For the definitive last word on this subject, we go to The Handbook of Texas Online. "On March 5, day twelve of the siege, Santa Anna announced an assault for the following day. This sudden declaration stunned his officers. The enemy's walls were crumbling. No Texan relief column had appeared. When the provisions ran out, surrender would remain the rebels' only option. There was simply no valid military justification for the costly attack on a stronghold bristling with cannons. But ignoring these reasonable objections, Santa Anna stubbornly insisted on storming the Alamo. Around 5:00 A.M. on Sunday, March 6, he hurled his columns at the battered walls from four directions. Texan gunners stood by their artillery. As about 1,800 assault troops advanced into range, canister ripped through their ranks. Staggered by the concentrated cannon and rifle fire, the Mexican soldiers halted, reformed, and drove forward. Soon they were past the defensive perimeter. Travis, among the first to die, fell on the north bastion. Abandoning the walls, defenders withdrew to the dim rooms of the Long Barracks. There some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand fighting occurred. Bowie, too ravaged by illness to rise from his bed, found no pity. The chapel fell last. By dawn the Centralists had carried the works. The assault had lasted no more than ninety minutes. As many as seven defenders survived the battle, but Santa Anna ordered their summary execution." More details on the conclusion of this extraordinary story can be found at the Texas State Historical Association website.
The bottom line is that the Alamo was lost to the Mexican Army, but the bravery of her defenders bought time for the fledgling Nation to officially declare its independence from its oppressors in Mexico, write a Constitution and put together an Army that was capable of defending Texas, her people and their Liberty. With the Alamo lost, a rallying cry for Texian troops was born. Remember the Alamo! And less than two months later at San Jacinto, a new Nation would emerge from the nearby bayous...the Republic of Texas was born.
God bless Texas!
I honor the bravery and honor of the men and women at the Alamo. Their sacrifice bought a little time for Houston, which ultimately led to victory and Texas' independence.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have believed for decades that those men did not need to sacrifice themselves in the way they did. I'll explain.
Santee Anee's Army was far from home and mostly on foot. By all accounts many of his men died from hypothermia and disease, and the General's plan to resupply his troops as they moved through Texas was not successful. With the exception of Santee Anee's libido.
After the Alamo fell, Houston began the newest phase of the Runaway Scrape, which caused the Mexican Army to be divided into three parts, as they chased Houston. The Texians not only knew the terrain, they would take the supplies they could carry and destroyed the rest, including structures. It was this tactic that helped divide and grind down the Mexican Army and also imposed an attitude that the Texians would not stand and fight, so the Mexican Army became complacent.
I doubt either Santee Anne or Houston ever read Sun Tzu, much less Fannin and Travis, but they should have. Even though Houston was the only one who actually seemed to grasp some of the concepts of the Art Of War.
"If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."
Another great comment! Thanks, amigo.
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