Talk:Battle of the Alamo/Google translation-Spanish language Battle of the Alamo

Batalla de El Álamo Spanish language version.

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The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 - March 6, 1836) was a crucial military conflict in the Texas Revolution consisted in a siege of 13 days, since its inception on February 23 to the end assault 6 March 1836, and faced the army of Mexico, headed by President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, against a militia of Texas secessionists, mostly American settlers (Mexicans naturalized) in San Antonio de Bejar, in the Mexican province Coahuila and Texas (now Texas, United States). All belligerents in favor of the Republic of Texas died, except for two people, which inspired many Americans-adventurers-and settlers Texans to join the army of Texas; desirous of revenge from the cruelty shown by Santa Anna during the siege, the Texans defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, ending the revolutionary movement.

Several months earlier, the Texans had taken all federal troops out of Coahuila and Texas; about 100 Texans then garrisoned at the Alamo. The Texian force grew slightly with reinforcements eventually led by co-commanders James Bowie and William Barret Travis. On February 23, approximately 1500 Mexican soldiers marched into San Antonio de Bexar, currently sits place San Antonio, as the first step in a campaign to retake Texas. Over the next 12 days, the two armies involved in several skirmishes with minimal casualties. Aware that his garrison could not resist the attack of such a large force, Travis wrote several letters asking for more men and supplies, but only less than 100 reinforcements arrived.

At dawn on March 6, the Mexican army advanced on the Alamo; after rejecting two attacks, Texans were unable to defend a third party. Because Mexican soldiers scaled the walls, most Texas soldiers fled into the interior buildings. Defenders could not reach these points were slain by the Mexican cavalry in attempting to escape. It is likely that a small group of Texans (between five and seven of them) had surrendered; yet these were executed instantly. The most accounts from eyewitnesses reported between 182 and 257 dead Texans, while most historians of the Alamo agree that there were between 400 and 600 Mexican soldiers wounded or killed in combat. In the end, many noncombatants were sent to Gonzales to spread the word of the Texian defeat. The news sparked panic and the Texian forces -in the settlers most of the new Republic of Texas fled the advancing Mexican army.

In Mexico, the battle has often been overshadowed by the events of the war against the United States from 1846 to 1848. In the nineteenth century, in Texas, the Alamo complex gradually became know as the site of the battle. The Texas Legislature purchased the land and buildings in the early twentieth century and designated the Alamo chapel Shrine of Texas. The Alamo is currently the most popular tourist site Texas.1 also has been the subject of numerous non-fiction works from 1843. Most Americans, however, they are more familiar with the myths spread by many of the films and television adaptations, 2 among which the TV miniseries Disney Davy Crockett in the 1950s and the film The Alamo John Wayne, released in 1960 are included.

Background

Under the leadership of President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the Mexican government began to withdraw from a federalist model. The national policy is getting closer to a dictatorship, which was evident in events such as the revocation of the 1824 Constitution, in early 1835, which prompted the latest instances of many federalist revolt, leading to a climate of violence would suffer in several Mexican states, including the border region of Mexican Texas. [3] Texas was then populated largely by immigrants from the United States who were accustomed to an already broad federalist government individual rights , so that made it feel dissatisfaction with the shift towards centralism Mexico. [4] Furthermore, even in a situation of dissatisfaction with previous attempts to purchase Texas from the United States, [5] the Mexican authorities blamed much of the Texas population was from the United States, most of whom had made little effort to adapt to Mexican culture. [6]

In October 1835, the Mexican and Texan troops clashed in the first official battle of the Texas Revolution. [7] Determined to stop the rebellion, Santa Anna began assembling an army to repress, called the "Army of Operations in Texas "with which to restore order in the Texas territory. [8] Most of his soldiers were conscripts, [9] and a large number had been recruited against their will. [10]

