A Time to Stand (33 page)

This violent scene, copyrighted in 1837, is almost certainly the first picture ever published of the Battle of the Alamo. Having no idea what the Alamo looked like, the artist solved his problem with smoke and a fleeting glimpse of a castle right out of Sir Walter Scott.

Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis, commander of the Alamo, as drawn by his friend Wiley Martin two months before the siege. This sketch was found on the flyleaf of an old Tennessee gazetteer and is the only contemporary picture of Travis said to exist. Even so, the likeness is questionable; Martin may well have been a better friend than an artist.

Jim Bowie, most famous fighter in the West, shared command with Travis until stricken with illness the first full day of the siege. From this point on, Bowie lay immobilized in bed and Travis took charge of the defense.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of Mexico and General-in-Chief of the Army of Operations, who personally directed the siege. The General’s
equipage
included monogrammed china, crystal decanters, striped marquee and a silver chamber pot.

San Fernando Church—heart of San Antonio—looking east toward the Alamo, about 800 yards away. From the church’s squat tower, Santa Anna hung a blood-red flag, the traditional Mexican symbol of no quarter.

The San Fernando tower, as seen from atop the roofless Alamo church. The artillerymen handling the three 12- pounders here had a good view of Santa Anna’s red flag, if they needed any reminder to strengthen their will to resist. This sketch was made ten years later in the course of a U.S. Army survey during the Mexican War.

Message sent by James Bowie to the Mexicans as the siege began on February 23. He was trying to find out if a parley had been called—and soon found that this wasn’t so. Bowie’s fast-failing health shows up in his shaky signature, but his determination is clear from the salutation. After writing
“Dios y Federation Mexicano”
to indicate his loyalty to the old Constitution of 1824, he then crossed it out and wrote instead
“Dios y Texas”
(“God and Texas”).

David Crockett, a late arrival in the Alamo, manned the weak southeast palisade with his Tennessee “boys.” As the siege dragged on day after day, Crockett told his friend Mrs. Dickinson, “I think we had better march out and die in the open; I don’t like to be hemmed up.” The remark seems in keeping with his favorite motto, scrawled under this old engraving.

Sam Houston, Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Army, was strangely inactive during most of the siege. Bitter at being constantly circumvented, he was off dealing with the Indians when the battle began. Later he turned up at Washington-on-the-Brazos for the Convention called to set up a new government. Only after the Declaration of Independence did he move into action with his usual vigor and begin organizing his troops at Gonzales.

C
ONVENTION HALL, WASHINGTON, MARCH
2, 1830.

War is raging on the frontiers. Bejar is besieged by two thousand of the enemy, under the command of general Siezma Reinforcements arc on their march, to unite with the besieging army. By the last report, our force in Bejar was only one hundred and fifty men strong. The citizens of Texas must rally to the aid of our army, or it will perish. Let the citizens of the East march to the combat. The enemy must be driven from our soil, or desolation will accompany their march upon us.
Independence is declared,
it must be maintained. Immediate action, united with valor, alone can achieve the great work. The services of all are forthwith required in the field.

SAM. HOUSTON,

Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

P. S.
It. is rumored that the enemy are on their march to Gonzales, and that they have entered the colonies. The fate of Bejar is unknown. The country must and shall be defended. The patriots of Texas are
appealed to, in behalf of their bleeding country.

S. H.

Houston issued this broadside the day independence was declared. Calling the citizens to arms, he then left for Gonzales to organize his army. Despite this appeal, the turn-out was at first disappointing.