San Antonio de Béxar had long been an important place in Texas. Not only was it home to a military garrison, it was a crossroads and center of commerce. By the early 1830s, the town’s population had grown to nearly 2,500. With the outbreak of revolt in Coahuila y Tejas, San Antonio even resumed its old role as the capital of Texas. San Antonio experienced two sieges and battles during the Texas Revolution.
The first, the Siege and Battle of Béxar, began in late October 1835 after the incident in Gonzales when angry colonists and Tejanos followed the retreating Alamo Company back to San Antonio in the early stage of the revolution. When the Texian siege of the town stalled, soldier and empresario Ben Milam rallied a force on December 5 that fought its way into the center of San Antonio. After a bloody five-day, house-to-house fight, the Texians took control of the town and Mexican General Martin Perfecto de Cos surrendered the town and the public property it held. Thus, the rebels gained control of San Antonio and the Alamo.
On February 23, 1836, after a grueling winter march, General Antonio López de Santa Anna and his army arrived at San Antonio to put down the frontier rebellion. The Texian rebels withdrew across the San Antonio River into the safety of the old fortified mission known as the Alamo. As Mexican forces surrounded the Alamo, Santa Anna raised the red flag indicating that no quarter would be given to the traitors inside the mission. Alamo commander William Barret Travis began writing desperate pleas for help, including the famous “Victory or Death” letter sent out on February 24:
"Commandancy of the The Alamo
Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836
To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World--
Fellow Citizens & compatriots--
I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna — I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & 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, & 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 & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch — The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country — Victory or Death.
William Barrett Travis.
Lt. Col. comdt.
P. S. The Lord is on our side — When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn — We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis" -(Travis Letter-"Victory or Death", 1)
While the Alamo was besieged, the provisional Texas government organized at Washington-on-the-Brazos. On March 2, the convention declared independence and the Republic of Texas was born, at least on paper. The garrison of the Alamo showed its support for independence from Mexico by sending its own delegates to the convention.
While they were unaware that Texas had declared independence, the roughly 200 Alamo defenders stayed at their post waiting on help from the settlements. Among them were lawyers, doctors, farmers and a former congressman and famous frontiersman from Tennessee named David Crockett. While the youngest was 16 and the oldest defender was Gordon C. Jennings, age 56, most defenders were in their twenties. Most were Anglo, but there were a handful of native Tejano defenders as well. Legendary knife fighter and land speculator James Bowie was in command before falling ill and sharing duties with Travis.
Several women and children were inside the Alamo, including 15-month-old Angelina Dickinson. Just before the final battle, Travis placed his ring around her neck, knowing she would likely be spared. One of the last messages from the Alamo was a note from Travis asking friends to take care of his young son Charles.
The final attack came before dawn on March 6, 1836. As Mexican troops charged toward the Alamo in the pre-dawn darkness, defenders rushed to the walls and fired into the darkness. Travis raced to the north wall but was soon killed. Bowie was most likely killed in his bed, while reports differ as to Crockett’s death. Many believe Crockett survived the initial attack but was put to death by Mexican soldiers soon afterward. (Alamo, 3)
Mexican soldiers breached the north wall and flooded into the compound. The fierce battle centered on the old church, where defenders made a last stand. The battle lasted about 90 minutes. After the battle – which Santa Anna described as a “small affair” – Mexican troops continued their march to the Texian settlements while rebel forces retreated toward Louisiana. By April 21, Texian General Sam Houston noticed Santa Anna had split his forces and backed himself into a corner along Buffalo Bayou near present-day Houston. Houston seized the opportunity and attacked, surprising the larger Mexican force in the Battle of San Jacinto. In a bloody, 18 minute battle, Texian forces defeated the Mexican troops, captured Santa Anna and achieved independence to the cries of “Remember the Alamo!”
Upon the signing of the Treaty of Velasco on May 14, 1836 the revolution was over and the Republic of Texas began in earnest. However, the conflict between Texas and Mexico would continue for the next 10 years. Texian forces under Captain Juan N. Seguín entered San Antonio on June 4, 1836. Seguín reported that 18 Mexican soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant Don Francisco Castañada, were present when he entered the town. Relations between the two groups were peaceful and Castañada and his men withdrew two days later. The Texians evacuated the town several weeks later once it became clear that the new government was unable to send reinforcements.