Systematically Texans defeated the Mexican troops already in Texas. The last group of Mexican soldiers in the region, led by Santa Anna's brother, General Martin Perfecto de Cos surrendered on December 9 after the siege of Bejar. [7] At this point, the Texan dominated army newcomers to the region, mainly immigrants from the United States. Many settlers of Texas, not yet prepared for a long campaign, returned home. [11] Angered by what he considered a US interference in the affairs of Mexico, Santa Anna led a resolution branding as "pirates" to foreigners They were fighting in Texas. In this same resolution also prohibits the taking of prisoners of war pirates called they were captured, they would be executed immediately [11] [12] Santa Anna reiterated this message in a strongly worded letter to the then President of the United States, Andrew Jackson. ; This letter was not widely distributed, and it is unlikely that most Americans recruits serving in the Texas Army were aware that there would be prisoners of war. [13] By the end of that year, the Texas forces had expelled virtually all Mexican soldiers who were in that region. [7] with the aim of recovering Texas, Mexico City Santa Anna began assembling an army [14]

The strength of the Alamo

The fall of the Alamo, painted by Theodore Gentilz in 1844, represents the complex of the Alamo from the south. The "Lower Barracks' chapel and the wooden palisade that is connected to the front.

When Mexican troops left San Antonio de Bexar (San Antonio Current), Texans established a garrison soldiers in the Mission of the Alamo, an old Spanish religious mission that had become a fortress improvisada.15 Described by Santa Anna as " one, hardly worthy of the name "15 The Alamo had been designed to withstand an attack by native tribes, but not that of an irregular army artillery fortification equipada.16 The complex is spread over 3 acres (1.2 hectares), with almost 400 meters on the perimeter of the defensa.17 had an inner square bordered to the east by the chapel and to the south by building a plant known as "Cuartel de Baja" 18 and a wooden palisade stretched between these two edificios.19 The two floors of "Long Barracks" stretched north of the chapel, 18 while in the northern corner of the eastern wall were an enclosure of cattle and poultry for caballos.20 The walls They are surrounding the complex were at least 84 cm thick, with a range between 2.7 and 3.7 meters altura.21 Note 1

To compensate for the lack of firing ports, the Texan engineer Green B. Jameson passageways built to enable the defenders to shoot from the walls; however, this method left to the handles with the upper body exposed and desprotegida.17 Mexican forces had left 19 guns, including one 18 pounds, Jameson installed along the walls; the latter boasted the commander of the Texas forces, Sam Houston, the Texans could "whip 10 invaders per soldier with his artillery" 22

Texan garrison was understaffed with few supplies, and had fewer than 100 soldiers to 6 January 1836.23 Because of this, Colonel James C. Neill, acting commander of the Alamo, wrote to the provisional government that "if any Once there was a dollar here, I am not aware of it "23 Neill ordered troops and supplies, stressing that it was likely that the garrison could not resist a long siege four días.23 24 The Texas government was in a turmoil policy at that moment, so he could not provide much ayuda.25 Note 2 Four different men said they had been given command over the entire army; Note 3 January 14, Neill approached one of them, Sam Houston, to assist in gathering supplies, clothing and ammunition.

Prelude to battle

James Bowie arrived at the Mission of the Alamo on January 19, 1836, with orders to destroy the complex. However, later he became co-commander of the place.

Houston did not have the number of men needed to mount a defense exitosa.26 Instead, he sent Colonel James Bowie, accompanied by 30 men, to remove the artillery from the Alamo and destroy the complejo.25 Note 4 However, Bowie He could not transport artillery from the Alamo and the garrison had no draft animals needed for such an operation. Soon after, O'Neill persuaded him to that location guarded strategic importance notable.27 In a letter to Governor Henry Smith, Bowie argued that "the salvation of Texas depends largely on keeping Béjar out of enemy hands. This place serves as the military frontier guard, and I was in possession of Santa Anna, no strength to repel their march to Sabine "28 Note 5 The document ended with the following:" Colonel Neill and I have come to the solemn resolution that would rather die in these ditches instead of giving them the enemy "28 In addition, Bowie wrote to the provisional government, asking" men, money, rifles and gunpowder barrel "28 However, only a few reinforcements were authorized ; cavalry officer William Barret Travis Bejar arrived with 30 men on February 3 of that year. Five days later, he arrived a small group of volunteers, including Davy was Crockett.29

