Francisco Antonio Ruiz
Encyclopedia
Francisco Antonio Ruiz was the alcalde
of San Antonio during the Texas Revolution
and was responsible for identifying the bodies of those killed at the Battle of the Alamo
.
Ruiz was born between 1804 and 1811 in San Antonio, then part of the Mexican
province of Coahuila y Tejas
. He was the eldest son of Jose Francisco Ruiz
and Josefa Hernandex.
Ruiz supported the Texian
cause during the Texas Revolution
, when he was the alcade of San Antonio. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
did not trust Ruiz, and when the Mexican army entered San Antonio to begin the siege of the Alamo
, Santa Anna placed Ruiz under house arrest. At the conclusion of the battle, Santa Anna ordered Ruiz to identify the bodies of Davy Crockett
, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis and to dispose of the dead. He later "left one of the most vivid eyewitness accounts of the fall of the Alamo." Ruiz stated that Crockett's body was found on the west side of the garrison, supporting Susannah Dickinson
's claim as to where he lay. Ruiz stated that Travis' body was found on a gun carriage on the north wall, with a single bullet wound to the forehead, and that Bowie's body was found in one of the rooms on the south side, on a bed.
It was through the accounts by Ruiz that most historian
s base the number of confirmed defenders of the Alamo. The number of defenders has varied through history, with some indicating 180, while others indicate they believed the number to have been as high as 250, the latter of which is generally not accepted. However, Ruiz stated that the Mexican Army burned 182 defender bodies after the battle. Gregorio Esparza, a Tejano defender, is known to have had his body claimed for proper burial by his two brothers, who received permission from Santa Anna to do so. Taking in accounts of others who claimed that their loved ones of Mexican descent were properly buried, the number of defenders is believed to have been between 182 and 189.
Historians have also pondered over the number of troops lost by Santa Anna's forces. Most have agreed that the Mexican losses stood somewhere around 500. Mexican officers both overstated the Alamo defender losses, setting those above 600, and understated their own losses, placing them around 200. Ruiz stated that the Mexican Army lost an estimated 1,600 troops during the battle, and was ordered to have those bodies buried or otherwise disposed of. Due to there being insufficient room in the cemetery, Ruiz had many of the bodies thrown into the river. http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/adp/archives/newsarch/ruizart.html Some have questioned Ruiz estimating the Mexican losses at 1,600, while others have completely dismissed that estimate. However, Ruiz did dispose of the bodies, and it is likely that while his estimate could be too high, the Mexican losses were most probably at least half that number.
and believed that only those who had served during the Texas Revolution should be able to participate in making that decision. After the annexation was complete, Ruiz left San Antonio and lived for several years amongst the Indians
. He later returned to San Antonio. After his death on October 18, 1876, he was buried in the Ruiz-Herrara family cemetery in Bexar County
.
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
of San Antonio during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
and was responsible for identifying the bodies of those killed at the Battle of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo 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 . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
.
Ruiz was born between 1804 and 1811 in San Antonio, then part of the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
province of Coahuila y Tejas
Coahuila y Tejas
Coahuila y Tejas was one of the constituent states of the newly established United Mexican States under its 1824 Constitution.It had two capitals: first Saltillo, and then Monclova...
. He was the eldest son of Jose Francisco Ruiz
Jose Francisco Ruiz
José Francisco "Francis" Ruiz was a Texas revolutionary-Early life and family:Ruiz was born in San Antonio de Bexar, Texas to Juan Manuel Ruiz and María Manuela de la Peña. Appointed the first schoolmaster of San Antonio in 1803, he designated a house acquired by his father on Military Plaza as...
and Josefa Hernandex.
