The Battle of the Alamo Chapter 10 Section 1

1. The Battle of the AlamoChapter 10 Section 1

2. The Alamo Defenders James Bowie • Famous frontier knife fighter, gambler, smuggler, land speculator Arrived at Alamo Jan 19, 1836 with volunteers Shared command with Travis Became deathly sick Feb 24

3. The Alamo Defenders William B Travis • Outspoken member of the War Party • Arrived at the Alamo Feb 3, 1836 • Shared command with Bowie until he became ill • Wrote many important letters from the Alamo including the “Victory or Death” letter

4. The Alamo Defenders David Crockett • Famous frontiersman, storyteller, sharpshooter, and US Congressman from Tennessee • Arrived at the Alamo Feb 8, 1836 • Offered a command but chose to serve as a private

5. The Alamo Defenders • Totaled 189 men including 9 Tejanos • 20 cannons • Plenty of gun powder and supplies

6. The Mexican Army • Commanded by Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna • 6000 Mexican Soldiers including cavalry and artillery • Army marches several hundred miles, during the winter, arriving in San Antonio on Feb 23, 1836

7. The Battle of the Alamo • Santa Anna’s army took over San Antonio without firing a shot on Feb 23, 1836 • Santa Anna ordered a “blood red” flag raised (no mercy or no prisoners) • Travis answers with a cannon shot • Santa Anna begins cannon bombardment of the Alamo

8. The Battle of the Alamo Feb 23 – Beginning of 13 day siege Feb 24 – Bowie becomes ill Travis writes “Victory or Death” letter asking for help Mar 1 – 32 volunteers arrive from Gonzales they will be the only help to come to the Alamo Mar 5 – That evening the cannon bombardment stops Mar 6 – At 5:30 in the morning the attack began “El Deguello” is played

9. Travis The Final Attack • Morning of March 6, 1836 • About 1800 Mexican Soldiers attack at four points • Travis is one of the first defenders killed The Mexican soldiers are beaten back by the Texans cannon and rifle fire

10. The Final Attack • The Mexican soldiers regroup and concentrate their attack on the North wall • The Mexican soldiers begin to get the upper hand • Using ladder's the Mexican soldiers begin to get over the walls

11. With the Mexican soldiers inside the walls the Texans fall back to the long barracks where most fight to the death By 7:00 AM the battle was over A small group of Texans were captured and executed on Santa Anna’s orders (David Crockett) The Final Attack Bowie Crockett

14. The Aftermath • All 189 defenders were killed • Santa Anna ordered their bodies to be burned • Only Gregorio Esparza is buried because his brother (a Mexican soldier) received special permission from Santa Anna • About 600 Mexican soldiers were killed

15. The Survivors • There were women and children who survived the Battle of the Alamo • Suzanna Dickinson (wife of an Alamo defender), her child Angelina, and Travis’s slave Joe were not killed • They were sent to spread the word that Santa Anna is coming to drive the Anglos out of Texas

16. What is so important about the Battle of the Alamo? • Texans lost but their bravery inspired others • Santa Anna lost some of his best soldiers • Delayed Santa Anna’s advance across Texas giving the Texas government time to declare independence and write a constitution • Allowed Sam Houston time to begin forming an army