On February 11, Neill left the Alamo, possibly to recruit reinforcements and gather as much suministros.30 Before leaving, he transferred the command to Travis, the Army officer rank higher in the guarnición.28 Volunteers representing a large majority in the garrison, they did not want to Travis as its new líder.Nota 6 But they chose Bowie, which had a reputation as a fighter strongly as his comandante.30 31 32 Bowie was notorious for causing havoc Bejar one occasion when he had drunk, so to relieve discomfort caused by such an event, he decided to share the military command with Travis.30 31 32

While Texans struggled to find men and supplements, Santa Anna continued to recruit people for the procedure cam in San Luis Potosi, 33 by the end of 1835, his army had 6019 soldados.34 Instead of advancing along the coast where supplements and reinforcements could be transported easily through the ocean, Santa Anna ordered his men to march towards Béjar, the political center of Texas and site of the defeat of General Cos.34 Mexican troops began to march northward to end of December 1835.34 Taking the long haul, officers trained the men in the journey; many of the new recruits do not even know how to use the crosshairs of their weapons, while many others were opposed to shooting from the shoulder due to the strong butts given by the armas.35

Progress was slow; there were not enough mules to transport all supplements, and many of the drivers, all of them civilians, resigned after payments were delayed. Moreover, the many-women camp followers and children who followed the army consumed the already scarce resources that were counted. Therefore, they had to reduce food rations to soldados.36 Finally, on February 16, they crossed the river Bravo.14 Note 7 At that time, the temperature in Texas reached very low levels; It has notion that, in that month, fell approximately 15-16 inches (38-41 cm) of snow. In addition to hypothermia, dysentery and assault troops Comanches were the other factors that end up affecting Mexican soldiers once started their journey through Texas.37 The next night, the Mexican army camped in the Nueces River, located 119 miles (192 km) of Béjar.38 Previously, Texans had set fire to the bridge crossing over nuts, forcing Mexicans to build a makeshift structure with branches and mud in the rain. The delay was brief, and on 19 February, the army camped on the banks of the Frio River, 68 miles (109 km) from Béjar. The next day troops arrived in the city of Hondo, Texas, less than 50 miles (80 km) from its final destination. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led the Mexican army for Texas in 1836.

Meanwhile, on February 16, the settler Ambrosio Rodriguez warned Travis, who had a close friendship, their relatives residing further south of Bejar had warned him that Santa Anna was going to that same day lugar.39 40 The Captain Juan Seguin listening Texan Travis army service, Blas Herrera, said the Mexican troops had crossed the Rio Grande. By then, several rumors circulating about the imminent arrival of Santa Anna, however Travis chose to ignorarlos.40 41 At the edge of night, a council of war he settled in the Alamo to discuss these rumores.40 Travis was convinced that the Mexican army would not reach Béjar until March next year, thinking it would await the arrival of the spring season, when the weather does not prove them as desfavorable.42 43 Furthermore, it assumed that Santa Anna had not yet started muster troops for a possible invasion of Texas until he had learned of the defeat of Cos. However, unaware that, in fact, Santa Anna had begun planning this invasion months before the siege of Béjar.44 Although the Texas disbelief afternoon February 20 Bejar many people began to pack their belongings to evacuate the place. The next day fifteen of the Texans gave volunteers in El Álamo.42 Seguin advised him to Travis to release the men so that they could help evacuating their families, who were in the same way that Santa Anna would take to reach to Béjar.45