Ruiz supported the Texian
Texian
Texian is an archaic, mostly defunct 19th century demonym which defined a settler of current-day Texas, one of the southern states of the United States of America which borders the country of Mexico...
cause during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
, when he was the alcade of San Antonio. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
did not trust Ruiz, and when the Mexican army entered San Antonio to begin the siege of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo 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 . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
, Santa Anna placed Ruiz under house arrest. At the conclusion of the battle, Santa Anna ordered Ruiz to identify the bodies of Davy Crockett
Davy Crockett
David "Davy" Crockett was a celebrated 19th century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician. He is commonly referred to in popular culture by the epithet "King of the Wild Frontier". He represented Tennessee in the U.S...
, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis and to dispose of the dead. He later "left one of the most vivid eyewitness accounts of the fall of the Alamo." Ruiz stated that Crockett's body was found on the west side of the garrison, supporting Susannah Dickinson
Susannah Dickinson
Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson was one of two American survivors of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, where her husband, Captain Almaron Dickinson, and 182 other defenders were killed by the Mexican Army...
's claim as to where he lay. Ruiz stated that Travis' body was found on a gun carriage on the north wall, with a single bullet wound to the forehead, and that Bowie's body was found in one of the rooms on the south side, on a bed.
Account of the Battle of the Alamo
Ruiz gave possibly the most accurate accounts of the battle, from the perspective of an observer. Ruiz stated that the Mexican Army advanced against the Alamo in the early morning hours of March 6, 1836, utilizing 4,000 troops, although all did not take part in the assault. According to Ruiz, the Mexican's were repulsed twice, and he commented that the cannon fired from the Alamo resembled a constant thunder. The third wave that attacked the Alamo consisted, according to Ruiz, of 800 Mexican troops, of which only an estimated 130 survived. However, they breached the Alamo walls on this last assault, and were supported by other Mexican units. Ruiz stated that when the Mexicans entered the walls, he and Political Chief Don Ramon Musquiz accompanied Don Refugio de la Garza across the bridge on Commerce Street, so that they might get a better view. However, Mexican Dragoons fired on them, forcing them to withdraw. After a half an hour, Santa Anna sent for Ruiz, and ordered him to join him in the Alamo, to locate and identify the bodies of Travis, Crockett and Bowie. After locating the bodies and with Ruiz identifying them, Ruiz was then instructed to help dispose of the dead Mexican soldiers. http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/adp/archives/newsarch/ruizart.htmlIt was through the accounts by Ruiz that most historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
s base the number of confirmed defenders of the Alamo. The number of defenders has varied through history, with some indicating 180, while others indicate they believed the number to have been as high as 250, the latter of which is generally not accepted. However, Ruiz stated that the Mexican Army burned 182 defender bodies after the battle. Gregorio Esparza, a Tejano defender, is known to have had his body claimed for proper burial by his two brothers, who received permission from Santa Anna to do so. Taking in accounts of others who claimed that their loved ones of Mexican descent were properly buried, the number of defenders is believed to have been between 182 and 189.
Historians have also pondered over the number of troops lost by Santa Anna's forces. Most have agreed that the Mexican losses stood somewhere around 500. Mexican officers both overstated the Alamo defender losses, setting those above 600, and understated their own losses, placing them around 200. Ruiz stated that the Mexican Army lost an estimated 1,600 troops during the battle, and was ordered to have those bodies buried or otherwise disposed of. Due to there being insufficient room in the cemetery, Ruiz had many of the bodies thrown into the river. http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/adp/archives/newsarch/ruizart.html Some have questioned Ruiz estimating the Mexican losses at 1,600, while others have completely dismissed that estimate. However, Ruiz did dispose of the bodies, and it is likely that while his estimate could be too high, the Mexican losses were most probably at least half that number.
Later life
From 1837 until 1841 Ruiz served as an alderman in San Antonio. He strongly opposed Texas's annexation to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and believed that only those who had served during the Texas Revolution should be able to participate in making that decision. After the annexation was complete, Ruiz left San Antonio and lived for several years amongst the Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. He later returned to San Antonio. After his death on October 18, 1876, he was buried in the Ruiz-Herrara family cemetery in Bexar County
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
.