Sit of Fort-Alamo

Context

Already at the time of the Spanish colony the United States sought to annex Texas by the way of the settlement by American citizens. The independence of Mexico goes back to 1821. After a test of Empire the Republic is proclaimed in 1823. At the time of the events of Texas Mexico is then under the presidencies of Miguel Barragan (from January 28th, 1835 to March 1st, 1836) and of Jose Justo Corro (from March 2nd, 1836 to April 18th, 1837). In 1836 Texas is a Mexican province where for several years, a great number of colonists coming from the United States had been established (they formed 85% of the population). These colonists most of the time were unaware of the customs and habits of the country, having little respect for its laws and institutions (in particular prohibition to have slaves) and wanting to live as good seemed to them. Feeling the unit of the country threatened, the Mexican government decided to repeal all favorable measurements which theirs were granted, which put fire at the powders. Skirmishes burst obliging the Mexican army to give up certain strategic places. Santa Anna (Antonio de Padua Maria Severino Lopez de Santa Anna) was charged to restore the order and to preserve the national integrity, with an army 6000 men for the majority recruited of force (Leva) and little tested, badly equipped and especially equipped with an obsolete armament. Side of risen in Texas an important man, the General Sam Houston, load some James Bowie (inventive of famous notorious Bowie-knife and slave) to destroy Strong Alamo. The objective is to prepare an army in North more. Arrived on the spot, Bowie and a hundred volunteers take their time thinking the Mexican army still far. To this man hundred is added about thirty soldiers under the orders of the young person William Travis, lieutenant-colonel of the young Texane army in formation. These two men who will write with heroism one of the largest pages of the history of their country, are joined by (already) legendary the Davy Crockett (citizen of the United States) in the search of a new departure after its defeat with the elections with the Congress.

The seat

The Mexicaine army arrived much earlier than envisaged and, surprised, the insurrectionists cut off themselves with haste in the fort. The General Santa Anna proposed a unconditional surrender (generous the majority of the defenders of the fort offer were foreign in Mexico) or else the garrison would have passed by the weapons. Travis answered not without plume by a blow of gun. At this point in time the Red Flag was hoisted top of the bell-tower of the church of the city. All the defenders of Alamo included/understood whereas none of them would be saved at the time of the attack, which was announced imminent. Colonel Travis sent missives in all the country (to include/understand: in the United States what for the Mexicans constituted a treason) requiring reinforcements. He prevented that he would prefer death with the capitulation in his famous letter with the government of the revolution. The seat was marked by intense rammings with the gun and an attack lacked two hours which mobilized more than 500 Mexican soldiers. Santa Anna then decided to throw a good part of its forces in the battle and to attack by the four sides of the Fort. As for the defenders, they did not obtain almost any reinforcement, if it is not about thirty men carrying with 189 the number of besieged.

The situation was completely desperate for the insurrectionists. One important moment, from an extraordinary intensity was going to take place. It was the moment of the choice. All the defenders chose to remain and to fight. According to the legend, Travis gathered its men and traced a feature on sand, inviting all those which wished it to remain at its sides to fight until death and to sacrifice itself for the very young dissenting republic of Texas of Mexico. All the defenders crossed the line thus sealing their destiny towards an unquestionable but heroic death. There exists a legend indicating that only one person refused, preferring to try its chance while fleeing during the night. It would be a soldier of French origin (a certain Louis Pink) which would have known the Napoleonean wars.

The final attack

Around 5 hours of the morning, the Mexican army, in position, attacked Alamo with several thousands of soldiers. If the attack lasted only a little more than one hour, it was of an extreme violence. Initially, the insurrectionists, supported by their artillery, caused terrible losses with the Mexicans. Whole battalions were decimated and a General was even wounded with the combat. Drawing from its reserves, Santa Anna managed to open a breach in the fort and the battle continued inside with an appalling body with body. Travis was killed with the whole beginning of the attack of a ball in the head whereas it drew the top of a wall. Bowie, fallen seriously sick during the seat, lost the life in its bed (it is also said that it hid under a mattress). As for David Crockett, some think that he died in the combat whereas others, supported by the testimony of a Mexican officer, think that he was made prisoner and carried out as the law required it. Alamo had fallen…

The assessment of the attack was dramatic, the Mexican Army paying very expensive this victory: if the 189 defenders of the Fort were killed, Santa Anna saw its army amputated by several hundreds of soldiers.

Conclusion

To the great displeasure of the general Santa Anna and the central government, the fall of Alamo did not frighten the insurrectionists. Quite to the contrary, its defenders became martyrs whose death could not remain vain. Travis, which took along its men to an unquestionable death, caused not only important losses weakening the Mexican army, but it will have also delayed it in its projection towards north intended to clean Texas of all the insurrectionists. More north, this time made it possible to the General Sam Houston to receive reinforcements as men, vivres, weapons, ammunition and money of the United States and to constitute an army which demolished that of Santa Anna a few weeks later with San Jacinto whose valley still reasons of the rallying cry “ Remember Alamo! ”. Prisoner, the Mexican general (who was then not President of the Republic) had to be solved to give the order to his troops to leave Texas in exchange of his life. Order which should not have been applied by an army of which the chief was a prisoner. It should not be forgotten that the Mexican government by sending an army to defend the integrity of its territory made only its duty. In front of the power incipient from the United States which could make late Mexico of a war (the Mexicans used weapons which had been used for Waterloo). Napoleon i had included/understood it well by selling the Louisiana. Later the mexicano-American war will confirm it.

It would be abusive in addition to sanctify Alamo, because the desire of Texas to free itself from Mexico proceeded also of a refusal of its share to abolish the Esclavage like had decided it Mexico in 1829.

Illustrations

So the event was illustrated many times by the American cinema, among which:

The Immortal Alamo Silent film of Gaston Méliès (1911)
Alamo of and with John Wayne (1960)
Alamo of John Lee Hancock (2004)

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