Siege of the Alamo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of the Alamo
Part of the Texas Revolution
The Alamo, as drawn in 1854.
Date February 23  – March 6, 1836 Location San Antonio, Mexican Texas 29°25′32″N 98°29′10″W / 29.42556°N 98.48611°W / 29.42556; -98.48611 Result Mexican victory
Belligerents
Mexican Republic	Republic of Texas
Commanders and leaders
Antonio López de Santa Anna Manuel Fernandez Castrillon Martin Perfecto de Cos	William Travis  † James Bowie  † Davy Crockett  †
Strength
1,800	185–260
Casualties and losses
400–600 killed and wounded	182–257

The Siege of the Alamo happened from February 23 to March 6, 1836. It was the first part of the famous Battle of the Alamo. On February 23, Mexican soldiers, led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna, arrived in San Antonio, Texas. They quickly surrounded the Alamo Mission, which was a old church converted into a fort.

A small group of Texian and Tejano defenders protected the Alamo. Their leaders were William B. Travis and Jim Bowie, and the famous frontiersman Davy Crockett was also there. Before attacking, Santa Anna offered them a chance to give up. Travis answered by firing a cannon at the Mexican forces. This meant the fight would continue. The siege ended early on March 6, when the Mexican Army launched a final attack. Almost all the defenders were killed, but some civilians survived.

Why the Siege Happened

In 1835, the Mexican government started to change how it was run. It moved away from a system where states had more power (called federalism). This caused fighting in several Mexican states, including Mexican Texas. By the end of 1835, Texian forces had pushed all Mexican soldiers out of the area. In Mexico City, President Antonio López de Santa Anna began gathering an army to take Texas back.

After Mexican troops left San Antonio, Texian soldiers set up a base at the Alamo Mission. This was an old Spanish church that had been turned into a fort. Santa Anna called it a "fortification hardly worthy of the name." The Alamo was built to defend against attacks from Native American tribes, not a large army with cannons. The fort covered about 3 acres (1.2 hectares) and had walls that were 9 to 12 feet (2.7 to 3.7 meters) high and almost 3 feet (0.9 meters) thick.

On February 11, the Alamo's commander, Colonel James C. Neill, left to find more soldiers and supplies. In his place, William B. Travis, a regular army officer, and Jim Bowie, a volunteer leader, shared command. While the Texians struggled to find men and supplies, Santa Anna's army marched north. They crossed the Rio Grande river on February 12.

Texians thought Santa Anna wouldn't arrive until spring. They believed he would wait for warmer weather and more grass for his horses. But they were wrong. Santa Anna had been preparing his invasion for months. Local residents warned Travis that Santa Anna was coming, but Travis didn't believe the rumors.

By February 20, many people in San Antonio started leaving town. The next day, 15 Tejano volunteers from the Alamo left to help their families escape. Santa Anna's army was moving fast. On February 21, they were only 25 miles (40 km) from San Antonio. The Texians had no idea how close the Mexican army was. Most of the Alamo's defenders were at a party celebrating George Washington's birthday. Santa Anna planned a surprise attack, but heavy rains stopped his army from crossing a river. The next night, Santa Anna's army camped just 8 miles (13 km) west of San Antonio.

February 23: The Siege Begins

Early on February 23, people in San Antonio began to flee. Travis, still not fully convinced, sent a soldier to the church bell tower to watch. He also sent scouts to find the Mexican army. Around 2:30 PM, the church bell rang, signaling that the enemy was near. Scouts confirmed that Mexican cavalry were just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away.

At this time, there were about 156 Texian soldiers ready to fight in the Alamo, with 14 more in the hospital. They were not ready for the army's arrival and had no food. The men quickly brought cattle and corn into the Alamo, gathering enough food to last a month. They also had many captured Mexican muskets and plenty of ammunition, but not much gunpowder for their cannons. Some soldiers brought their families into the Alamo for safety, including Susanna Dickinson and her daughter, and Jim Bowie's deceased wife's cousins, Gertrudis Navarro and Juana Navarro Alsbury, and Alsbury's young son.

A flag similar to this was raised in Military Plaza in defiance of the Mexican troops. The two stars represented Mexican Texas and Coahuila as separate states.

