Alamo, Fort,
A structure in
San Antonio, Tex.; erected for a mission building in 1744; used for religious purposes till 1793, when, on account of the great strength of its walls, it was converted into a fort.
In the struggle by
Texas for independence, the most sanguinary and heroic conflict of the border warfare, which merged into the
Mexican War, occurred there — a conflict which for years was familiar to
Americans as the Thermopylae of
Texas.
The fort was about an acre in extent, oblong, and surrounded by a wall 8 or 10 feet in height by 3 feet in thickness.
A body of Texans, under the command of
Col. William Barrett Davis, retired into the fort early in 1836, upon the dismantling of
San Antonio by
Sam Houston, and then
Santa Ana, with a large force, invested the fort Feb. 23.
The
Texans numbered only 140 men, while the
Mexican army was 4,000 strong.
The enemy took possession of the town, then erected batteries on both sides of the river, and for twenty-four hours bombarded the fort, during which, it is stated, over 200 shells were discharged into it, but without injuring a man. The attacking forces made several vigorous assaults on the fort.
but were repulsed in each case.
The commander of the beleaguered garrison sent many couriers to
San Felipe for assistance, but only a handful of men succeeded in reaching the fort.
As the siege progressed provisions grew scarce, and the defenders of Alamo, worn by the labors of the defence and broken in health, although not in spirits, were hourly becoming less able to hold their posts.
March 6 a combined attack was made by the entire forces of the besiegers; twice they assaulted the posts, and were as often driven back with heavy loss by the
Texan troops.
A hand-to-hand encounter ensued, which the
Texans, few and feeble.
were unable to sustain, and but six of their devoted band remained.
Among this number was the famous
Davy Crockett.
who. with the others, surrendered, under promise of protection; but when they were taken before
Santa Ana were, upon his command.
instantly cut to pieces,
Crockett having been stabbed by a dozen swords.
Other barbarities were committed, such as collecting the bodies of the slain in the centre of the
Alamo, and, after horribly mutilating the remains, burning them.
Only three persons, a woman, a child, and a servant, were spared.
A few weeks after
Santa Ana was routed with immense loss, and himself captured in the
battle of San Jacinto, where the
Texans raised the war cry, “Remember the
Alamo!”
It is estimated that during the siege of Fort Alamo the
Mexican losses aggregated over 1,600 men. For many years, indeed until the close of the
Mexican War, the
Texans only needed to be roused to deeds of valor by the recollection of the massacre at the
Alamo, and dearly did the neighboring republic pay for the butchery by
Santa Ana and his forces.
Alaska
