My Online Etsy Store Travels to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas

The Church at The Alamo

All of my knowledge of The Alamo is based on what I have read in books and seen in the movies.  The Alamo has been a frequent subject for movies since the earliest days of the medium.  Most of my understanding of The Alamo has to do with the famous battle there of The Alamo, but I also learned how it fits into a broader historical context of the area.  With its ruined church, The Alamo is the perfect visual backdrop to tell tales of patriotism, courage, and duty. I had to see it while I was in San Antonio. 

Heroes of The Alamo

The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo, killing all of the Texan defenders and two of my childhood heroes--Davey Crockett and Jim Bowie.

According to many accounts of the battle, between five and seven Texans surrendered. Santa Anna demanded the immediate execution of the survivors.. Weeks after the battle, stories circulated that Crockett was among those who surrendered. However, Ben, a former American slave who cooked for one of Santa Anna's officers, maintained that Crockett's body was found surrounded by "no less than sixteen Mexican corpses". Historians disagree on which version of Crockett's death is accurate.

Bowie became very ill sometime in late February. Historians disagree what illness he suffered from. It may have pneumonia or tuberculosis. It was a debilitating illness, and Bowie was confined, delirious, to his bed. According to legend, Travis drew a line in the sand and told the men to cross it if they would stay and fight. Bowie, too weak to walk, asked to be carried over the line. After two weeks of siege, the Mexicans attacked on the morning of March 6. The Alamo was overrun in less than two hours and all of the defenders were captured or killed, including Bowie. Bowie reportedly died in his bed, still feverish. 

The Alamo is a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For this reason, the Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.