Based on the book The Texans Time Life Books 1975

Based on the book The TexansTime Life Books 1975 The Alamo: “Victory or Death “ (pages 79-106)

When he heard the Mexican Army had surrendered to the Texans in San Antonio Santa Anna became furious… Santa Anna readied his army and marched to San Antonio in order to make the Texans pay

Many of the men who had taken San Antonio had gone home to their farms and families after the battle, but those who remained were looking for action. There arose a harebrained scheme to invade the Mexican city of Matamoros at the mouth of the Rio Grande. Sam Houston thought the idea was insane and refused to lead the expedition. Governor Henry Smith was equally opposed, but the legislative council in San Felipe was all for the idea. City of Matamoros- gateway into Texas for the Mexican Army 1

To invade Matamoros is insane. I will not lead the expedition! I am opposed! Texas’ first American governor- Governor Henry Smith We think it is a great idea! Sam Houston Texas legislative- lawmaking- council 2

Early January the council bestowed its blessings on the plan, and chose as commander a very strange man named James Fannin I can handle the job better than anyone. I will set out to recruit volunteers for the adventure.. 3

Hello I’m Colonel James Neill- I am in command in San Antonio. I believe the Mexicans will return to punish us for fighting and making a Mexican general surrender. We must reinforce the Alamo…I need supplies and soldiers 4

Instead of reinforcements, Colonel Neill found his skimpy garrison- defense force- stripped for the Matamoros expedition. They took supplies, food and all the medicine. Neill reported that 200 men had already left for the rendezvous at Goliad leaving him only 104 men to defend both San Antonio and the Alamo 5

What is going on in Goliad? Hundreds of men, milling around, working themselves up to capture Matamoros. Fannin’s in charge I can handle the job better than anyone. 6

I will crush the Texans and they will never rise again… Two years as a military dictator, Santa Anna wore brilliant uniforms and surrounded himself with pomp and luxury. Separate coaches carried his linen bed sheets and gold ornaments, and courtiers arranged for pretty women wherever he went. Having acquired great power, he thirsted for more… 7

As the Texans around Goliad debated what to do, Santa Anna was massing 6,000 of his best soldiers Santa Anna planned to march 440 miles along the old Spanish road- El Camino Real- all the way from the Rio Grande to the Sabine River. The route would take him through San Antonio 8

Sam Houston Sam Houston did not believe the best strategy was to hold up behind stone walls- in the Alamo- or any where else. Instead he believed Texans should pool all supplies and unite under one flexible force. Hit and run- strike, fall back- hit and run- wear the enemy down and cut off his supply lines. Sam Houston became even more certain remaining in the Alamo was a bad idea when a letter arrived from Colonel Neill in San Antonio stating that Neill’s men had no supplies, had received no pay, and every one of them talked of going home Colonel Neill Houston ordered Neill to remove the Alamo’s guns, blow down its walls and abandon the place. Sam Houston sent the orders with his old and trusted friend Jim Bowie 9

Bowie, born in 1796 to a rugged frontier family who lived in the Louisiana bayous, rode alligators and stalked deer with a lasso by age 18. For the next 20 years, he made a fortune in slave-smuggling and land speculation, courted society ladies, and fought Indians with equal enthusiasm. He married a Mexican girl from a prominent San Antonio family. She and their two children died of a disease which swept through San Antonio. Bowie was heartbroken. Before Bowie died a hero’s death defending the Alamo, he became famous as a knife fighter. He designed his own knife which was designed to stab like a dagger, slice like a razor and chop like a cleaver. He fought with knives in several battles and was renowned as a legend in his time. Jim Bowie Bowie knife 10

When Bowie arrived at the Alamo with Sam Houston’s orders to remove the Alamo cannons and blow up it’s walls, Bowie found the Texans in a mood to fight. The Texans assigned to protect San Antonio and the Alamo were determined to defend their post and stay and fight. Bowie’s arrival gave everyone heart. He quickly renewed his warm ties with the Mexicans in San Antonio and obtained food and supplies from them. Meanwhile, an engineer Green Jameson built fortifications and reinforced the Alamo complex for an invasion: • wood and earth platforms that protected sharpshooters along the 12 foot high walls. • heavy logs to seal off gaps between the church and the low barracks. • placed cannons in strategic places 11