Two days later, on February 21, Santa Anna and his troops reached the banks of the Medina River, located 25 miles (40 km) of Béjar.46 47 There, dragons were parked under General Joaquin Ramirez and Sesma, that afternoon had reached 47 anterior.46 absence noticed the proximity of the Mexican army, most of the garrison of the Alamo, but ten people joined the people of Béjar in a fiesta.48 Note 8 After hearing that celebration, Santa Anna ordered Ramirez and Sesma immediately forfeited unprotected fortress while carrying out the party, but the raid had to wait due to sudden rains that had been falling in those days, making the river Medina out invadeable.47 The next night, Mexican troops camped at the Lion Creek, 8 miles (13 km) west of Béjar.49

The siege

Site

At dawn on February 23, residents of Béjar began to flee their homes for fear of the imminent arrival of the Mexican army. Although not convinced reportedly Travis stood a soldier in the bell tower of the Cathedral of San Fernando-the highest location in the city, to be alert for any force enemiga.48 then approached, sent the Captain Philip Dimitt and Lieutenant Benjamin Noble to act in plays and investigate the site where the troops were stationed mexicanas.50 approximately 2:30 a. . m, 50 the bell rang; the soldier who was there said he had seen some lights distancia.48 Because Noble Dimitt and never returned, Travis sent Dr. James SutherlandNota 9, and John W. Smith on horseback to explore the área.48 50 Smith and Sutherland recognized some members of the Mexican cavalry to 1.5 miles (2 km) from the city, and immediately returned to Béjar.48 Similar to the flag was hoisted at the Military Plaza de Béjar to challenge the Mexican troops. The two stars in the central bar representing Coahuila and Texas as two separate states.

By then, they had about 154 soldiers Texans at the Alamo, while 14 other effective elements were in the hospital.50 We know with certainty that all the above were not prepared for the arrival of the Mexican troops, and even not even have food in misión.49 Because of this, they rushed to herd cattle in El Alamo and steal food from some abandoned houses cercanas.49 the end, they got enough beef and grains to survive for at least a month in the garrison. Moreover, in the fortress had a lot of Mexican muskets captured, and more than 19 000 cartridges paper, however, only had a limited supply of gunpowder for artillería.51 Several members of the garrison were given the task to dismantle artillery workshop Antonio Saez and carry lots of material to the Álamo.50 Some few members who had been living in the city brought their families with them once they got reports of possible site in the Alamo. Among them were Almaron Dickinson, who brought his wife and young daughter Susanna Angelina and Bowie, who was accompanied by premiums his late wife, Gertrudis Navarro and Juana Navarro Alsbury and young son Alsbury- .52 Note 10

While most of the garrison was preparing to attack, few Texans remained in Bejar and raised a flag in the middle of the Military Plaza. According to historian JR Edmondson: "The flag was a variation of the Mexican tricolor flag, with two stars, representing the separate states of Coahuila and Texas, and that stood in the center bar white" 51 About an hour later , Bejar arrived in the first part of the Mexican cavalry, commanded by Colonel José Vicente Miñón.53 54 By now, the Texans lowered their flag and carried the Álamo.51

As the Mexican cavalry approached, Travis sent a man named Johnson to ask him Colonel James Fannin, who lives 100 miles (161 km) south, to send reinforcements immediately. Then Travis Smith and Sutherland sent you to take a message to the mayor of Gonzales, 70 miles (113 km) of ahí.55 The note read: "The enemy is in sight. We want men and provisions. Send them to us. We have 150 men and we are determined to defend the Alamo to the end "42 I reply to you that according to orders from His Excellency, the Mexican army can not agree under any conditions with the rebels foreigners for which there is no other recourse, if they want to save their lives, than be immediately available to the Supreme Government, which can only be expected clemency after taking into account certain considerations. Joseph-response to the Texas Bartres requests an honorable surrender, as is mentioned in the diary of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte.56