A commonly held misconception regarding the Texas Revolution is that Sam Houston’s victory over Antonio López de Santa Anna ended the fighting between Mexico and Texas. In reality, Mexico refused to give up its claim to Texas as well as the additional territory claimed by the new government of the Republic of Texas. Cross-border invasions — or “expeditions” — conducted by both sides further inflamed hostilities. Both nations, however, lacked the money or resources necessary to hand the other a decisive and final defeat. On March 5, 1842, Colonel Ráfael Vásquez and 700 Mexican soldiers invaded San Antonio. Although in control of the town for only a few days, Vásquez reminded Texans that Mexico still laid claim to Texas. Shocked by the audacity of the raid, Texans readied themselves for war against their old foe, Santa Anna.
Unsatisfied with the results of the Vásquez invasion, Santa Anna ordered a larger raid on San Antonio. On September 11, 1842, General Adrian Woll and 1,200 Mexican troops surprised the town and captured 52 prisoners, many of whom were prominent men who had recently arrived to participate in district court hearings. On September 22, despite his orders to the contrary, Woll allowed himself to be drawn into a battle with the Texans who had gathered along Salado Creek just east of town. He retreated to the Rio Grande the following day, taking his important prisoners with him.
After almost 10 years as an independent republic – and despite being war-weary and nearly bankrupt – Texas was still a coveted prize for annexation by the United States. By February 1845, to stave off British involvement in Texas, the U.S. Congress authorized a resolution to join Texas to the United States. After a year of negotiations and diplomatic wrangling, Texas entered the Union on December 29. On February 19, 1846, Texas accepted the agreement in a ceremony in Austin at which Anson Jones, last President of Texas, declared “The Republic of Texas is no more.”
Many in both countries correctly believed that annexation would transform what had been Texas’ war with Mexico into the United States’ war with Mexico. Accordingly, since October, U.S. troops had been gathering in San Antonio and throughout the Texas border region in expectation of a military response from Mexico. Their presence, among other factors, would trigger the U.S. Mexican War in 1846 that would forever define Texas and the American Southwest.
The first, the Siege and Battle of Béxar, began in late October 1835 after the incident in Gonzales when angry colonists and Tejanos followed the retreating Alamo Company back to San Antonio in the early stage of the revolution. When the Texian siege of the town stalled, soldier and empresario Ben Milam rallied a force on December 5 that fought its way into the center of San Antonio. After a bloody five-day, house-to-house fight, the Texians took control of the town and Mexican General Martin Perfecto de Cos surrendered the town and the public property it held. Thus, the rebels gained control of San Antonio and the Alamo.
On February 23, 1836, after a grueling winter march, General Antonio López de Santa Anna and his army arrived at San Antonio to put down the frontier rebellion. The Texian rebels withdrew across the San Antonio River into the safety of the old fortified mission known as the Alamo. As Mexican forces surrounded the Alamo, Santa Anna raised the red flag indicating that no quarter would be given to the traitors inside the mission. Alamo commander William Barret Travis began writing desperate pleas for help, including the famous “Victory or Death” letter sent out on February 24:
"Commandancy of the The Alamo
Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836
To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World--
Fellow Citizens & compatriots--
I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna — I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & 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, & 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 & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch — The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country — Victory or Death.
William Barrett Travis.
Lt. Col. comdt.
P. S. The Lord is on our side — When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn — We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis" -(Travis Letter-"Victory or Death", 1)
While the Alamo was besieged, the provisional Texas government organized at Washington-on-the-Brazos. On March 2, the convention declared independence and the Republic of Texas was born, at least on paper. The garrison of the Alamo showed its support for independence from Mexico by sending its own delegates to the convention.
While they were unaware that Texas had declared independence, the roughly 200 Alamo defenders stayed at their post waiting on help from the settlements. Among them were lawyers, doctors, farmers and a former congressman and famous frontiersman from Tennessee named David Crockett. While the youngest was 16 and the oldest defender was Gordon C. Jennings, age 56, most defenders were in their twenties. Most were Anglo, but there were a handful of native Tejano defenders as well. Legendary knife fighter and land speculator James Bowie was in command before falling ill and sharing duties with Travis.
