1. A Clash of Armies Chapter 10 Section 1
The Alamo and Goliad
A Clash of Armies
Chapter 10
Section 1

2. A Missed Opportunity Santa Anna furious over Gen. Cós’ surrender
Texans waste time with no strong leadership
Most volunteers went home after the capture of San Antonio

3. Texas Forces are Divided
Little communication or coordination among units
Sam Houston
Commander of volunteers and regulars
Volunteers refuse to recognize Houston’s authority
San Antonio (100 men)
Col. James C. Neill
Goliad (450 men)
Col. James W. Fannin
San Patricio (100 men)
Col. Frank W. Jonhson
Dr. James Grant

4. Santa Anna Moves North Army of 6,000+ moved over 800 miles in 2 months
Most of Mex. Army recruited quickly
Untrained and undisciplined
Poorly clothed and fed
Forced to fight; old guns and equipment
Split army in 2 groups
Santa Anna heads towards San Antonio with larger group
Gen. José Urrea heads toward Goliad

5. Texans Occupy the Alamo
Mission San Antonio de Valero
Col. Neill
104 men
Asked General Council for guns and troops
Col. James Bowie
Sent by Houston to determine abandonment
Brought 25 men from Goliad
James Bowie
Reputation gained as a fighter with an “overly-large” knife
Came to Texas in 1828 to search for lost Indian silver mine near San Sabá
Married daughter of vice governor of Coahuila y Tejas

6. Travis Arrives at the Alamo
Lt. Col. William B. Travis
Arrived from San Felipe with 30 men
Reinforce Col. Neill
David Crockett
Arrived from Tennessee with 12 men
Claimed to kill 100+ bears in a year
Nearly 50 when he arrived
Tejanos
Risked lives, land, homes, and families
Brigido Guerrero, Juan Abamillo, Juan Antonio Badillo, Gregorio Esparza, José Toribio Losoya, Antonio Fuentes, Damacio Jiménez, Carlos Espalier, and Andrés Nava
Col. Neill leaves due to family illness
Commanders of Alamo
Bowie – volunteers
Travis – regulars

7. Texans Defend the Alamo Chapter 10 Section 2
The Alamo and Goliad
Texans Defend the Alamo
Chapter 10
Section 2

8. In Defense of the Alamo
Travis and Bowie believe Alamo is vital to Texas
Texans barely make it to Alamo when Santa Anna arrives in San Antonio – Feb 23rd
Alamo strengths
Walls 2-3 ft thick; over ft high
21 cannons
High supply of beef and water
Alamo weaknesses
South wall incomplete
Too large for defense

9. Travis Declares “Victory of Death”
Letter sent out by Travis asking for assistance
Alamo symbolizes struggle for independence
No help from Fannin or Houston
Albert Martin and George C. Kimball come with 32 men from Gonzales
Santa Anna flies “red flag” meaning no prisoners
James Bonham (messenger) returns knowing he would face death

10. Facing Certain Death Constantly bombarded by Santa Anna for 13 Days
March 5th
Travis draw a line with his sword
Those who wish to stay and defend the Alamo were asked to cross over
Louis “Moses” Rose did not cross
Veteran of Napoleonic Wars
Thought Alamo was a lost cause
“Yellow” Rose of Texas
Constantly bombarded by Santa Anna for 13 Days
Texans had better long range rifles
Santa Anna had more men

11. Texan Troops Give Ground
Santa Anna begins attack on March 6, 1836 between 4-5 a.m.
“El Degüello” played (no mercy will be shown)
3 waves of attack
Texans successfully fight off 1st and 2nd wave
The battle was over by 8 a.m.
Historians disagree over number of casualties
Santa Anna
Texans – over 600 men
Mexicans – 70 men
Casualties
Texans – men
Mexicans – 1500 men

12. A Battle Cry for Victory
Survivors
Ana Salazar de Esparza
Juana Navarro de Alsbury
Joe Travis (enslaved person)
Andrea Castanon Villanueva (nurse to Bowie)
Susanna Dickinson and her baby daughter
Encouragement
Santa Anna lost many professional soldiers
Delayed Santa Anna
Texans more determined to win
“Remember the Alamo” – battle cry at San Jacinto

13. Defeat in South Texas Chapter 10 Section 3
The Alamo and Goliad
Defeat in South Texas
Chapter 10
Section 3

14. Urrea Sweeps Northward to Refugio
Advancing through South Texas (with 1000 soldiers) while Santa Anna attacks Alamo
Feb. 27, 1836 – San Patricio – defeated 50 Txns under command of Frank W. Johnson
March 2, 1836 – Agua Dulce – defeated 30 Txns under command of Dr. James Grant
Col. Fannin sent 130 men to assist at Refugio
March 13, 1836 – Refugio – defeated Txns under the command of Col. William Ward & Capt. Amon King
Rest of retreating Texas army captured at Victoria
Loss of lives at San Patricio, Agua Dulce, Refugio, & Victoria a severe blow to Texan efforts

15. Fannin Delays His Departure
Fannin – inabilities to make decisions – hurt Texas cause
Decided to help Alamo in Feb. – shortage of transportation caused him to return to Goliad
Ordered Mar. 14th by Houston to retreat with 300 men
Started retreat Mar. 19th – slowed by oxen pulling heavy cannons
Allowed soldiers to rest at Coleto Creek on Mar. 19th
Surrounded in an open prairie by Urrea with 500 men
Texans had no water and no cover
Urrea receives reinforcements on Mar. 20th
Fannin surrendered

16. Texans Surrender Confusion over surrender terms
Texans believed that they were prisoners of war and would be treated fairly
Surrender agreement in Mexican archives contains no such promise – shows Texans surrendered unconditionally (at the mercy of the Mexican commander)
Texans marched back to Goliad and imprisoned in the old presidio

17. Santa Anna’s “Cruel Necessity”
Urrea wrote to Santa Anna requesting that Fannin and his men’s lives be spared
Santa Anna ordered the immediate execution of the Texans
Feared that if the Texans were released that they would join others in the rebellion
Mexican law required the execution of those who “took up arms against the government”.

18. The Massacre at Goliad
Mar. 27th (Palm Sunday) – the Goliad prisoners were divided into 3 groups (100 each) and marched into 3 different directions
Prisoners believed that they were on a work detail
Mexican troops fired upon the prisoners
The wounded (50) were executed in their hospital beds
Fannin is the last to be shot
Some not executed because of needed skills (doctors and workers)
Senora Francita Alavez – wife of Mexican army officer
Nursed several wounded Texans at Goliad
Helped some Texans avoid execution
“Angel of Goliad”

19. The Lessons of the Alamo and Goliad
Early April Santa Anna has everything going his way
Alamo battle cost Santa Anna:
Professional soldiers and officers
Delay gave Texans time to train and regroup
News inspired the U.S. to assist Texas in their fight – sent more people, supplies, $$
Lessons learned by Texans
Do not divided groups
Combine volunteer and regular army forces
Do not fight on an open prairie/plain – huge advantage for Mexican cavalry