By late afternoon, Béjar was occupied by soldiers quickly mexicanos.57 1500, Mexican troops erected a blood-red flag, which meant "no quarter" 55 and soon as a horn sounded request to parley. Travis then ordered to shoot the largest canyon in the Alamo, and the Mexican army responded with four balls shot from 7-inch howitzers; the ball hit the inside of the garrison, but caused no damage or heridas.55 Believing that Travis had acted hastily, Bowie sent Jameson to come meet with Santa Anna.56 Jameson carried a letter addressed to "Commander Bejar invading forces "and signed by the" Commander of the volunteer forces of Béjar "58 Furious that Bowie was presented himself as an equal, 59 Mexican General refused to meet with Jameson. According to Almonte, Jameson asked Bartres an honorable surrender but, on the contrary, demanded the surrender of the invasores.56 Travis was upset to learn that Bowie had acted unilaterally and that he sent his own representative; 60 that received the same answer. Under the circumstances, Bowie and Travis agreed to re-fire the cannon mutuamente.60 Note 11

By the time the talks were over it was getting dark, and the fire had ceased. That afternoon, Mexicans erected a battery near the house of Juan Martin de Veramendi, governor of Coahuila and Texas between 1832 and 1833.61 Santa Anna also sent the cavalry of General Ventura Mora to watch the north and east of the Alamo, and prevent the arrival of reinforcements texanos.62 According to Edmondson, Texans sent a small group to find food and supplies that afternoon. Soon after, he returned six mules and a prisoner-a Mexican soldier who later became used to interpret the bugle .63 Mexican-Texans were boosted that night when one of the men of Seguin, Gregorio Esparza, He came with his family to the garrison. Texans guards refused to open the door, so they had to climb through the window of the chapel to enter The Texans Álamo.64 Several other soldiers were unable to return to the fort; Dimitt and Noble, who were commissioned to monitor whether the Mexican army approached, they were informed by a settler that Bejar and was surrounded, so they could not enter the town once again. Finally, Andrew Jackson Sowell and Boyd Lockhart came that morning to pick up supplies, and to hear that the Alamo was already under siege, they decided to return to their homes in Gonzales.54

Fights

Upon arriving the Mexican troops at San Antonio Texan forces dug in the mission of the Alamo using some nearby houses as defense outposts. After rejecting Travis the invitation of Santa Anna's surrender, the fighting began.

The siege was developed by the military tactics of the time: the beginning of the siege the attackers were attacking the Texan advanced positions and dislodging the defenders, who burned the farms and isolated houses and enclosed within the walls of the fortress. Later the Mexican forces were advancing progressively under fire from the artillery of the defenders and establishing ever closer successive positions to the walls of the mission, digging trenches and redoubts in which they summoned the own artillery, so that was beating the defenses with increased efficiency. By continuous bombing and several threats of assault the tension of the defending garrison was maintained while the decaying, while their guns dismounted and breaches were created by those making the final assault.

At dawn on March 6 1200 Mexican soldiers divided into four columns they attacked the fortification simultaneously by the four cardinal points. Some historians claim that won the walls in the first assault, while others speak of two waves. In any case, the defenders could not maintain such a broad scope for a long time, and the attackers penetrated inside lining killing all the defenders.

Among the Texan forces only two men (the Texan-Mexican Brígido Guerrero and the Texan-American Henry Warnell) had abandoned the mission in the previous days, during the siege. The rest of them were killed in the battle, although their numbers have not come to definitively quantify (between 184 and 257, according to sources). Noncombatant civilians (women, children and slaves) not accidentally died from the fighting were respected and allowed to go free. Santa Ana himself exaggerated figure in ensuring that the battle killed 600 rebels, even though his own secretary recognize later that it was an exaggeration.

