised to them by the Texas

government

• Some came because of their strong belief in liberty

• Other just wanted an adventure

• One major volunteer: David Crockett

• Crockett was a former congressman of Tennessee

– Nearly 50 years old when he arrived in Texas

CONGRESSMEN CROCKETT

TEXAS FORCES ARE DIVIDED

• At the end of 1835 the Texas forces were badly divided

– No single leader was in control

– General Sam Houston, who was the commander of the regular army and

volunteer army, attempted to bring various military units together, but

there was little success

– Why? Many volunteers refused to recognize Houston’s authority because

they were use to electing their own commanding officers

– Governor Smith authorized Colonel Frank W. Johnson, Dr. James Grant

and Colonel James W. Fannin to attack Mexican city of Matamoros (near

the mouth of the Brazos)

– Texan forces were scattered and only about 100 men were left in San

Antonio under the command of Colonel James C. Neill

– There was also little communication between Colonels

SANTA ANNA MOVES NORTH

• Santa Anna moves 6,000 soldiers northward toward San Antonio

• Part of the Mexican army was recruited- enlisted

• Most of his troops were untrained and undisciplined

• Texas did not think Santa Anna was coming so quickly. They thought he

would wait until Spring since there would be grass for mules and

horses

• Santa Anna hoped to surprise the Texans and end the rebellion

• As he marched, Santa Anna divided his army into two main columns

– He was in charge of the 6,000 man unit passing the Rio Grande at Paso de

Francis to head toward San Antonio

– General Jose Urrea was in charge of the other unit crossing the Rio

Grande at Matamoros and moved along the Gulf Coast toward Goliad

TEXANS OCCUPY THE ALAMO

• Texans troops are camped out in the abandoned mission San Antonio

de Valero – also known as the Alamo

• Colonel Neill had 104 soldiers in the Alamo

• In January, He complained to the General Council that he needed guns

and troops

• January 17, 1936- General Sam Houston ordered Colonel James Bowie

and 25 Texans in Goliad to go to the Alamo

• Bowie was to inspect the cite to decide if the Texans should abandon it

or not

JAMES BOWIE

• Gained reputation for being a good fighter after winning a struggle

using an “overly-knife” which was said to have been made by his

brother

• Bowie came to Texas in 1828 to search for a Spanish mine on the San

Saba River

• He met Austin and began buying and selling land

• Bowie was adventurous and took chances which annoyed Austin

because it caused Bowie to make enemies

• In 1831, Bowie gained property and position by marrying Ursula Maria

de Veramendi- daughter of the vice governor of Coahuila y Tejas

JAMES BOWIE

TRAVIS ARRIVES AT THE ALAMO

• Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis was in charge of the regular army

and about 30 soldiers from San Felipe who joined the Alamo garrison

• Had been a volunteer at many skirmishes in Texas

• Was ordered by Governor Smith to assist an San Antonio

• 12 days after arriving, Crockett arrives (frontier legend)

– Though he was offered a command in the regular army, he preferred to

be a private among the Alamo volunteers

– There were also 9 Tejanos volunteers to help defend the Alamo

• Captain Juan Seguin was present

SANTA ANNA IS MOVING TOWARD SAN ANTONIO

• Colonel Neill left the Alamo in early February due a family illness

• Bowie was chosen as commander of the volunteers in San Antonio

• Travis became the commander of the regular army

• The two men served as joint commanders of the garrison

• Later February, Bowie became ill and passed command to Travis

• A scout spotted Santa Anna’s troops crossing the Rio Grande and still

Travis thought he had more time

CHECK POINT QUESTIONS

• What were the three major reason Texas troops were not well

prepared for Santa Anna?

• How did the Alamo get its name?

• Why did many Texans, along with Lieutenant Colonel Travis believe

Santa Anna would not be arriving until the Spring?

