The Alamo and Goliad

1
The Alamo and Goliad

• A Clash of Armies
• P. 224 - 228

2
A Missed Opportunity

• When General Cos surrendered San Antonio to the
  Texans in December 1835, Santa Anna was furious.
• Santa Anna set out for Texas to punish the
  rebels.
• Because of distance, it took sometime for him to
  reach Texas.
• Texans did not use their time wisely.
• Texas drifted without strong leadership, and did
  not use the time to train soldiers.
• The army became smaller and smaller.

3
Texas Forces Are Divided

• The Texan forces were divided because no single
  leader was in control.
• General Sam Houston, who was made commander of
  the regular Texas army and the volunteers,
  attempted to bring the various military units
  together but met with little success.
• Many volunteers refused to recognize General
  Houstons authority because they were used to
  electing their own commanding officers.
• There was little communication or coordination
  between the scattered units.

4
Santa Anna Moves North

• General Santa Anna moved his army of about 6,000
  northward.
• Most Texans expected Santa Anna to wait until
  spring to move northward, but marched in the
  winter.
• Santa Anna divided his army Santa Anna and 3,000
  men headed towards San Antonio the remainder
  went toward Goliad under General Jose Urrea.

5
Travis Arrives at the Alamo

• In February, colonel Neill left the Alamo because
  of family illness and Bowie became commander of
  the volunteer soldiers.
• Travis became commander of the regular army
  soldiers.
• The two men served as joint commanders of the
  garrison because the volunteers did not want to
  take orders from a regular officer. (about 170
  men)

6
Travis Arrives at the Alamo

• Bowie became ill and passed command of the Alamo
  to William B. Travis.
• Travis believed Santa Anna would not enter Texas
  until spring, but a party of Texan scouts
  reported that Santa Annas army had crossed the
  Rio Grande.
• Despite this report, Travis continued to believe
  he would have more time.
• Travis was surprised when the advance wing of
  Santa Annas army arrived at San Antonio.
• Texans barely made it inside the walls of the
  Alamo before the Mexican cavalry.

7
In Defense of the Alamo

• Alamo advantages
• The walls of the old mission were 2-3 feet thick
  and 12 feet high
• 21 cannons fortified, or strengthened, the
  mission.
• Alamo weaknesses
• The wall surrounding the main plaza was
  incomplete. A fence of sticks and dirt was built
  to close the gap.
• The mission was too large for Travis to defend
  with the few troops he had.

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9
Travis Declares Victory or Death

• In one of Traviss letters he wrote one of the
  finest statements of courage in American history,
  when he wrote Victory or Death.
• On March 1, Travis received 32 volunteer
  reinforcements from Gonzales.
• Santa Anna ordered the red flag of no
  quartering to be flown, meaning he did not
  intend to take any prisoners in the coming battle.

10
Facing certain Death

• As Mexican armies encircled the Alamo, it became
  apparent to Travis that he had no chance for
  victory.
• It was clear Santa Anna had most of the
  advantages.
• Travis explained to his troops that remaining in
  the Alamo meant certain death.
• According to legend, Travis took his sword and
  drew a line on the ground. All those who wished
  to stay and defend the Alamo were asked to cross
  over the line. According to the story, all but
  one of the men crossed over the line. (Louis
  Moses Rose, a native of France, stayed).

11
Texan Troops Give Ground

• Santa Anna ordered the attack on the Alamo to
  begin at dawn.
• At about 500 am of March 6, the battle began.
• 5 columns of troops moved forward to attack the
  Alamo at three different points.
• The Texans put up a stubborn fight, but the 3rd
  assault successfully pushed back the Texans and
  allowed Santa Annas men to storm over the walls.
  
• By 800 am of March 6 the battle for the Alamo
  was over.

12
Texan Troops Give Ground

• It is not known how many people were killed at
  the Alamo because all the bodies were burned.
• Bowie, Travis, and Crockett were among those who
  were killed.
• Mexican losses in the battle also are uncertain.
• Santa Anna ordered that all defenders of the
  Alamo be put to death, but released all women and
  children.

13
A Battle Cry for Victory

• Some believe Texas would not have won its
  independence without the Battle of the Alamo.
• The courage of Travis and his forces made Texans
  more determined than ever to win their
  independence.
• The battle also encouraged U.S. citizens to help.
• Remember the Alamo! became the battle cry of
  Houstons army.