While the Alamo defenders prepared, a few Texians outside the fort raised a flag in Military Plaza. It was a Mexican flag with two stars, showing that Texas and Coahuila were separate states. Within an hour, Mexican cavalry entered San Antonio. The Texians quickly took their flag down and brought it into the Alamo.

As the Mexican cavalry got closer, Travis sent messengers to ask for help. He sent one to Colonel James Fannin, 100 miles (160 km) away, and another to Gonzales, 70 miles (110 km) away. The message to Gonzales said: "The enemy in large force is in sight. We want men and provisions. Send them to us. We have 150 men and are determined to defend the Alamo to the last."

By late afternoon, about 1,500 Mexican troops occupied San Antonio. They raised a blood-red flag, which meant "No Quarter" – no mercy would be given. Soon after, a Mexican bugler played a call for a meeting. Travis responded by firing the Alamo's 18-pound cannon. The Mexican army fired back with four cannonballs, which hit inside the Alamo but caused no damage.

Bowie thought Travis had acted too quickly. He sent a messenger to meet with Santa Anna. Santa Anna refused to meet, saying he would not make deals with "rebellious foreigners." Travis was angry that Bowie had acted alone, but he sent his own messenger and got the same answer. Bowie and Travis then agreed to fire the cannon again.

As night fell, the firing stopped. The Mexicans set up a cannon battery near a house. Santa Anna also sent cavalry to surround the Alamo, stopping any Texian help from arriving. The Texians sent a small group out for supplies. They returned with six mules and a Mexican soldier as a prisoner. That night, Gregorio Esparza, one of Seguin's men, arrived with his family. Texian guards wouldn't open the gate, but others helped the family climb through a chapel window.

February 24: Travis's Famous Letter

Wednesday, February 24, was the first full day of the siege. The Mexican army scouted the Alamo's defenses. Santa Anna himself rode close to the Alamo. Later, he ordered a Mexican artillery battery to start firing. Two of the Alamo's cannons were knocked out, but the Texians quickly fixed them.

Jim Bowie had become very ill and was confined to his bed. He moved to a small room in the barracks. Travis was now fully in charge. That afternoon, Travis wrote a famous letter called "To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World." Many people consider it a masterpiece of American patriotism. Travis sent the letter with a messenger to Gonzales. From there, it was sent to other towns and eventually printed across the United States and Europe. The letter asked for immediate help, saying, "The call is upon ALL who are able to bear arms, to rally without one moment's delay."

In the early evening, Mexican soldiers tried to cross a footbridge near the Alamo. Texian sharpshooters quickly killed one soldier, and Davy Crockett shot another before the Mexicans retreated. Throughout the night, Mexican cannons fired at the Alamo, and soldiers shouted and fired muskets. This was to trick the Texians into thinking an attack was coming or that Texian reinforcements were being killed. Santa Anna also had his military band play music all night. Under the cover of darkness, Mexican soldiers built two more cannon batteries around the Alamo, giving them cannons on three sides. By the end of the day, 600 more Mexican troops had arrived.

February 25: Fighting for Huts and Messengers

The Mexican cannon fire continued on February 25. Around 10 AM, about 200-300 Mexican soldiers crossed the San Antonio River and hid in abandoned shacks close to the Alamo walls. They planned to use these huts to set up another cannon battery. Travis asked for volunteers to burn the huts, even though it was daytime and they would be in range of Mexican muskets. Several men volunteered, including Charles Despallier and Robert Brown.

To protect them, Texian cannons fired grapeshot and canister at the Mexican soldiers in the huts. Crockett and his men fired their rifles. Within two hours, the huts were burning. The Texians opened the Alamo gate, and the volunteers returned safely. The Mexican soldiers retreated, with six killed and four wounded.

Juan Seguin left the Alamo as a courier on February 25, 1836.

That afternoon, Mexican soldiers were placed on the road to Gonzales. Santa Anna sent a messenger to General Gaona, telling him to hurry to San Antonio with his best companies. Travis also wrote another letter asking for help. The Texian officers decided that Juan Seguin should carry the message because he knew the language and the land well. Seguin, riding Bowie's fastest horse, and his helper Antonio Cruz left around 9 PM. They met a Mexican cavalry patrol but escaped by speaking Spanish and knowing the local area.