SECTION 2: TEXAS DEFEND THE ALAMO

• Bowie knew upon arriving at the Alamo that there were too few

soldiers

• He and Travis knew the vitality of holding the Alamo

• February 23- the advanced wing of Santa Anna’s army arrived at San

Antonio

• Texans barely made it inside the walls of the Alamo before the

Mexican cavalry starting mobilizing into the town

THE ALAMO

• Walls of the mission were 2-3 feet thick and 12 ft high

• 21 cannon fortified, or strengthen, the mission

• Travis was at the southwest angle facing the town

• Supplies of beef were high

• Sufficient water supply was available

• Weakness: wall surrounding the main plaza was incomplete

– There was a gap between the south wall and old chapel on the southeast

– There was a fence of sticks and dirt

– 3 acres of land was open and Travis only had about 200 men

“VICTORY OR DEATH”

• Travis knew the importance of the Alamo, thus he begged Texas and

the U.S. for assistance with letters

• Letter of Feb 24 1836 was one of the best statements of courage in

American History. Even though he knew the odds were against him.

GET IT TOGETHER TEXAS

• Outside help did not arrive in time

• Texas troops were still unorganized

• Travis asked Fannin to move from his troops from Goliad, but didn’t

have enough wagons to move his supplies

• March 1: 32 volunteers arrived from Gonzales led by Albert Martin

and George C. Kimball

• Santa Anna set up his headquaters at the San Fernando church

– Had a red flag flown that said “No quarter” meaning no prisoners would

be held from the battle

TRAVIS BEGS FOR HELP ONE LAST TIME

• His final letter was written on March 3

• He sent a messenger to the president of he convention of 1836 –

James Bonham

• Travis described the fighting that had already taken place and

requested assistance

• “the power of Santa Anna is to be met here, or in the colonies; were

had better meet them here than to suffer a war devastation to rage

our settlements”

• No troops were sent

FACING CERTAIN DEATH

• Mexican army encircled the Alamo and Travis knew he had no chance

of winning

• Travis told his troops that remaining in the Alamo meant certain death

• He drew his sword and drew a line in the sand on the ground and

asked those who wished to stay and fight to cross the line. All but 1

man crossed

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgkkTGdEBjM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgkkTGdEBjM

TEXAN TROOPS GIVE GROUND

• March 5, 1836: Santa Anna’s troops are in place for battle

• Santa Anna’s orders were to attack at dawn

• March 6,1836 5am the battle beings

• Around 1,800 Mexican troops took part and attacked at 3 different

points

• “El Deguello” was played- indicating no mercy would be shown

• The Mexicans were shocked in the first two waves by the Texans cannons

• Fighting within the Alamo was intense: rifles, knives, clubs all were used

• By 8am the battle was over. This was a Mexican Victory

THE ALAMO CONTINUED

• The amount of people that died at the Alamo is unknown

• After the fighting was over, the defenders bodies were burned

• Bowie, Travis and Crockett all died in battle

• However Colonel Jose Enrique de la Pena wrote that Crockett

survived the battle

– According to Pena, Santa Anna ordered immediate execution of Crockett

BATTLE CRY FOR VICTORY

• Santa Anna ordered all survivors of the Alamo be killed, but several

survived

• Santa Anna released the women and children in order for them to go

and spread word of the disaster that occurred at the Alamo

• Brigido Guerrero of San Antonio: survived the battle and was part of

the garrison by convincing Santa Anna that he had been a prisoner of

the Texans and forced to fight against his will

IMPORTANCE OF THE BATTLE

• Even though TEXAS LOST. Historians believe we would not have won

our independence without he Battle of the Alamo

• Santa Anna lost many professional soldiers in the fighting

• Travis and his forces made Texans more determined than ever to win

their independence from Mexico

• This battle encouraged citizens of the U.S. to help Texans attain their

freedom

• The heroism of those in the Alamo inspired other Texans to carry on

the struggle

• “Remember the Alamo” became the battle cry for Houston’s army

CHECK POINT QUESTIONS • What disadvantages did the Texas troops have at the battle of the Alamo

– Out numbered and no reinforcements

– Lack of weapons

– Who in the south east corner of the Alamo

– Untrained soldiers and some were sent home

• Why did most volunteers stay to defend the Alamo even though they knew it meant certain death?