Several women and children were inside the Alamo, including 15-month-old Angelina Dickinson. Just before the final battle, Travis placed his ring around her neck, knowing she would likely be spared. One of the last messages from the Alamo was a note from Travis asking friends to take care of his young son Charles.
The final attack came before dawn on March 6, 1836. As Mexican troops charged toward the Alamo in the pre-dawn darkness, defenders rushed to the walls and fired into the darkness. Travis raced to the north wall but was soon killed. Bowie was most likely killed in his bed, while reports differ as to Crockett’s death. Many believe Crockett survived the initial attack but was put to death by Mexican soldiers soon afterward. (Alamo, 3)
Mexican soldiers breached the north wall and flooded into the compound. The fierce battle centered on the old church, where defenders made a last stand. The battle lasted about 90 minutes. After the battle – which Santa Anna described as a “small affair” – Mexican troops continued their march to the Texian settlements while rebel forces retreated toward Louisiana. By April 21, Texian General Sam Houston noticed Santa Anna had split his forces and backed himself into a corner along Buffalo Bayou near present-day Houston. Houston seized the opportunity and attacked, surprising the larger Mexican force in the Battle of San Jacinto. In a bloody, 18 minute battle, Texian forces defeated the Mexican troops, captured Santa Anna and achieved independence to the cries of “Remember the Alamo!”
Upon the signing of the Treaty of Velasco on May 14, 1836 the revolution was over and the Republic of Texas began in earnest. However, the conflict between Texas and Mexico would continue for the next 10 years. Texian forces under Captain Juan N. Seguín entered San Antonio on June 4, 1836. Seguín reported that 18 Mexican soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant Don Francisco Castañada, were present when he entered the town. Relations between the two groups were peaceful and Castañada and his men withdrew two days later. The Texians evacuated the town several weeks later once it became clear that the new government was unable to send reinforcements.
A commonly held misconception regarding the Texas Revolution is that Sam Houston’s victory over Antonio López de Santa Anna ended the fighting between Mexico and Texas. In reality, Mexico refused to give up its claim to Texas as well as the additional territory claimed by the new government of the Republic of Texas. Cross-border invasions — or “expeditions” — conducted by both sides further inflamed hostilities. Both nations, however, lacked the money or resources necessary to hand the other a decisive and final defeat. On March 5, 1842, Colonel Ráfael Vásquez and 700 Mexican soldiers invaded San Antonio. Although in control of the town for only a few days, Vásquez reminded Texans that Mexico still laid claim to Texas. Shocked by the audacity of the raid, Texans readied themselves for war against their old foe, Santa Anna.
Unsatisfied with the results of the Vásquez invasion, Santa Anna ordered a larger raid on San Antonio. On September 11, 1842, General Adrian Woll and 1,200 Mexican troops surprised the town and captured 52 prisoners, many of whom were prominent men who had recently arrived to participate in district court hearings. On September 22, despite his orders to the contrary, Woll allowed himself to be drawn into a battle with the Texans who had gathered along Salado Creek just east of town. He retreated to the Rio Grande the following day, taking his important prisoners with him.
After almost 10 years as an independent republic – and despite being war-weary and nearly bankrupt – Texas was still a coveted prize for annexation by the United States. By February 1845, to stave off British involvement in Texas, the U.S. Congress authorized a resolution to join Texas to the United States. After a year of negotiations and diplomatic wrangling, Texas entered the Union on December 29. On February 19, 1846, Texas accepted the agreement in a ceremony in Austin at which Anson Jones, last President of Texas, declared “The Republic of Texas is no more.”
Many in both countries correctly believed that annexation would transform what had been Texas’ war with Mexico into the United States’ war with Mexico. Accordingly, since October, U.S. troops had been gathering in San Antonio and throughout the Texas border region in expectation of a military response from Mexico. Their presence, among other factors, would trigger the U.S. Mexican War in 1846 that would forever define Texas and the American Southwest.