One Flag’s Story Texas History Reynolds Middle School Prosper, Texas

WHAT DO YOU KNOW… ● about flags raised in San Antonio before the Battle of the Alamo ? … ● about why General Santa Anna showed the Texian Army NO MERCY ? … ● about the music played by the Mexican drums and bugles before The Fall of the Alamo ? … These are some of your learning targets!

Skill Development There will be a ten question quiz after the show. You may take notes!

How did those brave men come risk their lives to defend a Spanish mission that was indefensible? One flag may give us some clues.

Texan forces captured San Antonio and the Alamo on December 10, This battle is called the Storming of Bexar.

In this, the first battle of what became the War for Texas Independence, nearly 200 soldiers took control of the Mexican stronghold in San Antonio.

The battle lasted for four days. The Mexican forces had suffered about 150 casualties and their leader General Cós asked for the terms of surrender when his supplies were exhausted. Cós was the brother-in-law to General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

Texian troops, under the joint command of James Bowie and William B. Travis raised a flag that was brought from the presidio at Goliad. It was meant to send a message.

The Texas Revolution had been brought about when it became clear that the new President of Mexico was a dictator who had canceled the Constitution of The flag was designed to remind everyone that Santa Anna was unconstitutional!

It is said that when the Mexican General saw the new flag flying over the Alamo fortification, he was enraged. He resolved to show this uprising no mercy. He gave the order to raise the red flag on San Fernando Church. It meant that his army of over 5,000 would take no prisoners!

And so, after a siege of thirteen days, the Army of Mexico surrounded the mission. Before the final assault, Santa Anna ordered his military band to remind his soldiers of his red flag: that there would be no one left alive. It was the fierce bugle cry of El Deguello.

The soon to be famous Texian flag was captured during the cold dawn attack but was not saved. The final battle lasted far less than 90 minutes. In the Fall of the Alamo, there were nine Mexican soldiers for every one Texas.

Power Quiz Ten Questions

1.What was the name of the first battle of the Texas War for Independence? Answer… 1.The Storming of Bexar 2.In which month of 1835 was the Alamo defended? Answer… 2. December 3.How many men took the Alamo from the Mexican Army and General Cós? Answer… 3. About 200 men

4. Why was the Mexican Army allowed to walk out of San Antonio after their defeat? Answer… 4. General Cós had surrendered 5. Describe the Texian flag. Answer… 5. Vertical green, white, red bands with “The Constitution of 1824” or “1824” in the center of white. 6. Who was the Commander who had also been a prisoner at Anahuac? Answer… 6. William B. Travis

7. What was the message of the Texian flag? Answer… 7. Santa Anna’s actions were unconstitutional! 8. What was the message of Santa Anna’s red flag. Answer… 8. NO MERCY / NO PRISONERS / NO QUARTER. 9. What was the meaning of El Deguello? Answer… 9. “Slit throat” / NO MERCY

10. What may you infer about the use of two symbols (flag and bugle) that had the same meaning? Answers… Answers will vary… 10. Santa Anna was sending an important order to his Army and a fearful message of hopelessness and despair to the defenders of the Alamo. I can also infer that the final attack began in the early morning and the Mexican Army was divided. El Deguello reinforced the command in case the red flag was not visible