– Wanted to fight for Texas

– Warriors and heroes

– Fight for the cause

• Explain the significance of the Alamo? ******

– People died as heroes

– Fired up the Texans for other battles

– Got the USA to send support against Santa Anna

– Santa Anna lost many professional soldiers

– Motivated Texans

– Got more US and Texas volunteers

– The Alamo was the defeat that made Texans realize what they were fighting for and that they needed to fight harder and stronger in order to attain Independence

INTERPRETING BATTLE MAPS

TEXANS DEFEND THE ALAMO

TEXANS DEFEND THE ALAMO

TEXANS DEFEND THE ALAMO

TEXANS DEFEND THE ALAMO

SECTION 3: DEFEAT IN SOUTH TEXAS

• While the fighting at the Alamo occurred, the other Mexican unit

headed by General Jose Urrea was still heading from Matamoros

through south Texas with 1,000 soldiers

• February 27, 1836: Urrea destroyed a force of 50 Texans under the

command of Frank W. Johnson – only Johnson and 4 others escaped

• March 2, 1836: Urrea defeated Dr. James Grant’s 30 men at Agua

Dulce

• At Refugio, people asked Fannin who was at Goliad for help. He

dispatched Captain Amon B. King and 30 soldiers to help them. Just as

they arrived at Refugio, the Mexican forces surrendered

REFUGIO

• King and his men asked Fannin to send more troops to Refugio

• Fannin sent Colonel William Ward and more than 100 Texans

• The troops were divided: Ward and his men remained in the mission

Senora del Refugio and King and his men went on a scouting

expedition

• King and his men were stopped by Urrea and most were killed

• Ward retreated from Refugio and his forces were eventually captured

by Urrea near Victoria – a severe defeat for the Texans in their efforts

to halt the Mexican army’s drive northward

FANNIN DELAYS HIS DEPARTURE • Fannin was an indecisive person and this greatly hurt the Texas cause.

He tried to go help at the Alamo, but didn’t have enough wagons to

transport his supplies so he returned to Goliad

• General Houston ordered Fannin to retreat to Victoria because they

were not prepared to fight the Mexican forces

• After losing a skirmish with Mexican troops, Fannin withdrew on March

19

BATTLE OF COLETO

• Resting in an open prairie 3 miles from Coleto Creek, Fannin and the Texans were surrounded by Urrea’s troops

• The first go around, Fannin and his troops held off the Mexican forces

• Both troops spent the night strengthening. The Mexicans had an advantage of being hidden in the woods whereas the Texans had little cover and no water.

• By morning, Urrea had reinforcements

• March 20 at daybreak, the Mexicans open fire and shortly after Fanninasked Urrea for terms of surrender

• Fannin signed the agreement saying that they surrendered

• The Battle of Coleto was over

TEXANS SURRENDER

• There was confusion over the terms of surrender: some Texans

believed they were prisoners of war and would be treated fairly. Yet the

agreement says no such thing

• The document states that the Texans surrendered unconditionally,

placing themselves at the mercy of the Mexican commander

• Fannin and his troops marched the Goliad where they were imprisoned

in a presidio

• General Urrea wrote to Santa Anna requesting the prisoners lives be

spared

• Santa Anna ordered Immediate execution of the Texans in fear that

they would join another rebellion and Mexican law required the

execution of those who took up arms against the government

• 350 prisoners were lined up and shot

• Fannin was the last to be shot --Urrea was not happy to do this

LESSON OF THE ALAMO AND GOLIAD

• The fighting in south Texas revealed that splitting up the troops was a

poor call by Houston

• News of the defeat at the Alamo and execution at Goliad spread

rapidly

• The “Rememebr Goliad” cry had joined with the “Remember the

Alamo” as rallying cries of the Texas soldiers

• These battle inspired Texans to fight for their freedom and the U.S. to

step in to stop Santa Anna

• The Texans were fired up and would not give up

CHECK POINT QUESTIONS

• What factors led to Fannin’s surrender?

– Texans were outnumbered

– Little water and cover from gunfire

– No reinforcements for the Texans but yes for Urrea

– Thought his troops would be treated as prisoners of war

• Why were Santa Ann’s execution orders called a “cruel necessity”?

– Santa Anna thought that if he didn’t kill the Texans, they would come

back with reinforcements and the rebellion would continue.