Glen N.
Yelp
I meant to write a review of everything I visited in San Antonio, but I forgot the Alamo.
If you're like me, you learned everything you know about the Alamo from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, so here's a brief history lesson:
Texas (Coahuila y Tejas) was part of Mexico. In the 1820s, Americans flocked to Texas to become citizens of newly independent Mexico, who likely wished they had built a wall. But things quickly changed in 1835 with a new constitution, which likely made all the eighth graders roll their ojas after being forced to recite its preamble in history class.
The new constitution ended the federal period, giving centralized power to President Santa Anna and his conservative government. The Texans didn't like the stricter enforcement of laws (especially those toward immigrants like themselves, accused of not adapting to Mexican culture), higher tariffs, or (oops!) enforcement of the ban on slavery (oh yeah, about 8% of Texans were slaves). So they revolted because that's what we do.
In October, Texans engaged Mexican troops in the first official battle of the Texas Revolution. In response, Santa Anna assembled a large force, the Army of Operations, and told President Jackson (the guy on our $20) that he would execute any foreign immigrants engaged in rebellion.
During this time, the Texans captured the Alamo, a Spanish mission converted to what Santa Anna called "an irregular fortification hardly worthy of the name", but in Spanish. An engineer (Green Jameson) created catwalks to let defenders fire over the walls and he installed the 19 cannons left behind, adding an 18 pounder super cannon. Still, it lacked provisions, ammunition, and men (100 soldiers).
Requests for assistance from commander Neill were largely ignored by US government who knew such action would constitute a war, so Houston sent Colonel Bowie to remove the artillery (an impossible task due to a lack of necessary draft animals) and destroy the complex, but Neill convinced Bowie otherwise. In other words, the mind of Bowie ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, and, in a letter to the governor, he argued, "the salvation of Texas depends in great measure on keeping [San Antonio, the political center] out of the hands of the enemy". He ended his letter with, "Colonel Neill and myself have come to the solemn resolution that we will rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy." and "Have a great summer. Stay cool!"
He didn't receive the "men, money, rifles, and cannon powder" he requested, but cavalry officer William B. Travis (to whom command was transferred) arrived with 30 men, followed by a small group of volunteers arrived, including the famous frontiersman Davy Crockett. Apparently, Paul Bunyan was too busy.
Meanwhile, Santa Anna's huge but undertrained, underpaid, and under-supplied army dealt with hypothermia (due to record low temperatures), dysentry, and Comanche raids as they crept toward the Alamo. Spotted 1.5 miles away by a soldier in the bell tower, residents fled San Antonio. After the 1500 Mexican soldiers raised a blood red flag signifying no mercy, Travis shot the super cannon while co-commander Bowie sent reps down to ask for an honorable surrender, which was not granted. No way, güay. Ouch.
So began the siege. The first few days were relatively quiet as Santa Anna's army established artillery batteries a thousand feet from the Alamo walls, inching closer and closer. In the first week, more than 200 cannonballs landed in the Alamo Plaza. Some of them were reused and shot back. Reuse, reduce, recyc-kill.
On Feb 24, two Mexican scouts became the first casualties, Bowie became bedridden from illness, and Travis wrote, "I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country. VICTORY OR DEATH", in a letter now considered a masterpiece of American patriotism. Spoiler alert: he didn't get victory.
After his army was reinforced to 3100 soldiers, Santa Anna proposed his assault on March 5. Advancing in four columns caused the untrained Mexicans in the back to fire upon the front, and also made them easy target for the Texan cannons, which essentially became shotguns by using hinges, nails, and horseshoes, but it was no match. Despite managing to defend the first two waves of attack, the last remaining soldiers fell back into the church. Outmanned and outgunned, the Texans used their rifles as clubs and fought with knives in the one of the most notable last stands in history, up there with Custer and Chief Brody.
Fast-forward 47 days: the Texan army attacked Santa Anna's camp by surprise (the 18 minute Battle of San Jacinto), where the soldiers repeatedly cried, "Remember the Alamo!"
Because this national landmark has so much history, next time you're looking for something to do in San Antonio, remember the Alamo.
