When 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...

 ended at approximately 6:30 a.m. on March 6, 1836, fewer than 50 of the almost 250 Texians and Tejanos who had occupied the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

 were alive. The conflict, a part of 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...

, was the first step in Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's

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...

 attempt to retake the province of Texas

Mexican Texas

Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico. The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very...

 after an insurgent army of Texian settlers and adventurers from the United States had driven out all Mexican troops the previous year. As part of his preparations for marching on Texas, in late December 1835 Santa Anna had convinced the Mexican Congress to pass a resolution that all "foreigners landing on the coast of the Republic or invading its territory by land, armed, and with the intent of attacking our country, will be deemed pirates" and subject to immediate execution. Santa Anna led an army to San Antonio de Bexar, arriving on February 23, 1836 and immediately initiating a siege of the Alamo

Siege of the Alamo

The siege of the Alamo describes the first twelve days of the Battle of the Alamo. On February 23, Mexican troops under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna entered San Antonio de Bexar, Texas and surrounded the Alamo Mission...

, which housed 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...

 Army troops. As the Mexican army had approached San Antonio, several of the defenders brought their families into the Alamo to keep them safe. During the twelve days of the siege, Alamo co-commander William Barret Travis sent multiple couriers to the acting Texas government, the remaining Texas army under James Fannin

James Fannin

James Walker Fannin, Jr. was a 19th-century U.S. military figure on the Texas Army and leader during the Texas Revolution of 1835–36...

, and various Texas communities, asking for reinforcements, provisions, and ammunition. The siege culminated in an early-morning assault by Mexican troops which left almost all of the Texan defenders dead. Some reports claimed that several Texans surrendered but were quickly executed on Santa Anna's orders. Of the Texians who fought during the battle, only two survived: Travis's slave, Joe, was assumed to be a noncombatant, and Brigido Guerrero, who had deserted from the Mexican Army several months before, convinced Mexican soldiers that he had been taken prisoner by the Texians. Alamo co-commander James Bowie's freedman

Freedman

A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....

, Sam, was also spared, although it is not known if he participated in the fighting.
During the battle, most of the women and children had gathered in the sacristy

Sacristy

A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...

 of the church. As Mexican soldiers entered the room, a boy, thought to be the son of defender Anthony Wolf, stood up to rearrange a blanket around his shoulders. Mistaking him for a Texian soldier, the Mexican soldiers bayoneted him. In the confusion, at least one of the women was lightly wounded. Bowie's family, including Gertrudis Navarro, Juana Navarro Alsbury and her son, were hiding in one of the rooms along the west wall. Navarro opened the door to their room to signal that they meant no harm. A Mexican officer soon arrived and led the women to a spot along one of the walls where they would be relatively safe. All of the women and children were eventually placed under the protection of an officer and escorted out of the Alamo and into San Antonio, where they were imprisoned in the home of the Musquiz family.

On March 7, Santa Anna interviewed each of the survivors individually. He was impressed with Susanna Dickinson, the young widow of Alamo artillery captain Almeron Dickinson, and offered to adopt her infant daughter Angelina and have the child educated in Mexico City. Susanna Dickinson refused the offer, which was not extended to Juana Navarro Alsbury

Juana Navarro Alsbury

Juana Navarro Alsbury was one of the few Texian survivors of the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution in 1836. As Mexican forces entered her hometown, San Antonio de Bexar, on February 23, Alsbury's cousin by marriage, James Bowie, brought her with him to the Alamo Mission so that he...

 for her son who was of similar age.

Santa Anna ordered that the Tejano civilian survivors be allowed to return to their homes in San Antonio. Dickinson and Joe were allowed to travel towards the Anglo settlements, escorted by Ben, a former slave from the United States who served as Mexican Colonel Juan Almonte's

Juan Almonte

Juan Nepomuceno Almonte was a 19th century Mexican official, soldier and diplomat. He was a veteran of the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution...

 cook. Each woman was given $2 and a blanket and was allowed to go free and spread the news of the destruction that awaited those who opposed the Mexican government. Before releasing Joe, Santa Anna ordered that the surviving members of the Mexican army parade in a grand review, in the hopes that Joe and Dickinson would deliver a warning to the remainder of the Texian forces that his army was unbeatable.

When the small party of survivors arrived in Gonzales on March 13 they found Sam Houston

Sam Houston

Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...

