The Dawn of Battle Morn: The Alamo
It was on the sixth of March, 1836, on a beautiful Sabbath morning at the close of the first week of the month, in the loveliest springtime in Texas, that…
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
“The Dawn of Battle Morn” from Historical Sketch and Guide to the Alamo by Leonora Bennett, 1904.
It was on the sixth of March, 1836, on a beautiful Sabbath morning at the close of the first week of the month, in the loveliest springtime in Texas, that the Alamo fell.
In order to get an intelligent and appreciative understanding of the situation the exercise of a little retrospection is required.
When the battle of the Alamo occurred there were but a few thousand people in all that vast domain embraced within the geographical limits of Texas.
Louisiana was still but a province, St. Louis but a trading post. There was no Chicago. The iron horse had not yet disturbed the slumbers and reveries of the residents of the numerous peaceful valleys of the United States. The telegraph was unknown. There was no Kansas, no Nebraska, no Dakota, no state of California.
Texas was as far removed from American civilization in that day as South Africa is from England at the present time. The nearest settlement worthy the name was two hundred miles from San Antonio. The country was one vast area of prairie and chaparral, the home of the Indian and buffalo, the cayote and cougar. The Alamo was the strongest fortress in the territory, San Antonio the central post of military operations. It being the strongest of them all any help that might come would have to come from weaker stations.
The city was so isolated that it was a kingdom in itself. The traveler would ride day after day without seeing a habitation of any kind, a ranch, a jackal ("hacal") or even a dugout, coming upon San Antonio and its mission settlements out of the depths of the mesquite, a city of the valley and plains, hidden in the mighty pecan and cottonvvoods of the river, isolated and alone.
In the stone church of the Franciscans were grouped a hundred and seventy-seven courageous American pioneers.
Outside were five thousand Mexican soldiers under a tyrannical leader, seeking to break down the protecting barriers of stone and mortar and massacre them all.
From the tablet of memory the present geography and substantial cities and towns and railroads and enterprises of the United States and the great Southwest must be effaced.
Only the Alamo, the little town west of the river, the handful of American defenders and the gaudily-dressed and well-equipped Mexican army without the walls, form the picture upon which the sun rose on that beautiful Sabbath in the Texas springtime, when nature was arrayed in her best garb and the soft air was laden with the delicious perfume of a thousand flowers, the birds warbling their sweet melodies in the leafy bowers of the majestic trees, and the oncoming light of the rising orb of day dispelling the mists of the valley.
It was the hour when the monks would have been at prayer.
The siege had dragged its weary length along partly because Santa Anna had waited for reinforcements. He had learned by the experience of his generals in the field that the Texans were desperate fighters, and that nothing but overwhelming numbers could overcome them. He already had nearly five thousand men, but he waited for the arrival of an additional force ol two thousand more, under command of General Tolza, before beginning his final attack upon the garrison and church. Tolza arrived on the 3d of March, and now an army of seven thousand Mexicans surrounded the Alamo.
On the 5th the commander-in-chief communicated his plans to his generals. Unusual quantities of ammunition were distributed to the troops, and scaling ladders and crowbars were parceled out as a part of the equipment.
During the night of the 5th the troops were assigned their positions and were marched to their respective stands. The Matamoras Battalion was halted on a favorable position near the river. Behind the Alamo General Cos occupied a commanding station with two thousand well-trained troops, among them those he had led out of the mission when the Americans came into its possession, General Tolza's command holding the ground to the south. The attacking troops were under Amat, but Santa Anna was the power behind them all.
Official Orders for Attack
The following official orders governing the attack have been preserved in history:
"The reserves will be composed of the battalion of Sappers and Miners, and the five companies of the Grenadiers of the Matamoras, Jimenes and Aldamas battalions of regulars, and of the Toluca and San Luis battalions of volunteers.
"The reserve will be commanded by the General-in-Chief in person, at the time of making the attack, but these forces will be organized by Col. Don Agustia Amat, under whose control they will remain from this evening, and who will conduct them to the point which will be designated to him at the proper time.
"The first column will be provided with ten scaling ladders, two crowbars and two axes the second will be provided with the same quantity; the third with six, and the fourth with two. The men carrying the ladders will sling their guns over their shoulders, so as to leave them entirely free to place their ladders wherever they may be directed.