Green Jameson, 29 years old, Texas lawyer tuned military engineer, fortified the Alamo 12

Bowie wrote a letter to Governor Henry Smith and stated that he and Colonel Neill would rather “die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy.” Bowie also mentioned that a Mexican spy stated that Santa Anna was on his way to San Antonio- 2,000 Mexican soldiers just crossed the Rio Grande and 5,000 more were behind them. • Neill and Bowie were calling for a stand at the Alamo and pleading for help. • Fannin was still dreaming of capturing Matamoros, and he refused to budge his troops scattered around Goliad. • Sam Houston and Governor Henry Smith were frustrated and angry that no one at the Alamo was listening to reason. To Governor Smith From Jim Bowie 13

Sam Houston made himself useful by using his connection with the Cherokee Indians to make certain they would not attack the Texans rear while Santa Anna threatened the Texans front. During all of this confusion another man, William Barret Travis, rode into the Alamo with 25 men. 14

William Barret Travis- 26 years old- tall, reddish hair, ruddy face, a romantic who believed he was marked for a “splendid future.” Born in South Carolina, grew up in Alabama, where he married, had a child and studied law. Like so many who came to Texas suddenly, he had problems at home. He suspected that his wife had taken a lover; there was talk around Texas that he killed the man he thought involved, but no one seemed to have the facts. Travis arrived in Texas April 1832. He mastered enough Spanish to start a law practice and soon became successful. He divided his spare time between pursuing women and reading romantic novels. Although young, Travis had a sense for command. When Governor Smith received the desperate letters from Colonel Neill, the Governor asked Travis to recruit some volunteers and march to San Antonio. Travis became caught up in the commitment to defend the Alamo. William Barret Travis 15

Colonel Neill took leave due to an illness in his family. He put Travis in charge while he was away. It was not a popular choice for most of the men, who preferred Bowie. The men chose Bowie instead. Bowie suffered from tuberculosis and pneumonia; his health began to deteriorate rapidly and agreed on a joint command of the Alamo between he and Travis. 16

Finally a Tennessee hero showed up in the Alamo, Davy Crockett. He arrived unexpectedly at the head of a dozen sharpshooters he called his “Tennessee Mounted Volunteers." His arrival, with his country fiddle and the long rifle he called “Betsy,” touched off a joyous celebration. 17

By now, Santa Anna and his huge army were only 150 miles away… His plan: • All leaders of the Texas revolt would be executed • All rebellious settlers would be expelled; their land would be redistributed to selected French, English, German and Spanish immigrants I will crush the Texans and they will never rise again… 18

Travis sent out his most famous letter to the people of Gonzales to spread the word the Texans in the Alamo needed more help. Mexican solders surrounded the Alamo, so Travis sent out Captain Juan Seguin to dodge past enemy lines, disappear into the night, and deliver the letter to the people of Gonzales.

William Barret Travis' Letter from the Alamo, 1836 This letter has been called the most heroic document in Texas History. “I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. ...VICTORY OR DEATH. “ 24

But, it was too late. After 13 days of canon bombardment, Santa Anna had 1800 soldiers in place. That night Santa Anna’s men were fed and advised to sleep. About midnight, their officers began awakening them. By 1a.m. on Sunday, March 6, 1836, they were moving. They took muskets and 10 rounds of ammunition each, and some carried scaling ladders, picks, and spikes. In position by 4 a.m., they lay on the chill ground, quiet and waiting. It was still dark just after 5 a.m., the eastern sky taking on a faint glow, when the troops got ready. One soldier yelled,” Viva Santa Anna,” Hundreds echoed his cry as Santa Anna signaled to his bugler to sound the attack.

Based on the book The Texans Time Life Books 1975