, the commander of all Texian forces, waiting there with about 400 men. After Dickinson and Joe related the details of the battle and the strength of Santa Anna's army, Houston advised all civilians to evacuate and then ordered the army to retreat. This was the beginning of the Runaway Scrape

Runaway Scrape

The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight and subsequent hostilities that occurred, as Texan, Tejano, and American settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836....

, in which much of the population of Texas, including the acting government, rushed to the east to escape the advancing Mexican army.

Survivors

Name	Status in the Alamo	|Birth–Death	Horace Alsbury Horace Alsbury Horace Arlington Alsbury was one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred and was also notable for his participation In the siege of San Antonio de Bexar in November–December 1835 and on March 1, 1836, he also accompanied the thirty-two Gonzales, Texas volunteers on their way to the Alamo... , was sent on a scouting mission for the Texian Army.
	Soldier	December 1813 – September 3, 1836	According to his family, Baylor left the Alamo as a courier, probably February 25. He died of complications from wounds suffered at the Battle of San Jacinto Battle of San Jacinto The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen... .
	Civilian noncombatant	unknown	Bettie was a black cook for the garrison. When Mexican troops entered the kitchens, Charlie grabbed a young Mexican officer and threatened to kill him unless the soldiers spared his life and Bettie's. Thomas Ricks Lindley speculated that Bettie was a servant in the Veramendi home, where James Bowie, Juana Navarro Alsbury and Gertrudis Navarro lived.
	Soldier	b. possibly 1818	Brown left as a courier after February 25.
also known as María de Jesús Esparza	Civilian noncombatant	January 11, 1826 – 1899	Castro was the stepdaughter of defender Gregorio Esparza.
	Slave	unknown	When Mexican troops entered the kitchens, Charlie grabbed a young Mexican officer and threatened to kill him unless the soldiers spared his life and Bettie's.
	Soldier	unknown	On February 25, Cruz accompanied Juan Seguin to gather reinforcements.
	Soldier	unknown	He left as a courier.
	Soldier	d. March 27, 1836	Desaque left Bexar to obtain provisions for the garrison about February 22. He died in the Goliad Massacre Goliad massacre The Goliad Massacre was an execution of Republic of Texas soldiers and their commander, James Fannin, by Mexico, reluctantly carried out by General Jose de Urrea.-Background:... .
	Civilian noncombatant	1834–1869	Dickinson was the daughter of defender Almaron Dickinson and his wife Susanna. After the battle, Mexican 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...  offered to adopt her, but Susanna Dickinson refused to give up her child.
	Civilian noncombatant	1814 – October 7, 1883	Dickinson was the wife of defender Almaron Dickinson. After the battle, Santa Anna sent Dickinson and William Barret Travis's slave Joe to Gonzales Gonzales, Texas Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...  to warn the Texan colonists of the dangers of opposing Santa Anna.
	Captain of a company of soldiers	1801 – July 8, 1841	Dimitt left the Alamo on February 23 to gather reinforcements. He was captured by a Mexican raiding party in 1841 and committed suicide after being threatened with execution.
	Civilian noncombatant	d. December 12, 1847	Esparza was the wife of defender Gregorio Esparza, and the mother of Maria de Jesus Castro and Enrique, Francisco, and Manuel Esparza. After the battle she and her children were allowed to return to their home in San Antonio.
	Civilian noncombatant	September 1828 – December 20, 1917	Esparza was the son of defender Gregorio Esparza and Ana Salazar Esparza.
	Civilian noncombatant	1833 – July 1887	Esparza was the son of defender Gregorio Esparza and Ana Salazar Esparza.
	Civilian noncombatant	October 19, 1830 – 1886	Esparza was the son of defender Gregorio Esparza and Ana Salazar Esparza.
	Civilian noncombatant	unknown	Gonzales may have been an elderly relative of Ana Salazar Esparza.
	Soldier	b. about 1810	Guerrero had deserted the Mexican Army to join 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... s in December 1835. When he realized the Texans could not prevail at the Battle of the Alamo, he locked himself in a cell and convinced the Mexican army that he was a prisoner of the Texians.
	Soldier	September 11, 1817 – October 20, 1905	Left as a courier, probably just before the siege began. Although he attempted to return to the garrison, he was chased away by Mexican soldiers.
	Slave of William B. Travis William B. Travis William Barret Travis was a 19th-century American lawyer and soldier. At the age of 26, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army...	b. 1813 or 1815	When the battle commenced, Joe fought alongside Travis. After Travis's death, Joe hid in the chapel. Mexican soldiers assumed him to be a noncombatant.