"Grenadier and cavalry companies will be supplied with six packages of cartridges to the man, and to the infantry companies four with two extra flints. The latter will be encumbered with neither overcoats, blankets nor anything which will impede the rapidity of their movements. During the day all caps will be provided with chin straps. Corps commanders will pay particular attention to this provision, and are also required to see that the men are provided with shoes, or other covering for their feet.
"The men composing the attacking column will retire to rest at sundown, preparatory to moving at midnight.
"The men not well drilled will remain at their quarters.
"Arms, particularly bayonets, will be put in the best condition.
"When the moon rises the riflemen of the San Luis battallion of volunteers will retire to their quarters, abandoning the points they cover along the line, so as to give them time to put their equipage in readiness.
"The cavalry, under the command of Gen. Don Joaquin Ramirezy y Sesma, will occupy the Alameda, and saddle up at 3 o'clock in the morning. It will be their duty to watch the camp, and prevent the escape of anyone who may attempt to do so.
"The honor of the nation, and of the army, being involved in this contest against the daring foreigners in our front. His Excellency, the General-in-Chief, expects that each man will perform his duty, and contribute his share in securing a day of glory to his country, and of honor to the Federal Government, which knows how to honor the brave men of the army of operations who shall distinguish themselves by performing feats of valor.
Juan Valentine Amador."
"I certify the foregoing to be a true copy.
"Ramon Martines Coro, Secretary."
"A correct translation. David. G. Whiting,
"Translator General Land Office."
N. B.— This order, Becerra said, was issued March 5, 1836, and copied next day.
This was the order given by the President of Mexico, and commander of her armies, to six thousand Mexicans, the elite of the Mexican army, who had been besieging less than two hundred Texans for thirteen days. It speaks for itself.
On March 7th Gen. Santa Anna issued a "Proclamation," in which he speaks of the immolation of the Texans as a matter of justice, and argues that the "Army of Operations" has been marched into Texas for the performance of such deeds.
Within the Alamo the gallant little band of Americans were waiting patiently for the attack they knew would come.
Travis had called them all together, from church and fortress, from barracks and prison, from hospital and kitchen, and had given them his farewell address. This will be found in Historical Sketch No. 1. Then in silence and with determination they repaired to their various stations, prepared to fight to the end, to deal blow for blow, take life for life, and surrender only in the arms of death, never in the hands of the enemy. The roof of the church held their cannon. Behind its embattlement they would fight to the last. If driven from the azotea they would seek the refuge of the heavy-walled rooms, and there in hand-to-hand struggle would hold on to the death.
There were no dissenters. But one man, whose name was Rose, preferred to try to escape, and he lowered himself beyond the rear wall, battered down in previous conflicts. History gives no record of his fate. It could not have been better than that of the patriots who preferred to stay, the surrounding limits being overrun with Mexican soldiers on the lookout for escaping Texans.
The Battle Begins
With the approach of dawn the Mexicans began their closing in. On every side the brilliant equipment of a gaudy troop glittered in the darting streaks of the rising sun. From out the trees they came. From out the chapparal their forms rose like a mighty swell. Behind the Alamo General Cos, whom the Americans had paroled on honor, led his regiments of Montezumas directly under the walls on the East. Santa Anna came from across the river, behind the main body of the army, urging them on with all the wickedness of a demon and the skill of a trained chieftain.
As the sun rose over the hill to the East the sharp rattle of musketry was reverberating through the bush on every side, while the heavy boom of the Mexican cannon from across the river and to the South of the fortress echoed and re-echoed down the valley and to the river's springs. A perfect rain of shot and shell, a hail of minnie balls and musketry lead, kept sweeping the parapets of the Alamo. The Mexicans pressed on, coming closer and closer, drawing their lines tighter and tighter on every side of the fortress, the little band of Americans biding their time.
Travis and Crockett and Bonham were calm. Bowie was below on his dying couch, violently ill with pneumonia, but from his bed he encouraged the men and calmed the women. Occasionally the sharp crack of a Texas rifle told the story of the death of a Mexican officer, the patriots reserving their fire for the commanders and until the scaling of the walls, which they knew was to come, should have been begun.
