Battle of the Alamo
Alamo Mission, San Antonio de Béxar, Mexican Texas
What happened
Texian defenders led by William B. Travis and James Bowie, including Davy Crockett, held the Alamo mission in San Antonio de Béxar against the Mexican army of General Antonio López de Santa Anna. For 13 days the Mexican army surrounded and bombarded the Alamo, while Travis sent out letters begging for help. Only a few reinforcements arrived, and before dawn on March 6, 1836, Mexican troops stormed the mission and the Alamo fell.
Why it matters
Result: Mexican victory. Leaders: Antonio López de Santa Anna / Manuel Fernández Castrillón against William Travis / James Bowie. Why it matters: The loss became a rallying cry for the Texians. Weeks later, at San Jacinto, they shouted 'Remember the Alamo!' as they won.
What came next
Santa Anna spared Susanna Dickinson, her baby daughter Angelina, and Joe, a man enslaved by Travis, and sent several noncombatants to Gonzales to spread word of the Texian defeat. Today the Alamo is a museum and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Did you know?
Travis's most famous letter was addressed 'To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World' and ended with the words 'Victory or Death'.
Timeline
- 1718Spain founds the Mission San Antonio de Valero.
- 23 February 1836Santa Anna's army arrives and the siege begins.
- 24 February 1836Travis writes his appeal 'To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World'.
- 6 March 1836Mexican troops storm the Alamo before dawn.
- 21 April 1836Texians win at San Jacinto.
- 5 July 2015The Alamo becomes part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.