The Alamo and GoliadChapter 10

The Texas Army After capturing San Antonio, the Texas

Army became smaller because it drifted without leadership, and most of the volunteer army returned home.

New arrivals from the U.S. came in units, twos and threes, or alone.

Some were well known, but many others were unknown farmers, hunters, and clerks.

Many different nationalities were represented.

The Texas Army continued) The Texas forces

remained scattered in many places. Little coordination or communication existed between these scattered units. Sam Houston was

unable to unite the military units.

Texans Plan to Capture the Mexican City of Matamoros

• Control of Matamoros would boost the morale of Republicans in Mexico.• Texans hoped that in moving the war

south, Santa Anna would not interfere in Texas at all.

• No single Texas force was large enough to make the attack, as the army units were so scattered.

Santa Anna’s Army

Santa Anna quickly recruited his army of some 6,000 soldiers, even though the volunteers were untrained, undisciplined, poorly clothed, poorly fed, and forced to fight with poor equipment against their will.

The Movement of Santa Anna’s Army

Santa Anna hoped to surprise the Texans by moving northward in the winter, so he could end the rebellion against the Mexican government and thus keep his authority and power.

Division of the Mexican Army

Santa Anna divided his army into two main columns:

1. Santa Anna led one division toward San Antonio de Bexar.1. The other column commanded by General Jose Urrea moved toward Goliad.

Texans at the Alamo

Colonel Neill— 104 soldiers

Colonel James Bowie— 25 soldiers from Goliad

William B. Travis—30 soldiers from San Felipe

Texans at the Alamo

David Crockett—

12 more volunteers

Juan Seguin led many Tejano defenders

The Battle of the Alamo

Chapter 10Section 2

Jim Bowie’s Arrival at the Alamo

• Bowie estimated that 1,000 troops would be needed to defend the fortress.• Bowie and Travis felt that holding the Alamo at any cost was vital to the future of Texas.• They began to strengthen their defenses.

Strengths of the Alamo• A good defensive position• Walls--2-3 feet thick and 6-12 feet high• Fortified by twenty cannons• Adequate supplies of beef and corn• Sufficient and available water

Weaknesses of the Alamo

• Incomplete wall that surrounded the main plaza of the old mission

•A gap between the south wall and the old chapel on the southeast (closed only with sticks and dirt)

•Mission too large for Travis to defend with the number of troops he had (nearly three acres of land with only 200 volunteers)

Santa Anna’s Ultimatum

• As the Mexican soldier’s arrived in San Antonio, Santa Anna allowed the people inside and outside the Alamo the opportunity to leave without harm.

• A number of women and children took that ultimatum and left town before fighting began.

You may choose one of two assignments…

You have a map of the Alamo. You need to place 22 cannons and assign places for 189 men inside the Alamo. Your map needs a Key. You also need to explain to me in paragraph form, your strategy behind placing men where you did.

You may choose one of two assignments…

You are a wife and mother of a fleeing Texan. You need to write a letter to family either in Texas or the U.S. explaining what is going on in San Antonio. You are also allowed to take a purse size bag with you. Tell me what you are taking inside this bag.

(remember: you don’t know if you will ever return)

Travis’s Letters

•Written to the people of Texas and the United States asking for assistance at the Alamo

Travis’s Best Known Letter

“I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna--I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours hours & have not lost a man--The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the

Travis’s Letter (continued)

garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken--I have answered the demand with a with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls--I shall never surrender or retreat Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the

American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch--The enemy is receiving

reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country--Victory or Death!”

Travis’s Famous Letter

•One of the finest statements of courage in

American history•Unfortunately brought little

response from the outside--Texas forces still poorly organized and badly scattered

Santa Anna’s Well Trained and Well Equipped Army

• An estimated 1,800 Mexican troops headquartered at the San Fernando Church, which faced eastward toward the Alamo.• The red flag of “no quarter” raised over Santa Anna’s headquarters which meant there would be no prisoners in the coming battle.

Travis’s Last Appeal•Written on March 3, 1836•Sent to the President of the Convention of 1836, which was meeting at Washington-on the-Brazos•Described what had already taken

place and repeated the request for assistance

Travis’s Last Appeal (continued)

• Warned the Convention that the power of Santa Anna must be met at the Alamo instead of in the settlements• Concluded that Travis and his troops were determined to hold the Alamo

Fact or Legend?

• Travis and his volunteers had no chance for victory and faced certain death.

• Travis drew a line, so that all those who wished to stay and defend the Alamo could step over the line. All but one man crossed over the line.

• These men decided to defend the Alamo for a cause in which they believed, even though they were free to leave the Alamo.

The Mexican Armies Encircled the Alamo•At first, these defenders held the mission against the bombardment of the heavy Mexican cannons.

The Final Attack

• Some 1,800 Mexican trained troops assaulted the Alamo at 5:30 A. M. on March 6, 1836.

• The Texas defenders put up a stubborn resistance, but they were slowly forced to give ground against the three waves of Mexican troops.

The Fall of the Alamo

• By 6:30 A. M., the whole garrison was overpowered, and the battle for the Alamo was over. • Santa Anna lost an estimated 600 men.

After the Battle

• Santa Anna ordered that all defenders of the the Alamo be killed, so an estimated 182-189 Texans were killed at the Alamo. This included Bowie, Travis, and Crockett.

Survivors

•Santa Anna released three wives of the defenders, which included Suzanna Dickinson. Her daughter, Angelina, an enslaved person, Joe Travis, Madame Andrea Candelaria, and Brigido Guerrero of San Antonio also survived.

The Alamo’s Significance

• Without the Battle of the Alamo, Texas would not have won its independence.

• Because of the loss of professional soldiers, Santa Anna had to delay the fighting for more than two weeks, which was of great value to the Texan cause.

• The courage of Travis and his forces made Texans more determined than ever to win their independence.

The Alamo’s Significance (continued))

• United States citizens sent money and went to Texas to help in the struggle for freedom.• Other Texans were also inspired by the

heroism of those in the Alamo.• “Remember the Alamo!” became the

battle cry of Houston’s army.

Texans Defeated in South Texas

• The other Mexican army led by General Urrea advanced from Matamoros up through South Texas.• General Urrea defeated Texan forces at San Patricio, Refugio, and Goliad.

The Battle at Coleto

•Fannin’s inability to make decisions hurt the Texas cause.•Fannin delayed his retreat from Goliad to Victoria,

which allowed General Urrea to surround his army near Coleto Creek.

The Battle of Coleto (continued)

• The Mexicans had the advantage of being in the nearby woods, and after a brief exchange of gunfire, Fannin asked General Uerrea for the terms of surrender.

The Terms of Surrender• Fannin was assured by Urrea that the Texans would be treated fairly no matter what document was signed. • However, Santa Anna ordered the immediate execution of the Texans.

Fannin’s Surrender

• Colonel Fannin was the last prisoner to be shot.• Even though some prisoners were allowed to escape, on Palm Sunday, March 27, 350 prisoners were executed.

“Angel of Goliad

•Senora Francisca Alvarez helped care for the Texans and even allowed some to escape. She was known as the “Angel of Goliad.”

Lessons of Goliad

• The fighting in South Texas revealed the lack of cooperation among Texas forces and convinced General Houston that he must not allow his forces to be separated into small groups.

• This massacre angered Texans as had the deaths at the Alamo, so “Remember Goliad” now joined “Remember the the Alamo” as the motto of Texas soldiers.