Posted on Friday, November 19, 2004 - 10:43 pm:

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BATTLE OF THE ALAMO (March 6, 1836).

After heavy bombardment of the Alamo by cannon fire, the Mexicans under General Santa Anna stormed the Alamo on the morning of March 6, 1836. About 1,800 assault troops advanced into range but concentrated cannon and rifle fire,from the Alamo walls caused the Mexican soldiers to halt and reform. Then they continued to drive forward. Col. Travis, among the first to die in the Alamo. Under overwhelming odds, the Texians were forced back off the walls of the Alamo where they withdrew to the dim rooms of the Long Barracks. There some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand fighting occurred. The assault lasted a little over an hour and an estimated 7 Texians survived the battle. True to form, Santa Anna ordered their execution. Currently, 189 defenders appear on the official list, but ongoing research may increase the final tally to as many as 257.

SURVIVORS OF THE ALAMO

Susanna Dickenson, the wife of one of the defenders, her baby, and a servant of Travis were spared to help spread the word of how futile it was to resist against the powerful Mexican army. Though Santa Anna had his victory, the common Mexican soldiers paid the price with killed and wounded estimated at about 600.

GOLIAD MASSACRE

Santa Anna and his army then set out in Search of Sam Houston’s army but met with little success. On March 27, 1836, the Mexicans captured Goliad and over 300 unarmed Texan prisoners were massacred.

Sam Houston and his meager army of Texas of around 700 untrained soldiers retreated to east Texas in the spring of 1836. This tactic allowed more time for Houston to build up his army with volunteers that were arriving almost daily and to give the men time for much needed training.

However, Houston’s troops were becoming increasingly impatient as they made their way through the Big Thicket in east Texas under the skillful guide of the Alabama Caushadda Indians who knew the region like the back of their hands.

Meanwhile, Santa Anna with his large army and heavy cannon became bogged down in the wetlands of east texas. This led to a tactical mistake. He split his army up into several smaller armies and led a group of approximately a thousand men toward the coast to block any possible escape of Houston’s army by sea.

BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO

On the morning of April 19, 1836, Houston and his army reached Buffalo Bayou, a few miles southeast of present day Houston. The Texans crossed over and marched down the right bank of Buffalo Bayou to within half a mile of where the Bayou joined with the San Jacinto River. Here, the Texas army prepared their defenses on the edge of a grove of trees. Their rear was protected by timber and the bayou, while in front of them them was an open prairie.

On the following morning (April 20), Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna came marching across the prairie in battle array. Santa Anna was in no hurry as he had sent out runners to find some of his scattered armies and time to get more cannons in for the battle.

The Texans fired a volley from the "Twin Sisters" artillery which brought Santa Anna’s army to a sudden halt.The Mexicans fell back to a clump of trees a quarter of a mile away where Santa Anna formed a line of battle. Colonel Sidney Sherman, at the head of the Texas cavalry, charged the Mexican army, but accomplished little except to inspire the Texans with fresh enthusiasm for the following day.

Santa Anna was in no hurry as he had sent out runners to find some of his scattered armies and he needed time to get more cannons to arrive for the coming battle.

TEXANS VICTORIOUS IN BATTLE FOR INDEPENDENCE AT SAN JACINTO

On the morning of April 21, 1836, the Texas army numbering about 750 men were about to be engaged by 1500 of Santa Anna’s finest troups. Santa Anna was over confident because of the relatively easy successes he had enjoyed at the Alamo and Goliad missions where he had vast superiority in manpower and cannons and he failed to take into account the strategy that Sam Houston put into play.

Without waiting for Mexican reenforcements to arrive , Houston sent Deaf Smith, the celebrated Texas spy, with two or three men, to destroy Vince's bridge over which the Mexican army had passed, which cut off any escape for the Mexicans. When Houston's long awaited order to advance was given, the Texans did not hesitate. When within seventy yards the word "fire" was given, the Texan shouts of "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad" rang along the entire line.

Within 18 minutes, 700 Mexicans were slain, with another 730 taken as prisoners. The battle for Texas was won. They attacked Santa Anna's army while it was sleeping, and, in a battle lasting only 18 minutes, routed the Mexican army and captured Santa Anna. To obtain his release, he signed two treaties, recognizing Texas independence and promising never to fight Texas again.

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