Talk:Battle of the Alamo/Draft
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The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas, United States), killing all of the Texian defenders and crushing the revolt. Santa Anna's perceived cruelty by Texians during the battle inspired Texas settlers and adventurers from the United States to join their army, while Mexicans celebrated the victory by extolling his military skill and bravery.
Battle of the Alamo | |||||||
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Part of the Texas Revolution | |||||||
The Alamo, as drawn in 1854. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Mexico | Republic of Texas | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Antonio López de Santa Anna |
William Travis † James Bowie † | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1,800[1] | 185-260 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
400-600 killed and wounded[2][3][4] | 182-257[1] |
Several months previously, Texians had driven all Mexican troops out of Mexican Texas, an action that elicited a direct military response from Santa Anna. The Texian government was in disarray, with about 100 Texians garrisoned at the Alamo, which grew slightly with the arrival of reinforcements led by eventual Alamo co-commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis. On February 23, approximately 1,500 Mexicans marched into San Antonio de Béxar to quell the Texian revolt, which Mexican officials believed had been supported by the United States. For the next 10 days the two armies engaged in several skirmishes with minimal casualties, although Mexican artillery fire caused cumulative damage to the Alamo walls. Aware that his garrison could not withstand an attack by such a large force, Travis wrote multiple letters pleading for more men and supplies, but fewer than 100 reinforcements were sent by Texian leaders (mention Fanning and Houston?).
In the early morning hours of March 6, the Mexican Army advanced on the Alamo. After repulsing two attacks, the Texians were unable to fend off a third due to the overwhelming number of Mexican soldiers, who scaled and breached the walls. Most of the Texian soldiers withdrew into interior buildings where fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued. Defenders unable to reach these points attempted to escape, but they they were slain by the Mexican cavalry, who were positioned to secure the perimeter. The Mexican onslaught lasted no more than 60 minutes? Between five and seven Texians may have surrendered; if so, they were quickly executed, as stipulated by the Tornel decree. Most eyewitness accounts reported between 182 and 257 Texians (Texans, Tejanos and Anglo-Americans) died, while most historians of the Alamo agree that around 600 Mexicans were killed or wounded. Several noncombatants were sent to Gonzales to spread word of the Texian defeat. The news sparked both a strong rush to join the Texian army and a panic, known as "The Runaway Scrape", in which the Texian army, most settlers, and the new Republic of Texas government fled from the advancing Mexican Army. In Mexico, news of Santa Anna's victory was met with jubilation, and his popularity soared. About 6 weeks later, on April 21, 1836, the Texian Army, buoyed by a desire for revenge, defeated (launched a vicious surprise attack on?) an overconfident Santa Anna, who had split up his forces, at the Battle of San Jacinto, thus ending the Texas Revolution and leading to Mexico's eventual loss of Texas.
In 19th-century Texas, the Alamo complex gradually became known as a battle site rather than a former mission. The Texas Legislature purchased the land and buildings in the early part of the 20th century and designated the Alamo chapel as an official Texas State Shrine. The Alamo is now "the most popular tourist site in Texas".[5] The Alamo has been the subject of numerous non-fiction works beginning in 1843. Most Americans, however, are more familiar with the myths spread by many of the movie and television adaptations,[6] including the 1950s Disney miniseries Davy Crockett and John Wayne's 1960 film The Alamo.