	Soldier	1782–1839	On February 23, Lockhart and Andrew Jackson Sowell were scouting for provisions when the Mexican army arrived. Fearing that they would be unable to re-enter the Alamo, they went to Gonzales.
	Civilian noncombatant	unknown	Losoya was either the sister or mother of Juana Melton, wife of Alamo quartermaster Eliel Melton, and possibly the mother of defender Toribio Losoya Toribio Losoya José Toribio Losoya, was a former Mexican solder, a Texian military participant in the Siege of Bexar and Battle of the Alamo defender.-Early life and family:... .
	Civilian noncombatant	unknown	Losoya was the son of Concepcion Losoya.
	Civilian noncombatant	unknown	Melton was the wife of Alamo quartermaster Eliel Melton, and either the sister or daughter of Concepcion Loyosa.
	Civilian noncombatant	November 26, 1816 – April 1895	Navarro was the sister of Juana Navarro Alsbury. She entered the Alamo for protection at the invitation of her cousin-in-law James Bowie.
	Soldier	unknown	Nobles left the Alamo with Dimitt on February 23.
	Soldier	August 13, 1817 – March 31, 1887	Oury left the Alamo as a courier on February 29.
	Captain of a company of soldiers	b. 1808	Patton left the Alamo, likely as a courier.
	Civilian noncombatant	March 23, 1835 – October 21, 1918	Perez entered the Alamo with his mother, Juana Navarro Alsbury. Perez was the last living survivor of the Alamo.
	Soldier	May 11, 1785 – 1850	Thirty-five years after the Alamo fell, a reporter penned an account of Rose's story. The article maintained that when Travis realized the Mexican army would likely prevail, he drew a line in the sand and asked those willing to die for the cause to cross the line; Rose was the only man who did not cross. After its publication, several other eyewitnesses confirmed the account, but as Rose was deceased the story can only be authenticated by the word of the reporter, who admitted to embellishing other articles. Rose's escape likely took place between March 3 and March 6.
	Civilian noncombatant	unknown	Three daughters accompanied her into the Alamo. Their names and ages are unknown.
	Slave of James Bowie	unknown	Sam was spared because he was a slave. Historian Walter Lord Walter Lord John Walter Lord, Jr. , was an American author, best known for his documentary-style non-fiction account A Night to Remember, about the sinking of the RMS Titanic.-Early life:...  believed that Sam did not exist and that contemporaries actually meant Ben, a former slave who served as Mexican Colonel Juan Almonte's cook and later guided Susanna Dickinson from San Antonio. Thomas Ricks Lindley speculated that Sam was actually a servant at the Veramendi home, where James Bowie, Juana Navarro Alsbury, and Gertrudis Navarro lived.
	Civilian noncombatant	b. 1809	Saucedo may have accompanied Juana Navarro Alsbury into the Alamo. She left during a three-day armistice.
	Captain of a cavalry company	October 27, 1806 – August 27, 1890	Seguin left on February 25 to recruit reinforcements. After encountering a Mexican patrol he pretended to be an officer in the Mexican army. When he neared the soldiers he spurred his horse and used his knowledge of the terrain to escape.
	Scout	March 4, 1792 – January 12, 1845	Smith first left the Alamo on February 23 with one of Travis's first pleas for help. On March 1 he guided the 32 reinforcements from Gonzales into the Alamo, and left again on March 3 with another message from Travis. He was returning to San Antonio with 25 reinforcements when the Alamo fell.
	Soldier	1800 – September 11, 1842	Left on February 23, possibly as an official courier. He was later killed by members of Mexican General Adrian Woll's Adrián Woll Adrián Woll was a French soldier of fortune and mercenary who served as a general in the army of Mexico during the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War.-Biography:...  force.
	Soldier	June 17, 1815 – January 4, 1883	On February 23, Sowell and Boyd Lockhart were scouting for provisions when the Mexican army arrived. Fearing that they would be unable to re-enter the Alamo, they went to Gonzales.
	Soldier	May 11, 1792 – April 11, 1867	Historians disagree on whether Sutherland was ever present at the Alamo. If he was, he left as a courier on February 23.
	Soldier	1812 – June 1836	Historians disagree on whether Warnell was at the Alamo. The historians who place Warnell in the Alamo believe Warnell either escaped during the battle on March 6 or that he left as a courier. Warnell died in Port Lavaca, Texas Port Lavaca, Texas Port Lavaca is a city in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,248 at the 2010 census. The County had a 3.6% growth which brought the county population to 21,381. The city itself is bringing in more business into the area. It is the county seat of Calhoun County... of wounds incurred either during the final battle or during his escape as a courier.