ENGLISH WORLD - Fort Alamo - The History of the ALAMO - Thirteen Fateful Days in 1836

Fort l' Alamo - l'Histoire de l'ALAMO - Treize jours fatidiques en 1836
Crédits photo 2014 : Gérard Pocquet https://ainsiparlaitlart.blogspot.com

THE GIRLS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS

present

Fort Alamo - The History of the ALAMO - Thirteen Fateful Days in 1836

The Historical Past of the Alamo

Originally called Mission San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo housed missionaries and Native Americans converted to Catholicism for nearly seventy years. Its construction began at the current site in 1724. In 1793, Spanish authorities secularized the five missions in San Antonio and distributed their lands to the Native Americans living there. These men and women continued to cultivate the lands that were now theirs and contributed to the growth of the San Antonio community.

In the early 19th century, the Spanish army stationed a cavalry unit at the old mission, which the soldiers called the Alamo (Spanish for "the poplar") in honor of their hometown, Alamo de Parras, in the province of Coahuila. The commander of the post established the first hospital in Texas in a building called Long Barrack. During the ten-year Mexican War of Independence, the Alamo housed both revolutionaries and royalists. Spanish military personnel, followed by rebels, and finally the Mexican army took turns at the Alamo until the Texas Revolution.

San Antonio and the Alamo played a crucial role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835, Ben Milam led a group of Texian and Tejano volunteers against the Mexican troops stationed in the city. After five days of fierce fighting, they forced General Martín Perfecto de Cós and his soldiers to surrender. In turn, the victors occupied the Alamo, already fortified by Cós's men before the battle, and strengthened its defenses. On February 23, 1836, the arrival of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's army at the outskirts of San Antonio nearly took them by surprise. Undeterred, the Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders resisted Santa Anna's army for 13 days.

William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo, sent messengers to call for aid from other cities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a group of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend has it that Colonel Travis, having little hope of seeing reinforcements arrive, drew a line in the ground and invited the men who wanted to stay and fight to cross it; all did so except one. In the opinion of the defenders, the Alamo was the key to Texas's defense system, and they were ready to sacrifice their lives rather than surrender to General Santa Anna. Among the defenders were Jim Bowie, known for his knife-fighting skills, and David Crockett, the famous frontiersman and former Congressman from Tennessee.

The final assault took place on the morning of March 6, 1836. Before dawn, columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the darkness and headed towards the walls of the Alamo. Several assaults were repelled thanks to the cannon and various weapons from the Alamo. However, after regrouping, the Mexicans breached the walls and invaded the mission's compound. Once inside, they turned the captured cannons toward the barracks and church and blew open the barricaded doors.

The desperate fighting continued until the complete annihilation of the defenders. By dawn, the battle was over, and Santa Anna entered the Alamo to survey the site of his victory.

While the controversy over the events surrounding the siege of the Alamo continues, there is no doubt about what this battle symbolizes. The whole world remembers the Alamo as a heroic fight against superior forces in which men made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in the name of Freedom. That is why the Alamo is still regarded as sacred ground and the sanctuary of Texas liberty.

"If we are victorious, this country is ours. It is vast and fertile, and it will richly reward us for our hard work. If we are defeated, dying for freedom and humanity should not frighten us. Our rifles at hand – and they are good weapons – we know what awaits us and we are ready." 

Daniel Cloud

December 26, 1835

On the way to San Antonio

The Heroes of the Alamo

Abamillo Juan, TX

Duvalt Andrew, Irlande

Allen Robert, VA

Espalier Carlos, TX

Andross Miles Deforrest, VT

Esparza Gregorio, TX

Autry Micajah, NC

Evans Robert, Irlande

Badillo Juan A., TX

Evans Samuel B., NY

Bailey Peter James, II, KY

Ewing James L., TN

Baker Isaac G., AR

Fauntleroy William Keener, KY

Baker William Charles M., MO

Fishbaugh William

Ballentine John J., PA

Flanders John, MA

Ballantine Richard W., Écosse

Floyd Dolphin Ward, NC

Baugh John J., VA

Forsyth John Hubbard, NY

Bayliss Joseph, TN

Fuentes Antonio, TX

Blair John, TN

Fuqua Galba, Al,

Blair Samuel, TN

Garnett William, VA

Blazeby William, Angleterre

Garrand James W., LA

Bonham James Butler, SC

Garrett James Girard, TN

Bourne Daniel, Angleterre

Garvin John E.

Bowie James, KY

Gaston John E., KY

Bowman Jesse B., TN

George James

Brown George, Angleterre

Goodrich John C., VA

Brown James, PA

Grimes Albert Calvin, GA

Brown Robert

Guerrero José María, TX

Buchanan James, AL

Gwynne James C., Angleterre

Burns Samuel E., Irlande

Hannum James, PA

Butler George D., MO

Harris John, KY

Cain John, PA

Harrison Andrew Jackson, TN

Campbell Robert, TN

Harrison William B., OH

Carey William R., VA

Hawkins Joseph M., Irlande

Clark Charles Henry, MO

Hays John M., TN

Clark M.B., MS

Heiskell Charles M., TN

Cloud Daniel William, KY

Herndon Patrick Henry, VA

Cochran Robert E., NH

Hersee William Daniel, Angleterre

Cottle George Washington, MO

Holland Tapley, OH

Courtman Henry, Allemagne

Holloway Samuel, PA

Crawford Lemuel, SC

Howell William D., MA

Crockett David, TN

Jackson Thomas, Irlande

Grossman Robert, PA

Jackson William Daniel, KY

Cummings David P., PA

Jameson Green B., KY

Cunningham Robert, NY

Jennings Gordon C., PA

Darst Jacob C., KY

Jimenes (Ximenes) Damacio, TX

Davis John, KY

Johnson Lewis, Pays de Galles

Day Freeman H.K.

