Battles inspire us when we rehearse the ideas worthing dying for. Texas was initially owned by Spain, but as George McAlister writes, “Three major independent factors changed the destiny of Texas.” They were U.S. independence from Britain in 1781, U.S. acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, and the independence of Mexico from Spain in 1821. All three led to the pivotal event at Mission San Antonio de Valero, first established in 1724 and known later simply as the Alamo.
Through the inspiration of Moses and Stephen Austin and a Mexican colonization law in 1823, many Americans migrated to Texas. Mexico even wrote a declaration and constitution modeled after America’s. But when Gutierrez, a Mexican leader, executed the Governor and slit the throats of 13 Spanish leaders, most Americans left. The 21-year-old Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was unfortunately learning to rule as a tyrant.
Santa Anna’s character, like most tyrants, was elitist and proud. In contrast, Moses Austin and his son Stephen had a dream to settle Spanish Mexico with 300 American families who loved liberty and had a work ethic to sustain it. By a providential act, Mexico allowed these families to have 200,000 acres each. A constitution, similar to that of the U.S., was formed in 1824. However, the character of self-government must sustain a constitution like the one the U.S. had; unfortunately, Mexicans didn’t embrace this character, suffering a tyrant almost every six months.
The “Old 300” who received the first land grants cleared fields, planted crops, and built homes and grist mills. This astounded the officials in San Antonio, who were used to an easy-going spirit. In essence, Texas was being “Americanized.” The confusion and turmoil over which dictator would rule Mexico after it received its independence from Spain catapulted Santa Anna into the role of President. Mexico’s law of 1830 had already required a passport, rejected Anglo-Americans, nullified existing contracts, and established military rule. These repressive actions inspired many to desire Texas independence in order to restore the rule of law.
All this set the stage for the battle at the Alamo. Leaders began to arrive in San Antonio to resist Santa Anna. Men who had interesting and sordid paths were drawn together around the theme of liberty. Jim Bowie (famous for hand-to-hand combat and the invention of the “bowie knife”) arrived with 30 volunteers in January of 1836. Once the men decided to defend the Alamo, supplies were quickly brought in. Jim Bonham was the glue that held the volunteers together as Bowie’s health rapidly declined. On February 3, Col. William Travis also arrived with a small group of volunteers.
On February 8, 13 Tennessee Mountain Volunteers arrived with David Crockett and his fox skin cap. He said, “I’ve fought bears and I’ve been a member of Congress… and fightin’ bears is a lot less trouble.” In a more serious tone, he declared, “Fellow Citizens… I have come to aid you all I can in your noble cause. I shall identify myself with your interest, and all the honor that I desire is that of defending, as a high private, in common with my fellow citizens, the liberties of our common country.”
On February 23, at 3 AM, Santa Anna and his 2,000 troops arrived. He raised the blood red flag of “no quarter” while the 1824 flag flew 800 yards away in the Alamo. On February 24, with Travis in sole command due to Bowie’s declining health, Travis sent a letter “To the people of Texas and to all Americans in the world,” writing “I shall never surrender or retreat… VICTORY OR DEATH. …The Lord is on our side – when the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn – We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves….”
As the siege wore on, Travis feared no help was going to arrive. When the Mexicans endeavored to shut down the well supplying water to the Alamo, Crockett and his sharpshooters picked them off. Thirty-two volunteers arrived into the Alamo holding Travis’ letter. It was heartening, though the 32 knew they were taking a stand to die. Unbeknownst to those in the Alamo, on March 2, Texas declared independence from Mexico. On March 5, at 2 PM, Santa Anna completed his plan for a full assault on the Alamo. Overruling all objections regarding the high price they might pay, Santa Anna declared, “I did not invite you here to ask your opinion but rather to give you mine.”
Unaware that the assault would kill them all the next day, Travis gathered everyone together, saying: “Gentlemen: Our choices are clear. We can surrender and betray the dream of independence. We can try to escape and suffer the shame of one who runs from his enemy. Or we can remain and face a destiny that is certain doom. But we shall die for the cause of liberty and freedom; and although we may be sacrificed, the victory will cost the enemy so dearly, that it will be worse for him than defeat. I shall stay… and fight as long as there is breath in my body.”
With a sword in his hand, he made a line along the men and declared: “Those who choose to stay and die with me, step over this line!” Bonham, Crockett and his men, and even Bowie was carried across the line. Only one chose to leave. This line of total commitment is a challenge today, for it is time to draw a line in the sand! Travis’ final message from the Alamo closed with these words: “Tell the people Texas can be a republic, but… carry this message… freedom rests finally on those willing to die for it.”
At 5 AM on Sunday, March 6, shouts of Viva Santa Anna broke the still of the morning. Hundreds of Mexicans were scaling ladders. Travis, one of the first to die, was shot as he kicked off one of the ladders. He was only 26, and his last words were “never surrender!” Bowie, sick in his room, shot three men as they entered before he was bayonetted to death. The wounded Jim Bonham defended the flag of freedom flown from the Alamo, dying after killing several who tried to take it down.
Though no one knows just how Crockett died, one of the Mexicans reported, “…A tall man with buckskin coat and a fur cap with a foxtail attached, fought like a cornered cougar. He must have been charmed, as many of our soldiers fired with deliberate aim and missed, yet he killed at least eight of us and wounded many more. He was finally felled by a saber blow to the head by one of our officers and slumped to his knees. Immediately, he was pierced by not less than ten bayonets.”
Santa Anna thought it a small affair to take the Alamo, though he had lost a third of his soldiers (over 600) from less than 200 that fought for liberty. The cry Remember the Alamo would inspire Sam Houston and the Texans to win their independence a month later (April 21) at the Battle of San Jacinto. Santa Anna fled, but was caught the next day, having left his wooden leg behind. A song would be written about the incident. Tyrannical government cannot walk or govern justly, and thus will fail. But the cost of freedom – both spiritually and physically – must always be honored. Let us always Remember the Alamo!