After dark, a small group of Texians left the Alamo again to burn more huts. They returned without injury. Despite their efforts, some huts remained, and the Mexican army built another battery only 300 yards (270 meters) from the Alamo. Another battery was built to the southeast. The Mexican army now had cannons on three sides of the Alamo.

February 26-27: Cold Weather and Failed Relief

In the first few days of the siege, over 200 Mexican cannonballs landed in the Alamo plaza. The Texians often picked them up and reused them. On February 26, Travis ordered his cannons to stop firing to save gunpowder. Crockett and his men were encouraged to keep shooting because they rarely missed.

A cold front arrived that evening, dropping the temperature to 39 degrees F (4 degrees C). Neither army was ready for the cold. Some Texians tried to find firewood but ran into Mexican soldiers. That night, Texians burned more huts. One Texian was killed in a small fight.

On February 26, news of the siege reached acting governor James W. Robinson, who immediately sent a messenger to find Sam Houston. Travis's messages were slowly getting through. Reinforcements gathered in Gonzales, waiting for Fannin to arrive with more troops.

Unknown to the Texians, Colonel James Fannin finally decided to go help them. On the morning of February 26, he set out from Goliad with 320 men, 4 cannons, and supply wagons. The journey was difficult. One wagon broke down, and it took six hours to cross the San Antonio River. By the time they crossed, it was dark. The cold front hit Goliad that evening, and the soldiers were cold and wet. The next morning, Fannin realized his oxen had wandered off, and his men had no food. It took most of the day to find the oxen. After two days, Fannin's men had barely moved 1 mile (1.6 km). Fannin's officers convinced him to cancel the mission because they heard another Mexican army was marching towards Goliad.

Fannin had sent a messenger to Gonzales, telling them to meet him halfway to San Antonio. On February 28, about 60 men from Gonzales traveled to Cibolo Creek to wait for Fannin. Santa Anna learned that Fannin was coming and sent 800 cavalry to stop him. Travis, unaware that Fannin had turned back, sent James Bonham to Goliad to convince him to come.

The Mexican army was running low on supplies. Santa Anna had hoped to get food in San Antonio but couldn't find much. He sent more messengers to his other generals, urging them to hurry.

During the day, the Mexican army tried to block the irrigation ditch leading into the Alamo. Texians tried to dig a well inside the fort. They found water but accidentally weakened a wall, making it unsafe to fire from that spot. The Texians also spotted a Mexican general with his aides and fired at them, but missed. They didn't know it was Santa Anna himself.

February 28 - March 2: More Reinforcements Arrive

After learning that Fannin was not coming, a group of 25 men left Gonzales on February 27. They were led by Albert Martin and George Kimbell. As they left, 15-year-old William King joined them, taking his father's place. Eight more men joined them on the way. They carried the "Come and take it" flag from the Battle of Gonzales.

This group of about 33 men continued towards San Antonio. On the night of February 27, Travis sent another messenger to Gonzales to hurry up reinforcements. This messenger met Martin's group and led them towards the Alamo. In the darkness, the Alamo defenders thought they were Mexican soldiers and fired, wounding one of the volunteers. But the Gonzales men finally convinced the defenders to open the gates. These reinforcements likely brought news that more men were gathering in Gonzales.

Other Texian groups were also preparing to march. In Victoria, Colonel Wharton was getting ready to cross the Guadalupe River. On March 2, delegates at the Convention of 1836 adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence. This meant the Texians were now fighting for the new Republic of Texas. That evening, the Convention received Travis's letter from February 25. They also heard that Fannin had left Goliad for the Alamo. Believing the Alamo would get enough help, the delegates took no more action.

During this time, the Mexican army moved closer to the Alamo. By February 29, Mexican battalions were stationed on the east and west sides of the fort. Texian sharpshooters remained alert. On the evening of February 29, they killed a Mexican soldier who was scouting the defenses. On March 2, Santa Anna himself scouted the area and moved another battalion to guard a road near the Alamo.

March 3: Bonham's Return and Mexican Reinforcements

James Bonham arrived near San Antonio around 11 AM on March 3. Wearing a white bandana to show he was a Texian, he rode straight through the Mexican lines and into the Alamo gate. Bonham's news that Fannin was not coming after all reportedly saddened the Alamo defenders.