Johnson William, PA

Day Jerry C., MO

Jones John, NY

Daymon Squire, TN

Kellog John Benjamin, KY

Dearduff William, TN

Kenney James, VA

Dennison Stephen, Angleterre ou Irlande

Kent Andrew, KY

Despallier Charles, LA

Kerr Joseph, LA

Dewall Lewis, NY

Kimbell George C., PA

Dickinson Almeron, TN

King William Philip, TX

Dillard John Henry, TN

Lewis William Irvine, VA

Dimpkins James R., Angleterre

Lightfoot William J., VA

Les Héros de l'Alamo (suite)

Lindley Jonathan I, IL.

Sewell Marcus L., Angleterre

Linn William, MA

Shied Manson, GA

Losoya Toribio, TX

Simmons Cleveland Kinlock, SC

Main George Washington, VA

Smith Andrew H.

Malone William T., GA

Smith Charles S., MD

Marshall William, TN

Smith Joshua G., NC

Martin Albert, RI

Smith William H.

McCafferty Edward

Starr Richard, Angleterre

McCoy Jesse, TN

Stewart James E., Angleterre

McDowell William, PA

Stockton Richard L., NJ

McGee James, Irlande

Summerlin A. Spain, TN

McGregor John, Écosse

Summers William E., TN

McKinney Robert, TN

Sutherland William DePriest

Melton Eliel, GA

Taylor Edward, TN

Miller Thomas R., TN

Taylor George, TN

Mills William, TN

Taylor James, TN

Millsaps Isaac, MS

Taylor William, TN

Mitchusson Edward F., VA

Thomas B. Archer M., KY

Mitchell Edwin T.

Thomas Henry, Allemagne

Mitchell Napoleon B.

Thompson Jesse G., AR

Moore Robert B., VA

Thomson John W., NC

Moore Willis A., MS

Thruston John M., PA

Musselman Robert, OH

Trammel Burke, Irlande

Nava Andrés, TX

Travis William Barret, SC

Neggan George, SC

Tumlinson George W., MO

Nelson Andrew M., TN

Tylee James, NY

Nelson Edward, SC

Walker Asa, TN

Nelson George, SC

Walker Jacob, TN

Northcross James, VA

Ward William B., Irlande

Nowlan James, Angleterre

Warnell Henry

Pagan George

Washington Joseph G., KY

Parker Christopher Adam

Waters Thomas, Angleterre

Parks William, NC

Wells William, GA

Perry Richardson, TX

White Isaac, AL, ou KY

Pollard Amos, MA

White Robert

Reynolds John Purdy, PA

Williamson Hiram James, PA

Roberts Thomas H.

Wills William

Robertson James Waters, TN

Wilson David L., Ecosse

Robinson Isaac, Écosse

Wilson John, PA

Rose James M., OH

Wolf Anthony

Rusk Jackson J., Irlande

Wright Claiborne, NC

Rutherford Joseph, KY

Zanco Charles, Danemark

Ryan Isaac, LA

-, John, un esclave affranchi

Scurlock Mial, NC

This list bears the names of the men whose deaths during the defense of the Alamo have been confirmed.

The Alamo Past and Present

The Alamo in 1836

In 1836, the Alamo occupied the grounds and buildings of the former Mission San Antonio de Valero and had been used as a military post since the early 19th century. Prior to the 13-day siege, the Texians had barricaded the openings and set up at least nineteen cannons.

- The north wall (Travis's position)

- The Palisade (Crockett's position)

- Long Barrack (infantry and artillery barracks)

- Low Barrack (Bowie's quarters)

- Location of the 18-pound cannon

- Alamo headquarters

- Church (ammunition storage, barracks, artillery position)

- South redoubt (earthworks)

- North redoubt (earthworks)

The Alamo Today

Today, the gardens and buildings of the Alamo present nearly 300 years of history to visitors in a serene setting.

- The Sanctuary. It is dedicated to the memory of the men who fell during the defense of the Alamo.

- Long Barrack Museum. Opened in 1968, it was built with stones from the original barracks and houses the Clara Driscoll projection room as well as ancient artifacts found at the Alamo site.

- Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) Library. Inaugurated in 1950, this library contains books and documents relating to the history of Texas.

- Museum and Gift Shop. Built in 1936, this building houses a museum on Texas history as well as a souvenir shop.

- Alamo Hall. This former San Antonio firehouse now serves as a conference room.

- Cavalry Courtyard. At the time of the siege, this was the site of the cattle pen.

- Acequia. This canal was part of the irrigation system that served the Spanish communities established along the San Antonio River.

- Surrounding walls and arcade. The walls and arcades that surround the Alamo were constructed starting in 1920.

1. Rest Area. Restrooms, drink vending machines, and benches are available at the back of the garden.

- Convent Courtyard. The well dates back to the mission period.

- Wall of History. This outdoor exhibition, inaugurated in 1997, traces the history of the Alamo from its founding as a mission to the present day.

L'Alamo

P.O. Box 2599, San Antonio, Texas 78299

Tél : (210) 225-1391 Télécopie : (210) 229-1343

www.TheAlamo.org

Photo de couverture : Sue Flanagan

Traduit de l'américain par Elisabeth Jollrain

Lettre de Daniel Cloud et toutes illustrations avec la gracieuse permission de la Bibliothèque des Pilles de la République du Texas.