The Battle of the Alamo Chapter 10.1

Santa Anna As Cos retreated to Mexico City, Santa Anna led a large army north to Texas. He wanted to reestablish Texas under Mexican control & rid Texas of Anglo & Tejano rebels.

Texans Unorganized Since Texans were unaware that Santa Anna was leading an army to Texas, their forces remained unorganized & scattered. They believed he would wait until Spring to launch an attack.

Guarding Texas’ Roads 2 main roads led into Texas from Mexico: 1.Old San Antonio Road ( Camino Real ) was guarded by Col. Neill 1.Old San Antonio Road (Camino Real) was guarded by Col. Neill 2.Atascosito Road that passed through Goliad was guarded by Col. Fannin

The Alamo On January 1836, Santa Anna sent General Urrea’s troops up the Atascosito Road while he took his army to San Antonio. Col. Neill fortified the Alamo with 21 cannons, but he only had 30 men.

James Bowie James Bowie reached San Antonio with orders from Sam Houston to destroy the Alamo. However, Bowie & Col. Neill decided to stay & defend the Old San Antonio Road.

William Barret Travis Governor Henry Smith asked William Barret Travis to recruit 100 men & lead them to San Antonio to support Col. Neill. He was only able to recruit 29 men & arrived at the Alamo on February 3 rd.

David Crockett David Crockett was a former colonel & member of Congress from Tennessee. David Crockett was a former colonel & member of Congress from Tennessee. He arrived at the Alamo with 12 men on February 8 th. He arrived at the Alamo with 12 men on February 8 th.

Siege of the Alamo On February 23, 1836, Santa Anna began a 13-day siege of the Alamo where he bombarded it with cannonballs & raised a blood-red flag that was a symbol of no mercy. By March 5 th, about 1,800 Mexican troops surrounded the Alamo.

Travis’s Letter William B. Travis immediately wrote a letter to try to recruit more soldiers from Gonzales. William B. Travis immediately wrote a letter to try to recruit more soldiers from Gonzales. This letter is known as the most heroic document in Texas history. This letter is known as the most heroic document in Texas history.

Fall of the Alamo As Santa Anna’s troops attacked the Alamo, the defenders shouted, “The Mexicans are coming!” Only 90 minutes after the attack began, all 189 Anglo & Tejano defenders of the Alamo were killed.

Alamo Survivors Santa Anna spared the lives of children, African American slaves & women like Susanna Dickinson. Santa Anna spared the lives of children, African American slaves & women like Susanna Dickinson. He released them to tell other Texans that Santa Anna is coming to drive all Texans out of Texas.