Finally this moment arrived. The Mexicans pressed their men forward. The outer walls were attacked with rams and cannon and were easily broken down. The enclosure outside the church swarmed with the dark-skinned Latins, bent on the destruction of the hated race within, and the time had come for action by the patriots which should count for all they might be able to give.
"Boom," "boom," sung their cannon from parapet and corner into the swarm below. "Crack," "crack," "ping," "ping," sang their rifles, and before their galling fire of ball and slug a thousand Mexicans went to earth.
The Texans fought like fiends. Their carnage was awful. Every man was an expert with his gun and employed it to the best advantage.
As the ladders were thrown against the outer walls of the church and barracks and Mexican heads would show themselves on the upper rounds, above the wall, "crack" would go a rifle or a pistol, and down would fall a swarthy form.
But their numbers made their losses little felt, and under the prodding of their commander's swords and the wild excitement of the conflict others would mount the ladders and get to the top, only to fall upon the stricken form of a comrade who had already gone the way.
The cannon were no longer of service on either side.
The conflict had resolved itself into a personal encounter between man and man.
The Texans shot as long as they had ammunition, and then clubbed the Mexicans down the walls, until exhausted by their struggles and laborious physical efforts they began to fall and the Mexicans saw their victory.
Over the walls they climbed and fell. With clubbed rifles, pistol butts and knives the Americans kept up the struggle. The plaza of the monastery was full of the dark-skinned fighters by this time, the American force being diminished moment by moment.
It was an awful carnage, a slaughter whose equal has not been recorded since the day of Thermopylæ.
Under a fierce ramming and barring the Northeast corner of the monastery gave way, and through the break Castrillion forced his men. The plaza was filled in a minute, the court was packed, and the North doors of the church, into which the Americans had backed for their final stand, was attacked by a tremendous power of men and rams. The openings were blocked by sacks of sand, behind which dodged the remaining patriots, picking off a man here and there with leaden balls, nails and scraps of iron, with which they were compelled to load their guns.
The doors were blown in with powder blasts and then, after the fearful struggle, which had now lasted more than two and a half hours, Mexican and Texan faced each other in the burying ground of the Alamo, the main body making their final stand in the auditorium of the chapel.
Again the Mexicans brought their cannon into play, so dreadful had been the havoc the Americans wrought among them. The front doors were attacked with grape and canister, yielding at last to a terrific bombardment, which cost the Americans many a life. Into the chapel the Mexicans madly rushed, over the bodies of patriots killed by the grape and canister fire they fell. The Americans were now attacked in their final chamber of death from behind and in front, and there they fought as never men fought before, until every heart had been stilled in death and every voice had been forever hushed.
With pistol-butt and rifle, knife and bayonet, with stones and pieces of iron, they fought their death-fight, overwhelmed and crushed by force of numbers, no one asking for quarter, none offering it to the other.
The confusion was awful, the carnage frightful. The crack of firearms, the shouts of defiance and groans of pain, the death agonies of the wounded, the screaming of the women, the loud reverberation of the cannon without, fired in upon the gallant handful which were left, what an awful contrast within the sacred walls of the old Franciscan chapel with the service to God which was solemnized on the Sabbath of the monks and their converts!
Down into the very jaws of death climbed the Mexicans who scaled those walls and swarmed the yards, and into the jaws of death madly rushed the bronze soldier who dared his way to the chapel. It cost a life to enter a room, even the bedridden Bowie fighting from his couch and yielding only when he fell back upon his pillow with his life shot out.
History tells that Travis was killed early in action and that Crockett, Evans and Bonham directed the fighting as long as further directing was to be done. Under a dying injunction from the leader Captain Evans tried to blow up the magazine at the final moment, that he and his compatriots might perish by their own act and not by the hand of the invader, but as he was touching the light to the fuse he fell, pierced to the heart by a Mexican bullet, and the carnage went on.
Crockett was among the last to die. His "Betsy" made many a Mexican rue the day he had joined the army, and when there was no more time to load he clubbed many a foe to death with his gun before he finally succumbed, his body bullet-ridden for minutes before he gave up the struggle.
It was well along toward the middle of the forenoon before the conflict ended. The Americans had fought against insurmountable odds, and had held out against an enemy of tremendous strength, vicious cunning and revengeful head and heart. Every inch of ground had been contested. For every Texan's life the Mexicans had paid thirteen fold.
