Trivia for our Texans

[JohnP]

This being the 173rd anniversary of Texas declaring independance from Mexico, and the Battle of the Alamo, there are a few questions that should be answered:

1. Were there any survivors to the Battle of the Alamo?

2. Who was the original commander for the Alamo?

3. What happened to him and who did he turn command over to?

4. What happened to the cannons used by the Texian forces?

5. Was this battle necessary in the overall war?

There are many conjectures and theories, however, I'm looking for what has been historically proven.

Good Luck?

[HairyEyeball]

Not one of my 'major concetrations', but from what I remember:

1. Yes - a widow (Susanna something), her infant son, her slave, and Col. Travis' slave

2. The first Texas commander was Captain William R. Carey

3. He commanded the fort's artillery, and was KIA on March 6, 1836. He turned command over to Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis.

4. They were thrown into the acequia at that location when the Mexican troops retreated after the battle of San Jacinto.

5. Depends what you mean by 'necessary': The mission held neither strategic nor tactical value, and the defenders could have been better used with the main body of the Texas Army. It's propaganda value, however, was inestimable to the Texan cause.

4,

[JohnP]

Originally Posted by HairyEyeball

Not one of my 'major concetrations', but from what I remember:

1. Yes - a widow (Susanna something), her infant son, her slave, and Col. Travis' slave

2. The first Texas commander was Captain William R. Carey

3. He commanded the fort's artillery, and was KIA on March 6, 1836. He turned command over to Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis.

4. They were thrown into the acequia at that location when the Mexican troops retreated after the battle of San Jacinto.

5. Depends what you mean by 'necessary': The mission held neither strategic nor tactical value, and the defenders could have been better used with the main body of the Texas Army. It's propaganda value, however, was inestimable to the Texan cause.

4,

You, sir, win a case of beer from me. Since no other Texans chimed in I'll probably buy 2 then force you to drink them with me

You were absolutely right when answering for propoganda value. Undecided Texians quickly jumped into Houston's camp after the battle.

[HairyEyeball]

On the off chance I can get through Texas without someone executing the warrant that's probably our for me, I fully intend to hold you to the part about drinking your fair share, sir.

The Alamo was a pyrrhic victory for Mexico, and a waste of good soldiers, but Oh, the legend, the songs sung for generations, the veneration of a few score heroes against thousands! Sometimes, pursuing an impossible dream, flinging a challenge in the teeth of the impossible, has to be worth it.

To Travis, Bowie, Crockett and the rest!

[Lee Ragan]

Well, I just now spied this thread and am a little late. About all I can add is that the lady refered too was Susanna Dickenson, wife of Capt. Dickenson who by the final battle was artillery commander. There were several other women and children plus a few black slaves that were allowed to leave the Alamo after the fall. These are the people who described the events that took place during the seige for later scholars to ponder.
You guys did sneak one in on me and that being the original commander of the garrison. I had forgotten all about him.
Some people are not impressed with the Alamo and deride the events that took place there, but to all Texan Patriots, it is a holy shrine to courage and the love of liberty.
On 21 April 1836, the Alamo defenders were avenged at San Jacinto and one of my Grandfathers (about 7 generations back), Mitchell Putnam, made the charge across that field against Santa Anna's army. Putnam ( a veteran of the War of 1812),was a private in Burleson's 1st Texian Regiment and was wounded that day. But TEXAS was FREE!

[PhilK]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the battle was necessary. For no other reason then to stall Santa Anna while Houston raised a large enough army to mount an actual campaign against Santa Anna.

Had the Alamo defenders left on the first day, Santa Anna could have continued on north and confronted Houston before he had time to get his army established and unified. On the flip side...had Santa Anna not played any games and just thrown everything at the Alamo on the first couple days things might have been different as well.

As already mentioned, there was the propaganda aspect of the battle as well, and while it made for a memorable battle cry...in March of 1836 the Texian Army needed time and the defenders of the Alamo gave them that time.

[a777pilot]

Who won the first battle of the Alamo? When was it fought?

[JohnP]

Originally Posted by a777pilot

Who won the first battle of the Alamo? When was it fought?

The Alamo, a fort established in 1793 at a former Franciscan mission in San Antonio. The name ‘cottonwood tree’ was given to the walled compound of the secularized Franciscan frontier mission of San Antonio de Valero outside San Antonio de Bexar, the principal centre for Spanish settlement in Texas.