Travis sent a messenger that evening to the convention, saying that the Texians had survived the siege so far with no losses. He warned, however, that "unless it arrives soon, I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms." He ended his letter by saying that despite low ammunition, his men would fire the 18-pound cannon three times a day to show they still held the fort. Travis then wrote private letters and gave them to John W. Smith, who volunteered to sneak through the enemy lines.

On the afternoon of March 3, more Mexican reinforcements arrived for Santa Anna's army. Three battalions, about 1,000 troops, marched into San Antonio's military plaza. The Mexican army celebrated loudly, both for the new troops and for news that General Jose de Urrea had defeated Texian Colonel Frank W. Johnson at the Battle of San Patricio on February 27. The Texians in the Alamo mistakenly thought the celebration meant Santa Anna himself had arrived. With these reinforcements, the number of Mexican soldiers in San Antonio grew to almost 2,400.

During the day, the Mexican army had built a new cannon battery on the north side of the Alamo, close enough to hit the walls. Unlike earlier bombardments, these shots hit the walls hard, causing them to crumble. By nightfall, part of the wall had started to collapse, and the Texians worked all night to repair it with wood.

Some historians believe that on March 3, Texians created a distraction to allow John W. Smith to escape. However, a survivor named Susannah Dickinson said that Travis sent three men out shortly after dark, possibly including Davy Crockett, to find Fannin. Some accounts suggest that part of a Texian force managed to break through the Mexican lines and enter the Alamo just before daylight on March 4.

March 4-5: Final Plans for Attack

The Mexican cannon fire started again early on March 4. That afternoon, Santa Anna held a meeting with his senior officers. He suggested an immediate attack on the fort. Many of his officers disagreed, wanting to wait for heavier cannons to arrive, which were due on March 7.

According to later reports, a woman from San Antonio told Santa Anna on the evening of March 4 that Travis and his men planned to surrender or escape if help didn't arrive soon. Some historians believe this information made Santa Anna push for an immediate attack, rather than wait for his heavy cannons. He wanted the glory of a quick victory.

Saturday, March 5, was warmer. That morning, Santa Anna held another meeting and announced that the attack would begin the next day. Again, officers argued for waiting for the heavy cannons. Santa Anna reportedly said, "What are the lives of soldiers than so many chickens? I tell you, the Alamo must fall, and my orders must be obeyed at all hazards." He ordered that if soldiers were pushed back, those behind them must force them forward to climb the walls, no matter the cost. Detailed battle orders were drawn up. Soldiers were told to wear shoes and tie their hat straps. They were not allowed to wear cloaks or blankets, which might slow them down. Each soldier would get 4 to 6 rounds of ammunition.

Mexican soldiers were divided into four groups. Santa Anna would command the reserve force. The cavalry would guard the camp and patrol the area to stop anyone from running away. Santa Anna made sure that local soldiers from San Antonio did not fight, so families would not have to fight each other.

That evening, James Allen became the last messenger to leave the Alamo, carrying letters from Travis and others. Legend says that on March 5, Travis gathered his men and told them an attack was coming and that the Mexican Army would likely win. He supposedly drew a line in the sand and asked those willing to die for Texas to cross it and stand with him. A sick Bowie asked Crockett and others to carry his cot over the line. Only one man, Louis "Moses" Rose, stayed on the other side, saying he wasn't ready to die. He escaped that evening. This story was first told in a newspaper 35 years after the Alamo fell and cannot be fully confirmed.

At 10 PM, the Mexican cannons stopped firing. As Santa Anna had planned, the tired Texians soon fell into a deep sleep, their first uninterrupted sleep since the siege began. Three Texians were sent out as guards.

March 6: The Final Assault

At midnight, Mexican soldiers began quietly moving into their positions for the attack. The Texian guards were surprised and killed quickly before they could raise an alarm. Despite orders, soldiers were told to lie on their stomachs on the cold, damp grass. The attack was supposed to start at 4 AM, but soldiers were not fully in place until about 5 AM. Some were as close as 300 feet (91 meters) from the Alamo. At 5:30 AM, Santa Anna gave the order to advance, and his excited troops began shouting "Viva Santa Anna, Viva la republica!" The shouting woke the Texians, but by the time they reached their posts, the Mexican soldiers were already close enough to shoot.