The Saga Of The Texas Independence Trail Region

Part 4
~~ The Oncoming Tide ~~

After the crushing defeat of the Mexican army at San Antonio and the Alamo mission, Col. William B. Travis and a small band of Texians stayed in San Antonio through the Christmas season, allowing the men who had families to return home. The small group had provisions to carry them through for a couple of months until Gen Sam Houston returned with his army to relieve Travis.

Travis and his men did well through December of 1835 and January of 1836. But on
February22, 1836, Travis and his men, saw coming toward them a oncoming tide of Mexican soldiers prepared for battle.

Travis and his men retreated to the Alamo, which was the stronghold of the town. Here, they prepared for the attack, which they knew they would have to meet.

On February 24, Gen. Santa Anna’s army began the first assault on the Alamo. Col. Travis immediately dispatched a letter to his comrades across Texas and it read :

“To the People of Texas and all Americans in the World:
Fellow citizens and compatriots—I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual bombardment and a cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of Patriotism, of everything dear to the American character, to come to our aide with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to 3—4 thousand within 4—5 days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own Honor and that of his County.
Victory or Death “.
William Barrett Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt

Eloquent, indeed, was this death cry from Travis; but alas, it brought no response as he and his men had hoped. Day by day Santa Anna drew his lines closer about the Alamo. Day by day the Mexican forces increased until they numbered 6,000 men.

On March 1, 32 brave souls from Gonzales broke through the enemy lines and joined Travis, bringing the total to 182 men inside the Alamo walls. The siege continued. Then on March 3, before sunset, Santa Anna withdrew his army some distance from the Alamo.

The weary Texians, who for 10 days had sustained the siege, sank down for a few moments of rest. Travis seemed to know this was the lull before the last fury of the storm that was to destroy them all.

He ordered his men to stand in Parade in single file. Then followed one of the grandest scenes History records.

In a voice trembling with emotion, Travis told his men that death was inevitable, and showed that he had detained them thus long, hoping for reinforcements.

When Travis had finished, the silence of the grave reigned over all. Drawing his sword, Travis drew a line in the sand in front of his men and cried, ”Those who wish to die like Heroes and Patriots, come over to me”. There was no hesitation! In a few moments, every soldier, save one, had crossed. Even the wounded dragged themselves across the fatal mark. Col Jim Bowie, who was too ill to get off his cot, asked for help in crossing the line, and it was done in an instant.

That night, Santa Anna called a council of war. He decided to storm the Alamo between midnight and sunrise on March 6. Special orders were given to all troops, and the Officers were instructed to take the fort at any sacrifice.

Shortly after midnight, the final assault on the Alamo began. The Texians fought gallantly, but the overwhelming odds began to take its toll. Colonel Travis was one of the first to fall with a ball in his head, Davy Crockett perished, Jim Bowie was killed on his cot, Bonham shot down, the three sons of Anson Taylor from Round Point, just south of Anahuac, were cut down, one by one.

The courtyard ran with blood, but the conflict did not cease until every one of the noble band lay a bleeding sacrifice upon his country’s altar. Death and Santa Anna held the place.

The Commander of the Alamo, William B. Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett , George & Jim and Edward Taylor, all 181 gallant defenders were killed. Santa Anna ordered their bodies be piled like cordwood and burned. As the body of Jim Bowie was brought out of the Alamo, General Cos remarked, “such a brave man like him doesn’t deserve to be burned like a dog, but never mind, throw him in the fire”.

On March 2, 1836, a gray frigid day in the small town of Washington, close to the banks of the Brazos river, inside a small, cold, unfinished building, a group of 59 Texans, representing the people of Texas, voted into the existence the sovereign nation, the Republic of Texas. This act became known as the Convention of 1836.

Continued in Part 4 ~~ The ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES ~~~

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