The stand at the Alamo lasted 13 days. It was considered by most to be the single bloodiest battle of the Texas Revolution.
A group of 189 men were stationed a the Alamo, along with an estimated 13 to 20 women and children. Included in this brave group was William Travis, who said the famous words, "victory or death!" Jim Bowie, who said in a note to Sam Houstin, "I'd rather die in these ditchs then give them up to the enemy." Davy Crockett, the back woods hero.
Combined these men led 186 others on a stand for the freedom of Texas from Mexico
The Alamo was over two football fields long (600ft) and half a football field wide(150) the Alamo had walls surronding it and also had two barracks and by the south wall was a church.
The Texans had 18 cannons and enough ammunition for less then a month. To add to that, they only had 189 men holding a fort fit for 700. The Texans were badly outnumbered, facing a Mexican force of 8,000 men. Roughly 600 cavalry and 60 cannons. The defenders of the Alamo were bombared day and night with no stop. The Texans weren't able to get any rest and most didn't even sleep. During the 12 days of cannon fire not one man lost his life. On the eleventh day it is said that Travis gathered his men in the plaza, drew a line in the dirt and asked if they wanted to stay and fight to cross the line. All did except for one a French Man by the name of Louis Rose. He left that night.
On the twelveth day after the seige, the cannon fire stopped, letting some of the Texans relax. However, on the morning of the thirteenth day, March 6th 6 am the Mexican General ordered a full out attack the Texans. Lookout sighted enemy movement at 6:15. A mexican solider screamed, "Long live Santa Anna!" and the attack from all sides began. The Texans ran to there posts and shot the oncoming Mexicans down. The fighting was the most fierce at the north wall, where the four way attack combined. It was pure madness. Mexican killed Mexican, the wounded stepped on by their fellow soldiers. So far only one Texan died and that was Travis.
The tide of battle soon changed when the north wall collapsed, killing numerous Mexicans and Texans alike. The Mexicans charged in, just to be shot down. For every Mexican killed, ten more seemed to take their place. Fighting was terrible in the upper barracks where the texans dug in and shot from windows. The Mexicans charged in and there was bloodly hand to hand combat. Rifle butt against bayonett, rock against knife, fist against fist. Soon the fighting went to the low barracks where Jim Bowie was resting, they knocked down the door and killed him. Davy Crockett and his men went on top of the Alamo Church and made one final stand which lasted roughly 35 minutes until ethier they surrouded or died. One man actually took his own life by jumping off the church with a little girl in his arms.
By 8:00 am, the battle was over. All 189 Texans were killed. It is estimated that 1000 mexicans also lost there lives and some 600 were wounded.
This is dedicated to the Men who fought and died at the Alamo.
May their sacrifice never be forgotten.
