At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. According to Texas lore, it's the site in San Antonio where, in 1836, about 180 Texan rebels died defending the state during Texas' war for independence from Mexico. "Remember the Alamo!". Furthermore, the brave defense of the Alamo caused many more rebels to join the Texan army. But the truly perplexing thing is that in the two weeks leading up to the arrival of Santa Anna's forces in San Antonio, Travis and Bowie are getting almost daily warnings of the progress. This commentary derives from research conducted for The Other Side of the Alamo: Art Against the Myth, an exhibition at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center for San Antonio's Tricentennial in 2018, which was funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Along the way they crossed paths with another survivor, a man named Joe, who had been William Travis slave. None of the defenders survived. As the Alamo was under siege in March 1836, the convention of Texans that voted for independence selected Houston as commander-in-chief of . In the summer of 1821, Stephen Austin arrived in San Antonio along with some 300 U.S. families that the Spanish government had allowed to settle in Texas. In 1883, the state of Texas purchased the Alamo, later acquiring property rights to all the surrounding grounds. [2] Contents 1 Early life Joe was sold four times in his life, with his most well known owner being William B. Travis, [1] a 19th century lawyer and soldier, who would later be the lieutenant colonel for The Battle of the Alamo. Section 9 of the General Provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, Biden Should Remove Cuba from List of State Sponsors of Terrorism, Descendants of Slaveholder Donor Denounce Law School Name Change, How Social Media and Community Schools Could Fill in Gaps Teaching Black History, American Girl Dolls Declare the 1990s Ancient History, Review: DeSantis's Book is a Campaign Tome Written by ChatGPT, Reconsidering Phillis Wheatley's Place in the Revolutionary Era, Philosopher Lewis Gordon's Impact on Black Jewish History, Quintard Taylor's Black Past Project Fights Erasure of History, Review: The Unfinished Business of "Double V", One Reason to Confirm National Archivist Fast? In 1832, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took control of the Mexican government. When Mexican troops stormed the former mission known as the Alamo on the morning of March 6, 1836, Mexican General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna ordered that no prisoners be taken. Both of those stories are way overly simplistic.. Greg Abbott (R), voted to deny a permit to move it. Rice had placed a $50 reward for Joe's capture. "It was the thing that the two sides had been arguing about and shooting about for going on 15 years. But three writers, all Texans, say the common narrative of the Texas revolt. Indigenous leaders, for example, want the site to show respect for its ancient role as a burial ground. Bush and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg threw their political muscle behind reviving the project. The city has read more, In March 1836, Mexican forces overran the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, achieving victory over those who had declared Texas independence from Mexico just a few weeks earlier. Santa Anna's Mexican army killed virtually all of the roughly 200 Texans (or Texians) defending the Alamo, including their leaders, Colonels William B. Travis and James Bowie, and the legendary. The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all . 'Born On A Mountaintop' Or Not, Davy Crockett's Legend Lives On. Meanwhile, historians argue that support for slavery was indeed a motivating factor for the Texas Revolution, a fact that should be acknowledged at the site, even if it tarnishes some giants of Texas history. Generations of Texas schoolchildren have been taught to admire the Alamo defenders as revolutionaries slaughtered by the Mexican army in the fight for Texas independence. He observed a grand review of the Mexican army before being interrogated by Santa Anna about Texas and its army. Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | Spotify. [Wayne] made the movie basically because he wholeheartedly believed that America was falling apart, that it was going to the dogs and that somebody needs to stand up for what are today called "patriotic values," "family values," "American values." International recognition would mean increased tourism and potential UN support for upkeep. It's generally believed that Joe left Texas to return to Travis's family in Alabama and lived with them for many years. On February 23, a Mexican force comprising somewhere between 1,800 and 6,000 men (according to various estimates) and commanded by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna began a siege of the fort. May 10, 202110 AM Central. The battle cry of remember the Alamo later became popular during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. For many years afterward, the U.S. Army quartered troops and stored supplies at the Alamo. "Most academics now believe, based on Mexican accounts and contemporary accounts, that, in fact, [Crockett] did surrender and was executed," Burrough says. When events become legendary, facts tend to get forgotten. Every day during the siege, the defenders of the Alamo looked for Fannin and his men but they never arrived. This entry belongs to the following Handbook Special Projects: We are a community-supported, non-profit organization and we humbly ask for your support because the careful and accurate recording of our history has never been more important. Do you value our journalism? Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. At the time of Bowie's birth, his father owned eight enslaved African Americans, eleven head of cattle, seven horses, and one stud horse. In a remarkable feat of historical detective work, authors Ron J. Jackson, Jr., and Lee Spencer White have fully restored this pivotal yet elusive figure to his place in the American story. What Happened To The Slaves At The Alamo. The story, and the heroismof frontiersman Davy Crockett, was mythologized in movies and taught to schoolchildren. The fort was on 3 acres of land and contained several buildings with cannons along the walls and on roofs. The reality is a lot more complicated, says James Crisp, a historian at North Carolina State University whos written a book about the myths and the reality of the Alamo. There were many native TexansMexican nationals referred to as Tejanoswho joined the movement and fought every bit as bravely as their Anglo companions. And thats whats missing right now in our society, is the nuance.. Visitors walk around the outside of the Alamo in San Antonio. . ThoughtCo, May. In point of fact, there's large disagreement about how many men Travis commanded at the fort, anywhere from 182-250. Though exact numbers do not exist, as many slaves may have escaped to Mexico as escaped