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Chapter 1 The stage is set
I will drive those Anglo bastardos from our lands if it's the last thing I do!- Presidente Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna 1833
Looks like we can win this after all.- Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis upon seeing the Refugio reinforcements 1836
Heard you fellas could use some extra rifles.- Davie Crockett 1836
Chapter 1. The stage is set
When Santa Anna crushed the federalists forces at Zacatecas he expected to be welcomed back in Mexico City as a hero, making his mark in Mexican history on the same level as George Washington for the Americans. Upon learning of the Battle of Gonzales on October 23rd, 1835, Santa Anna saw this as his chance to rid Mexico of all American settlers and prevent future rebellions by example. Taking several loans from the Catholic Church, Santa Anna created the Mexican Army of Operations, a force of 6,000 soldiers to defend Mexico's claim of Tejas. He also issued the Tornel decree, a rather controversial document that decreed that all foreign volunteers were acting as pirates and shall be treated as such, under International laws of 1836 this meant that American volunteers would be executed instead of taken as prisoners; this decree however would come to haunt the Mexican government's image in the coming war. Had the Mexicans acted quickly then San Antonio could've been reached before reinforcements to the Alamo arrived and the rebellion crushed. Unfortunately for Mexico, numerous problems arose for it's fledgling army. At 1835 there were only 2500 professional Mexican soldiers in the army, this meant the remaining 3500 had to be trained quickly during the journey. In addition supplies were low and Mexico's poor economy meant that many civilian servants would come to quit the campaign due to delayed pay. Additionally the Mexican army had many soldaderas (women and children of the soldiers) coming along the campaign, reducing the already limited supplies. In order to make up for low amounts, Santa Anna ordered all homes in the path of the army to be ransacked and burned to the ground in the name of the state. These actions would push many Tejanos and neutral Texans into the Independence camp. Upon arriving in Satillo, Coahuila; Santa Anna would split his army into three: Urrea and 1500 men would travel to Goliad (Santa Anna still beilieved the fort was occupied by Fannin), Filisola and 2000 would advance west on the Camino Real, and Santa Anna along with 2000 would march straight to San Antonio de Bexar. Santa Anna's reasoning for this was to avenge the defeat of General Cos in December, who was in fact his brother-in-law, bringing great shame to el presidente and his family name. Little did Santa Anna know that he was sowing the seeds of Mexico's defeat.
Presidente Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, self-proclaimed "Napoleon of the West".
On the Texan side preparations were being made for the grand stand of the Alamo. While Houston thought defending the mission was a folly he sent William Travis along with 30 men of the regular army to help give the Texans a fighting chance, if not to convince them to abandon the mission, arriving on February 3rd. In addition, famous frontiersman Davie Crockett would reinforce the Alamo on Febuary 8th along with 65 other riflemen from the border states, all of whom were fighting for freedom and the promise of a new land. The biggest help to the Alamo came in the form of James Fannin and his 500 soldiers who came on February 15th. With the size of the garrison nearly tripled, along with 9 canons and additional amounts of food and gunpowder, plans were being made to withstand the upcoming onslaught of Santa Anna. Command of the Alamo was divided between James Neill of the garrison forces, James Bowie and the southern volunteers, along with James Fannin and the men of the former Matamortos expedition. These three men would be known as the "James Triumvirate," and would muster all forces to create numerous earthworks, cannon positions, and catwalks to serve as riflemen positions. The volunteers were extensively trained and the forces were divided into three shifts for security and manning the walls. By the time the Mexican army arrived on February 23rd, the Texan forces would number 732 from further volunteers. Each man was ready to die for their new country, a resolve that would be tested in the coming weeks.
View attachment 283867
Men of the Texan army as portrayed in The Alamo (1961)
Looks like we can win this after all.- Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis upon seeing the Refugio reinforcements 1836
Heard you fellas could use some extra rifles.- Davie Crockett 1836
Chapter 1. The stage is set
When Santa Anna crushed the federalists forces at Zacatecas he expected to be welcomed back in Mexico City as a hero, making his mark in Mexican history on the same level as George Washington for the Americans. Upon learning of the Battle of Gonzales on October 23rd, 1835, Santa Anna saw this as his chance to rid Mexico of all American settlers and prevent future rebellions by example. Taking several loans from the Catholic Church, Santa Anna created the Mexican Army of Operations, a force of 6,000 soldiers to defend Mexico's claim of Tejas. He also issued the Tornel decree, a rather controversial document that decreed that all foreign volunteers were acting as pirates and shall be treated as such, under International laws of 1836 this meant that American volunteers would be executed instead of taken as prisoners; this decree however would come to haunt the Mexican government's image in the coming war. Had the Mexicans acted quickly then San Antonio could've been reached before reinforcements to the Alamo arrived and the rebellion crushed. Unfortunately for Mexico, numerous problems arose for it's fledgling army. At 1835 there were only 2500 professional Mexican soldiers in the army, this meant the remaining 3500 had to be trained quickly during the journey. In addition supplies were low and Mexico's poor economy meant that many civilian servants would come to quit the campaign due to delayed pay. Additionally the Mexican army had many soldaderas (women and children of the soldiers) coming along the campaign, reducing the already limited supplies. In order to make up for low amounts, Santa Anna ordered all homes in the path of the army to be ransacked and burned to the ground in the name of the state. These actions would push many Tejanos and neutral Texans into the Independence camp. Upon arriving in Satillo, Coahuila; Santa Anna would split his army into three: Urrea and 1500 men would travel to Goliad (Santa Anna still beilieved the fort was occupied by Fannin), Filisola and 2000 would advance west on the Camino Real, and Santa Anna along with 2000 would march straight to San Antonio de Bexar. Santa Anna's reasoning for this was to avenge the defeat of General Cos in December, who was in fact his brother-in-law, bringing great shame to el presidente and his family name. Little did Santa Anna know that he was sowing the seeds of Mexico's defeat.
Presidente Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, self-proclaimed "Napoleon of the West".
On the Texan side preparations were being made for the grand stand of the Alamo. While Houston thought defending the mission was a folly he sent William Travis along with 30 men of the regular army to help give the Texans a fighting chance, if not to convince them to abandon the mission, arriving on February 3rd. In addition, famous frontiersman Davie Crockett would reinforce the Alamo on Febuary 8th along with 65 other riflemen from the border states, all of whom were fighting for freedom and the promise of a new land. The biggest help to the Alamo came in the form of James Fannin and his 500 soldiers who came on February 15th. With the size of the garrison nearly tripled, along with 9 canons and additional amounts of food and gunpowder, plans were being made to withstand the upcoming onslaught of Santa Anna. Command of the Alamo was divided between James Neill of the garrison forces, James Bowie and the southern volunteers, along with James Fannin and the men of the former Matamortos expedition. These three men would be known as the "James Triumvirate," and would muster all forces to create numerous earthworks, cannon positions, and catwalks to serve as riflemen positions. The volunteers were extensively trained and the forces were divided into three shifts for security and manning the walls. By the time the Mexican army arrived on February 23rd, the Texan forces would number 732 from further volunteers. Each man was ready to die for their new country, a resolve that would be tested in the coming weeks.
View attachment 283867
Men of the Texan army as portrayed in The Alamo (1961)
- Kaiser Chris
- Word Count: 750