Battle of the Alamo

battle_name=Battle of the Alamo

The Alamo defenders

Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis now commanded the Texian regular army forces assigned to defend the old mission. In January 1836, he was ordered by the provisional government to go to the Alamo with volunteers to reinforce the 120 to 150 men already there. Travis arrived in San Antonio on February 3 with 30 reinforcements. Within a short time, he had become the post's official commander, taking over from Col. James C. Neill, who promised to be back in twenty days after leaving to tend to a family illness.

Related Topics:
Lieutenant Colonel - William Barret Travis - February 3 - James C. Neill

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Various other men had also assembled to help in the defensive effort, including a number of unofficial volunteers under the command of Jim Bowie of Bowie knife fame. Travis and Bowie often quarreled over issues of command and authority, but as Bowie's health declined, Travis assumed overall command.

Related Topics:
Jim Bowie - Bowie knife

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In the United States at the time, the siege of the Alamo was seen as a battle of American settlers against Mexicans, but many of the ethnic Mexicans in Texas (called Tejanos) in fact sided with the rebellion. Many viewed this struggle in similar terms with the American Revolution of 1776. The Tejanos wanted Mexico to have a loose central government which supported states rights as expressed in the Mexican Constitution of 1824. One Tejano combatant at the Alamo was Captain (later Colonel) Juan Nepomuceno Seguín, who was sent out as a dispatch rider before the final assault.

Related Topics:
Tejanos - American Revolution - 1776 - States rights - Mexican Constitution of 1824 - Juan Nepomuceno Seguín

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The defenders of the Alamo came from many places besides Texas. The youngest, Galba Fuqua, was 16, and one of the oldest, Gordon C. Jennings, was 57. The men came from 28 different countries and states. From Tennessee, came another small group of volunteers led by former Congressman and frontier legend David Crockett. The 12-man "Tennessee Mounted Volunteers" arrived at the Alamo on February 8.

Related Topics:
Tennessee - Congressman - David Crockett - February 8

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Another group, the "New Orleans Greys", came from that city to fight as infantry in the revolution. The two companies comprising the Greys had participated in the Siege of Béxar in December. Most of the Greys then left San Antonio de Béxar for an expedition to Matamoros with the promise of taking the war to Mexico and plundering the city, but about two dozen remained at the Alamo.

Related Topics:
New Orleans - Infantry - Companies - Matamoros

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Lt. Col. Travis was able to dispatch riders before the battle and as late as March 3 informing the Texas provisional government of his situation and requesting assistance. However, Sam Houston's Texas Army was not strong enough to fight through the Mexican Army and relieve the post. The provisional Texas government was also in dissarray due to in-fighting among its members. Travis also sent several riders, including James Bonham (1808–1836), to Colonel James Fannin for help. Fannin (1804–1836), commander of over 450 Texas forces at Goliad 100 miles (160 km) southeast of the Alamo, attempted an unorganized relief march with 320 men and cannon on February 28 to the Alamo, but aborted the relief column due to poor transportation. Fannin and most of his men were slaughtered by a Mexican force after surrendering (the "Goliad Massacre").

Related Topics:
March 3 - James Bonham - James Fannin - Goliad - February 28 - Goliad Massacre

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On March 1, at about 1 a.m., 32 Texians led by Capt. George Kimbell and John W. Smith from the town of Gonzales, slipped through the Mexican lines and joined the defenders inside the Alamo. They would be the only response to Travis' plea for help. The group became known as the "Immortal 32."

Related Topics:
March 1 - Gonzales

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