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history
Alamo is a historic structure that stands in the centre of San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.
A famous battle was fought there in March 1836, during the war for Texan independence. The Alamo is sometimes called the Thermopylae of America, after the famous battle in which the ancient Greeks held off a large Persian force. But, unlike Thermopylae, no man escaped from the Alamo. The Alamo has been restored and is owned by the state.
Early days. The Alamo was built as a Catholic mission. Padre Olivares, a Spanish missionary, established it at San Antonio about 1718. The mission, a typical example of Spanish colonial mission architecture, consisted of a monastery and church, enclosed by high walls. The mission was originally called San Antonio de Valero. It was later called Alamo, the Spanish name for the cottonwood trees surrounding the mission. The Texans occasionally used the mission as a fort.
During the winter of 1835-1836, the people of Texas decided to sever their relations with Mexico, because of dissatisfaction with the Mexican government. To prevent the success of this independence movement, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a Mexican general, approached the vicinity of San Antonio late in February 1836, with an army of about 5,000 soldiers. The city had a force of about 150 Texans, under Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis. The company included the border heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett. The arrival of the Mexicans took the Texans by surprise. They retreated to the Alamo to prepare to hold off Santa Anna. Travis sent out a plea for help, declaring, "I shall never surrender or retreat." A relief party from Gonzales passed through the Mexican lines and entered the Alamo, increasing the Alamo forces to about 187 men. Colonel J. W. Fannin left Goliad with most of his 400 men to relieve the Alamo, but had equipment trouble on the way and returned to Goliad.
The siege of the Alamo began on Feb. 23, 1836. By March 5, the garrison could not return Mexican fire, because ammunition was low. This convinced Santa Anna that the fort could be assaulted. Early the next morning, the Mexicans succeeded in scaling the walls. At the end, the Texans fought using their rifles as clubs. Some historians believe that a few defenders, perhaps including Crockett, survived the battle, only to be executed at Santa Anna's orders. Other historians accept the more familiar story that all the Texans who fought died in the battle. At 8 a.m., the Mexican general reported his victory to his government. Survivors of the battle included Mrs. Dickenson, the wife of an officer; her baby; her Mexican nurse; and a black boy.
"Remember the Alamo" became a battle cry. The heroic defence of the Alamo gave General Sam Houston time to gather the forces he needed to save the independence movement of Texas. He retreated eastward, pursued by Santa Anna. At San Jacinto, Texas, he turned on the Mexicans, surprised them during an afternoon siesta, and on April 21 routed the entire Mexican Army. Houston's army captured Santa Anna himself the following day and forced him to sign a treaty granting Texas its independence.
A famous battle was fought there in March 1836, during the war for Texan independence. The Alamo is sometimes called the Thermopylae of America, after the famous battle in which the ancient Greeks held off a large Persian force. But, unlike Thermopylae, no man escaped from the Alamo. The Alamo has been restored and is owned by the state.
Early days. The Alamo was built as a Catholic mission. Padre Olivares, a Spanish missionary, established it at San Antonio about 1718. The mission, a typical example of Spanish colonial mission architecture, consisted of a monastery and church, enclosed by high walls. The mission was originally called San Antonio de Valero. It was later called Alamo, the Spanish name for the cottonwood trees surrounding the mission. The Texans occasionally used the mission as a fort.
During the winter of 1835-1836, the people of Texas decided to sever their relations with Mexico, because of dissatisfaction with the Mexican government. To prevent the success of this independence movement, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a Mexican general, approached the vicinity of San Antonio late in February 1836, with an army of about 5,000 soldiers. The city had a force of about 150 Texans, under Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis. The company included the border heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett. The arrival of the Mexicans took the Texans by surprise. They retreated to the Alamo to prepare to hold off Santa Anna. Travis sent out a plea for help, declaring, "I shall never surrender or retreat." A relief party from Gonzales passed through the Mexican lines and entered the Alamo, increasing the Alamo forces to about 187 men. Colonel J. W. Fannin left Goliad with most of his 400 men to relieve the Alamo, but had equipment trouble on the way and returned to Goliad.
The siege of the Alamo began on Feb. 23, 1836. By March 5, the garrison could not return Mexican fire, because ammunition was low. This convinced Santa Anna that the fort could be assaulted. Early the next morning, the Mexicans succeeded in scaling the walls. At the end, the Texans fought using their rifles as clubs. Some historians believe that a few defenders, perhaps including Crockett, survived the battle, only to be executed at Santa Anna's orders. Other historians accept the more familiar story that all the Texans who fought died in the battle. At 8 a.m., the Mexican general reported his victory to his government. Survivors of the battle included Mrs. Dickenson, the wife of an officer; her baby; her Mexican nurse; and a black boy.
"Remember the Alamo" became a battle cry. The heroic defence of the Alamo gave General Sam Houston time to gather the forces he needed to save the independence movement of Texas. He retreated eastward, pursued by Santa Anna. At San Jacinto, Texas, he turned on the Mexicans, surprised them during an afternoon siesta, and on April 21 routed the entire Mexican Army. Houston's army captured Santa Anna himself the following day and forced him to sign a treaty granting Texas its independence.