through the more famous underground railway to Canada. In his book, Cook tells a different story from what is commonly told in textbooks, film, and TV shows. The third big name at the Alamo, the commander of the force, William Barret Travis, had at least one slave with him, Joe. Visitors walk around the outside of the Alamo in San Antonio. By and large, any time you've had any type of Latino voice come out and question the traditional Anglo narrative, they've been shouted down. According to legend, fort commander William Travis drew a line in the sand with his sword and asked all of the defenders who were willing to fight to the death to cross it: only one man refused. Older slaves were. As the Texans were facing the whole Mexican army, desertions are not surprising. (Her husband, Dr. Horace Alsbury, had left the fort in late February, likely in search of a safe place for his family.) During the first couple of days, however, Santa Anna made no attempt to seal the exits from the Alamo and the town: the defenders could very easily have slipped away in the night if they had so desired. Once he saw the fort's defenses, Bowie decided to ignore Houston's orders, having become convinced of the need to defend the city. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, and at the time, Texas (or rather Tejas) was part of Mexico. Private Visions, Public Culture: The Making of the Alamo, San Fernando Cathedral and the Alamo: Sacred Place, Public Ritual, and Construction of Meaning. 10 Facts About the Independence of Texas From Mexico, The Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas, The Battle of Concepcion of the Texas Revolution, The Life and Legend of David "Davy" Crockett, The Most Important Inventions of the Industrial Revolution, No One Knows What Happened to Davy Crockett, Who Won the Battle of the Alamo? These days, Trevio wonders whether the city would have been better off redoing Alamo Plaza on its own. Presumably Joe's escape was successful, for the notice ran three months before it was discontinued on August 26, 1837. "There is a definite, deliberate attempt in mainstream Texas history to start Texas history in 1836, with the arrival of the anglos," Joe Lopez, a columnist for the Rio Grande Guardian, told Fusion. He was among the defenders at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where he perished along with all of his comrades. It was really the thing that more than anything, caused the Alamo to become the international icon that it's become. Although nearly everyone at the Alamo was killed or captured, Texas achieved independence when Sam read more, Coahuila, one of Mexicos major steel producers, straddles the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains. They sold that property in 1800 and relocated to what is now Missouri. The main economic drivers in the states central valley region are agriculture and livestock breeding. "It means people can live free. As a nation we're finally reexamining that narrative and acknowledging that it's all very well and good, as far as it goes, but for too long it hasn't gone far enough. Share your thoughts about this episode on Twitter at: @MandoFun and on our Facebook group. Every penny counts! On April 21, 1836, at the Battle of San . Remember the Alamo, the famous saying goesbut how you remember is just as important. Meanwhile, issues of race and slavery at the Alamo remain unresolved. Many myths and legends have grown about the Battle of the Alamo, but the facts often give a different account. The struggle over the Cenotaph ended in September when the Texas Historical Commission, a state board whose members are appointed by Gov. All Rights Reserved. In early 1836, a small group of Texas volunteers at the Alamo held off the Mexican army for 13 days before being defeated (and executed). . Some 600 Mexican soldiers died in the battle, compared to roughly 200 rebellious Texans. 22, 2021, thoughtco.com/facts-about-the-battle-of-the-alamo-2136256. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. He was one of several slaves spared by the Mexicans, who opposed slavery, after the battle. We know that there were slaves within the Alamo fortress for the 13-day siege that resulted in the death of the entire garrison. The siege of the Alamo was memorably depicted in a Walt Disney series and in a 1960 movie starring John Wayne. But as a little girl I got the messagewe were losers. Santa Annas army arrived in San Antonio in late February1836. While scant information exists on the states pre-Hispanic era, the Huastecos, Chichimecas and read more, Guanajuato, the birthplace of famed muralist Diego Rivera, is also the site of Alhondiga de Ganaditas, a former town granary that became a revolutionary symbol after the heads of insurrectionists Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama and Jimenez were posted at the four corners of the read more, From the renowned beaches of Acapulco and Ixtapa to the silversmiths of Taxco, Guerrero is known as a mecca for ocean-loving tourists and sports fisherman. Telegraph and Texas Register, March 24, 1836, May 26, August 26, 1837. Some Texians and Tejanos wanted the federalist constitution back, some wanted centralist control to be based in Mexico: That was the main basis for the turmoil in Texas, not independence. Recognition willget more people to read the actual history of the Alamo instead of the awful Hollywood myths.. Among the 187 men in Travis's forces who died were 13 native-born Texans, 11 of Mexican descent. As we become more diverse as a nation and a people, weve got to learn how to talk about these difficult conversations, but weve got to talk about it with nuance. Owing to itscomplicated history, the Alamo has been controversial in the cityfor decades. Legendary frontiersman Jim Bowie, suffering from a debilitating illness, asked to be carried over the line. Between 1795 and 1801, 385 payments were made to the owners of African American enslaved people. Courtesy Texas Historical Commission Joseph, an enslaved person, was one of a handful of survivors at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. The Alamo (technically, the surviving structure is a former church next to the fort) is the top tourist destination in Texas, and a new museum is under works. And of course, this leads to one of the great myths, which is the bravery of the Alamo defenders, how they fought to their death and everything. Joe claimed that when Gen. Antonio Lpez deSanta Anna's troops stormed the Alamo on March 6, 1836, he armed himself and followed Travis from his quarters into the battle, fired his gun, then retreated into a building from which he fired several more times. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and over 2,000 federal troops arrived at Galveston Island to take possession of the state and enforce the two-year-old Emancipation Proclamation.There, he proclaimed his "General Order No. Joes Alamo: Unsung, is a fiction-based-on-history account of what came next, after the Alamo, and after Joe escaped.