In 1813, Spanish Governor Saucedo and his officers were killed after they had surrendered by Mexican rebels and Anglo adventurers, who were treated likewise by a Spanish expedition including then-Lt Santa Anna.

In October, 1835 settlers in Mexican Texas launched an armed uprising against the Mexican government. Santa Anna immediately began preparations to invade Texas and end the Texas Revolution. His invasion force, named the Army of Operations in Texas, was comprised primarily of raw recruits, including conscripts and convicts. As Santa Anna assembled his forces in Mexico, the Texians systematically defeated the Mexican troops already stationed in Texas, General Martin Perfecto de Cos, the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, now president, surrendered the Alamo after a siege of 56 days.

After the surrender of Santa Anna's brother-in-law, General Cos, on December 9, 1835, no Mexican troops remained in Texas. Unprepared for a long campaign, many Texas settlers had left the Texian Army; by the time General Cos surrendered, the Texian Army was dominated by recent arrivals to the region, primarily adventurers from the United States. According to historian Alwyn Barr, their presence "contributed to the Mexican view that Texian opposition stemmed from outside influences".

There were several “battles” held at the mission. The 1st battle can be considered the 1813 battle against the rebels and adventurers. (I find it amazing that Texas has always had problems with adventurers.)

The 2nd battle or the 1st battle of the Alamo during the Texas War for Independence was from October 1835 to December 1835. It was won by the Texians. This saw the surrender of General Cos, making it now a family honor for Santa Anna. Angered by what he perceived as American interference in Mexican affairs, Santa Anna directed the Mexican Congress to authorize the army to treat any foreigners found fighting in Texas as pirates. The resolution effectively banned the taking of prisoners of war; in this time period, captured pirates were executed immediately. Santa Anna reiterated this message in a strongly worded letter to United States President Andrew Jackson.

The Siege of the Alamo, 23 February through 6 March 1836, is the one depicted by song, stories, books, and movies.

Does this answer the question well enough?

[Lee Ragan]

Originally Posted by a777pilot

Who won the first battle of the Alamo? When was it fought?

You live in Texas... and didn't know this!
That's OK tho... John got you all educated on it.

[a777pilot]

Originally Posted by JohnP

The Alamo, a fort established in 1793 at a former Franciscan mission in San Antonio. The name ‘cottonwood tree’ was given to the walled compound of the secularized Franciscan frontier mission of San Antonio de Valero outside San Antonio de Bexar, the principal centre for Spanish settlement in Texas.

In 1813, Spanish Governor Saucedo and his officers were killed after they had surrendered by Mexican rebels and Anglo adventurers, who were treated likewise by a Spanish expedition including then-Lt Santa Anna.

In October, 1835 settlers in Mexican Texas launched an armed uprising against the Mexican government. Santa Anna immediately began preparations to invade Texas and end the Texas Revolution. His invasion force, named the Army of Operations in Texas, was comprised primarily of raw recruits, including conscripts and convicts. As Santa Anna assembled his forces in Mexico, the Texians systematically defeated the Mexican troops already stationed in Texas, General Martin Perfecto de Cos, the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, now president, surrendered the Alamo after a siege of 56 days.

After the surrender of Santa Anna's brother-in-law, General Cos, on December 9, 1835, no Mexican troops remained in Texas. Unprepared for a long campaign, many Texas settlers had left the Texian Army; by the time General Cos surrendered, the Texian Army was dominated by recent arrivals to the region, primarily adventurers from the United States. According to historian Alwyn Barr, their presence "contributed to the Mexican view that Texian opposition stemmed from outside influences".

There were several “battles” held at the mission. The 1st battle can be considered the 1813 battle against the rebels and adventurers. (I find it amazing that Texas has always had problems with adventurers.)

The 2nd battle or the 1st battle of the Alamo during the Texas War for Independence was from October 1835 to December 1835. It was won by the Texians. This saw the surrender of General Cos, making it now a family honor for Santa Anna. Angered by what he perceived as American interference in Mexican affairs, Santa Anna directed the Mexican Congress to authorize the army to treat any foreigners found fighting in Texas as pirates. The resolution effectively banned the taking of prisoners of war; in this time period, captured pirates were executed immediately. Santa Anna reiterated this message in a strongly worded letter to United States President Andrew Jackson.

The Siege of the Alamo, 23 February through 6 March 1836, is the one depicted by song, stories, books, and movies.

Does this answer the question well enough?

Yes. Well done. Most Texans have no idea that there were two battles of the Alamo.