The Alamo is perhaps the most visited historic site in Texas. Between February 26 and March 6, 1836, the Alamo was the site of the iconic “last stand” of Texas settlers, led by their commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis, against the Mexican army of President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

The “Texas Army”, having defeated Mexican troops garrisoned the Alamo in December 1835, began fortifying the old mission awaiting the expected attack by Santa Anna’s army. The mission extended over roughly three acres, with an interior plaza. The chapel bordered the plaza to the east and the Low Barracks bordered the plaza on the south. The Long Barracks was situated north of the chapel. A wall ranging in height from 9-12 feet surrounded the mission.

The Alamo was lightly defended with approximately 300 men pitted against a Mexican army estimated to be roughly 1,800 to 3,100 soldiers, many of whom were untested in battle. Santa Anna’s army moved into positon in San Antonio de Bexar on the afternoon of February 23, 1836. Over the next few days a number of skirmishes took place surrounding the Alamo’s walls as did nightly artillery duels.

Mexican artillery ceased the bombardment of the Alamo on the night of March 5 and, early the next morning, Santa Anna’s army began its final assault on the mission. After 2 assaults were successfully repelled, the third allowed the attackers to breach the walls and to gain access to the mission interior. Many of the defenders retreated to the chapel and the Low Barracks building. Former Congressman and famed frontiersman Davy Crockett and fellow Tennesseans likely died in the open defending a low wall in front of the chapel. Commander William Travis had been killed earlier in the attack and his co-commander James Bowie died in his quarters where he had been taken ill earlier in the siege. By 6:30 AM, the battle was over. Casualty estimates among the Mexican Army range from 400-600, while the defenders killed were between 182-257. A few non-combatants and Travis slave “Joe” survived the battle.  The Mexican dead were buried in a local cemetery while all of the defenders bodies were burned.

The Texas Army gained its revenge for the Alamo one month later at the Battle of San Jacinto where they quickly over ran Santa Anna’s Army, eventually capturing him and forcing a withdrawal of his army and the recognition of the Republic of Texas.

There are a number of markers around this historic site erected to commemorate those who died here.

Credits and Sources:

Edmondson, J.R. The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts. Republic of Texas Press, Plano, TX (2000).

Hardin, Stephen L. Texas Illiad. University of Texas Press. Austin, TX (1994).

Myers, John. The Alamo. University of Nebraska Press. Lincoln, NE. (1948).

Nofi, Albert A. The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, September 30, 1835 to April 21, 1836: Heroes, Myths and History. Combined Books, Inc. Conshohocken, PA. (1992).