Alamo, Battle of the

Alamo, Battle of the. The most famous battle of the Texas Revolution occurred at a Spanish mission compound known as the Alamo in San Antonio. At this site on 6 March 1836 the Mexican army led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna defeated 189 troops inside the compound under Colonel William Barrett Travis; all the Alamo defenders were killed. As the Texas Revolution proceeded, the words “Remember the Alamo” became a battle cry.

Although there were skirmishes in 1835 between the Mexican government and colonists in the Texas province, the battle at the Alamo was the first encounter of the Texas Revolution, coming four days after colonists officially declared independence from Mexico. San Antonio was taken from Mexican troops in December 1835 when colonists stormed the town. In January 1836, General Sam Houston sent James Bowie to destroy the Alamo and move the remaining troops east. Upon arriving in San Antonio, however, Bowie opted to fortify the compound and defend the area. Travis joined him later that month.

After the Alamo battle, Santa Anna led his forces east in pursuit of the rest of the Texas army. On 21 April 1836, the Mexican army was defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto by the Texas army under Houston. Texas became independent and later applied to the United States for statehood.

As a site commemorating Texas's unique identity and its separation from Mexico, the Alamo is currently the top Texas tourist attraction. It is also a favorite target of groups protesting ethnic and racial discrimination, especially during the annual Fiesta Week.
See also Texas Republic and Annexation.

Bibliography

Stephen L. Hardin , Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution, 1994.
Holly Beachley Brear , Inherit the Alamo: Myth and Ritual at an American Shrine, 1995.

Holly Beachley Brear