WHAT DO YOU KNOW about the Alamo?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW about the Alamo? Much has been written about the Alamo. The battle of the colonists and the revolutionaries in the Mexican state of Tejas against the Mexican General Santa Anna’s army is one of the great defeats that has been romanticized and made legendary. So what does one say that hasn’t already been said? Jason Stanford, along with two others, has written a book entitled Forget the Alamo, the rise and fall of the American myth. To hear what he had to say I viewed a webinar. He discussed some Alamo myths that we have come to celebrate and enjoy. Labeling the tale “a white supremacy myth,” he did conclude that one can still enjoy Christmas without believing in Santa Claus. Stanford is an educator. As best I could tell without reading his book, the intent or theme is to debunk the white heroes and save the brown children from being uncomfortable in Texas History classes. He cited three Alamo heroes, all tall, intelligent and instinctive warriors. Davy Crockett, an early populist politician, briefly served in the U.S. congress. Stanford identified him as “an illegal immigrant” coming to Texas from Tennessee, “but not a bad guy.” Jim Bowie “was a bad guy” according to Stanford but he was accepted into Spanish society and at the same time respected by the tough men of the frontier. William Travis, a washed up Alabama lawyer, an eloquent letter writer and in Texas a field officer, “was not good but wanted to be a hero.” (1) The author reported good reviews for the book. I invite you to read the book and make your own determination. _____________________________________________________________________________ The Alamo is San Antonio’s primary tourist attraction. It has an impressive history but today only two of the original buildings remain. Imagine a large three acre mission compound with numerous buildings including a church, a convent and quarters for priests and Indians. After Mexico gained its independence from Spain, the compound became a garrison for Mexico’s General Cos and his men who were sent to defend against the settlers’ growing eagerness for self-governance and who were chaffing under rules from the Mexican government officials living in the state of Tejas. There was house to house fighting in the village of Bexar.(2) The citizen soldiers, both Tejanos and Texians, (3) bested Gen. Cos’s men. In December of 1835, the general surrendered, was made to promise never to return to take up arms and was sent back to Mexico. Sam Houston wanted to demolish the vacant Alamo and abandon the town. James Bowie and other leaders disagreed knowing that Bexar (San Antonio) was central to the Tejano population. There was disarray and chaos in Texjas. The farmers were convinced the war was over and returned to their fields while young men with a love of violence were arriving in Texas to fight. At Washington on the Brazos, leaders were writing a Declaration of Independence. Santa Anna, furious with his brother-in-law Gen. Cos, was approaching with his army from Mexico to put down the rebels. Sam Houston was appointed General but there was no money for an army or a government. When Santa Anna arrived at the Alamo, he raised a red flag indicating “No Quarter” meaning no one would be spared. After 3 days of bombardment, the walls were breached on March 6, 1836. The tactics had been standard Napoleonic-attack-in-columns so the Mexican army paid dearly for their victory loosing 1600 men with 500 wounded. (4) Several Mexican women and children survived the siege and slaughter and a black slave named Joe and a white woman, Susannah Dickinson were left to tell the story. Carole Sikes 12/2021 Ref. Two Texas Histories: Big Wonderful Thing by Stephen Harrigan and Lone Star by T.R. Fehrenbach (1)Quotes were made by the author of Forget the Alamo, Jason Sanford in a Nov.18, 2021 webinar. (2)This was the name for the Texas settlement that is now San Antonio, Texas. (3)Tejanos were settlers from Mexico, Texians were anglo settlers. (4)Alcalde Ruiz made this tally of deaths that later was disputed by the Mexicans.