Although many American sources describe a defense to the death "to the last man", there are references to the time and other appeared after speaking to a small group of defenders (about half a dozen) who surrendered or were captured alive and They were executed on the express orders of Santa Anna, since before the attack he ordered the call to slaughter. In any case, there is no doubt that in the infirmary of the mission should be sick or unable wounded to fight, in addition to fall wounded in the final assault, and all of them were killed by Mexican troops, it is not known whether during the assault or executed thereafter.

The number of Mexican casualties has been origin of much controversy. Some US sources speak of 900 dead and wounded, a very high figure is also based on simple estimates, while other Mexican sources reduce them to 60 dead and 250 wounded, based on the part of Santa Anna. This last figure does not seem reliable: it seems that Santa Anna only concerned the final assault, and it is possible to reduce the number of casualties own propaganda purposes. Many historians estimate casualty numbers around 600 men killed and wounded, counting so much the final assault as those that occurred during the siege.

Subsequent events

Santa Anna moved into Texas and divided his forces in several columns to definitively defeat the various Texan forces and try to capture the rebel provisional government. He himself advanced with 700 men and one cannon (not slow the progression), in pursuit of Sam Houston, retreating to the east with about 800 men. On April 21, Mexican troops, who had been reinforced by another column of 500 men, were encamped near the San Jacinto River. There were no provisions units of advanced exploration or defenses, so they were surprised by the sudden assault of men of Houston that undid the defenses in the first game, leading the rout of the troops. The most significant outcome of the battle of San Jacinto was the capture of general and Mexican President Santa Anna, that the Treaty of Velasco that led to the withdrawal of Mexican troops, the de facto independence of Texas and the germ of future prisoner being signed war between Mexico and the United States.

Myths and facts discussed

About the Battle of the Alamo numerous myths have been woven and contramitos favor and against Texans and Mexicans.

From the military point of view the battle was a defeat for the Texans. Although often it said that the defense weakened Mexican troops and allowed Houston gather enough strength, the fact is that Santa Anna never went short of troops after the battle, and in fact divided into several columns to move more speed and reach several simultaneous targets. The result of the Battle of San Jacinto was due to the lack of foresight of the Mexican army controls when monitor the movements of a nearby enemy, and their strategic consequences had not been the same result had not caught her St. Anna. None of these facts had nothing to do with the resistance in the Alamo which was actually just one more battle in the course of the campaign.

On the other hand, should not be interpreted that the defenders were making a suicide mission, because until the end of the siege they trusted that their reinforcements arrived that so vehemently were requesting (a troop of 300 men tried succor from Goliad, but had to return soon embarked on the road). But they were aware that if they are defeated enemy troops probably would not prisoners, and yet decided to resist in the position without fleeing or leaving.

Regarding the death of the wounded and prisoners captured suspects, according to the customs of the time could not be considered a war crime because the winners could refuse to give quarter to those troops, intimadas to surrender, had refused to do so ( it was therefore deter fanatical resistance). However, you run the survivors captured and, above all, the sick and wounded, was seen as a cruel and inglorious, and in fact the Mexican sources of the time just refer to it, except to condemn it.

Sam Houston received many critics by its internal opponents for failing to come to rescue and assist the defenders of the Alamo. However, he had ordered the evacuation of the position considered indefensible (the order was not obeyed by Neill), and considered going with his army to face in open field with a superior army in numbers and weaponry would only destroying their troops, and it was best to avoid confrontation to envision an acceptable possibility of victory.

All sources agree that Travis was shot just begun the battle, while Bowie died bayonet at his bedside nursing, according to some other sources. There is also controversy over the death of explorer and politician David Crockett, who died fighting as the US version, while Mexican historians tend to believe that was one of the men who surrendered or were captured at the end of the siege, and that He shot them in order of Santa Anna. Much of this second version comes from the diaries of Lieutenant Colonel Jose Enrique de la Peña, appeared in the early twentieth century and whose authenticity is still under discussion. Another version says that was passing through San Antonio, he took refuge in the fort before the imminence of battle and, to this end, along with other requested clemency, but Santa Anna soon had them shot.