The church was a morgue and charnel house. Mexicans and Americans were lying in clusters and piles in every corner and angle. The floors of the smaller rooms were actually covered by the lifeless forms of the combatants, while cords of bodies of brown and white were clumped before the main doorway, over which the hordes who had broken through in the final struggle had had to climb.
In his report to the commander-in-chief a Mexican officer wrote as follows:
"An order was given me to gather our dead and wounded. It was a fearful sight. Lifeless soldiers covered the ground surrounding the Alamo, and were heaped in piles inside the fortress. Blood and brains covered the ground and spattered the walls. Ghastly faces met our eyes as we moved them with despondent hearts. Our loss in front of the Alamo was represented by two thousand killed and three hundred wounded. The killed received their wounds in the head, neck and shoulders, rarely below that. The firing of the besieged was terribly accurate, and when a Texan rifle was leveled on a Mexican he was considered as good as dead. All this indicated bravery and cool self-possession of the men engaged in a hopeless conflict with an enemy numbering more than thirty to one. They inflicted on us a loss ten times greater than they sustained."
The victory of the Alamo was dearly bought. A hundred and seventy-six Americans had held them at bay for twelve days of siege, and, finally, though every man among them was massacred, this gallant little band had sold their lives at the expense to their foe of two thousand killed and three hundred wounded. For every American life there had been expended more than thirteen Mexican soldiers, the flower of the Dictator's splendid army.
The siege and battle of the Alamo caused intense excitement throughout the country and aroused the interest of the United States in the cause of Texas. Officially the great republic did not interfere. But individually thousands of her citizens hurried to the frontier and took up arms with the Texans, excited to action by the courage and fortitude of the heroes of the Alamo, whose immolation made Texas free.
Monument Erected and Destroyed
The Alamo is the monument of the State to the heroes who met death within. It is held as a State Museum, sustained under contract with the State by the city of San Antonio.
To an Englishman named Nagle belongs the honor of having originated the first statue to those who defended the fortress, which unfortunately was destroyed by fire when the capitol at Austin burned, in 1880, and which has not been reproduced.
It stood at the entrance to the capitol ; on its four sides, above the inscriptions, being carved the names of Travis, Bowie, Crockett and Bonham.
On the North front of the statue was the following inscription:
"To the God of the Fearless and Free Is Dedicated This Altar of the Alamo."
On the West front it read :
"Blood of Heroes Hath Stained Me. Let the Alamo Speak, That Their Immolation Be Not Forgotten."
On the South front it read:
"Be They Enrolled With Leonidas in the Host of the Mighty Dead."
On the East front there was the following inscription:
"Thermopylae Had Her Messenger of Defeat, But the Alamo Had None."
Perhaps at some future time, may be even within the life of the present generation, Texas will again build a monument and place it at the front of her splendid capitol building, which shall be commemorative of the deeds done in the body by the gallant heroes who died so nobly in the cause of liberty and independence.
Following the siege and battle of the Alamo the bodies of the Americans who had been so ruthlessly slain therein were taken to where the German Catholic church now stands, on East Commerce street, and there were burned. Under orders from Santa Anr Colonel Mora sent out his troops to bring in wood, and alternate layers of cord wood and bodies were piled into a great funeral pyre, from which the smoke rose on high as incense, lost in the great canopy as it wended its way heavenward. Later the bones of the martyrs were gathered and buried by Colonel Juan N. Seguin.
And thus ended the most memorable struggle recorded in all the history of America. Many deeds of valor have immortalized her citizens. Many cour- ageous conflicts mark the pathway of American civilization. The Revolutionary War and the unfortunate struggle between the States witnessed many a deed of heroism, many a sacrifice that should not have been. But to the Alamo remains the glory of the most undaunted bravery, the credit of the most courageous heroism, and the shame of the blackest massacre that American history records. Its significance was great, its achievement worthy the best effort of the ablest inscriber of history's best deeds. The visitor cannot but be profoundly impressed as he stands within the sacred walls of this ancient church and fortress, and to him the lives and work of the heroes who fell in its defense cannot but be a glorious inspiration.
Bennett, Leonora. Historical Sketch and Guide to the Alamo. James T. Roney & Co., 1904.
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