March 6 --Remember the Alamo

Early Sunday morning, March 6, 1836, at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas. A warm night after last week’s freezing temperatures. A full moon cast a feeble glow through cloudy skies. Colonel Travis went to bed late, unaware that the assault was already under way.

Five a.m. and bugler Gonzales of the Zapadores blew the charge. “Adelante!” It was all over by 7:00. The slaughter handed us the slogan that rings until this day.

Suppose it had been different. Suppose one of those Tennessee long-rifle mountaineers had managed to kill Santa Anna from a distance. Would the entire Mexican effort collapse? Santa Anna was the kingpin, as Sam Houston proved at San Jacinto.

Or suppose Santa Anna had listened to his officers and refrained his bugler from sounding the “Deguello.” No mercy. If he’d accepted the Texan’s surrender, and sent them back to the States – would the Texas revolution have withered on the vine?

Suppose the Alamo had simply been bypassed. Leaving a small force to keep the Texans pinned up, Santa Anna might have raced ahead and captured the infant government of Texas. That would have ended it all. Andrew Jackson might hope for better, but he would not bring the US into the battle.

It often happens – the fate of men and nations hangs on the whims of one egomaniac.

Dac Crossley
March 6, 2012. 176 years later.
(And happy birthday to Paige C. and Kevin L.)

“Ambition is a dream with a V-8 engine.” – Elvis Presley

Comments

[Eileen Obser]

Good thoughts in here, Dac. And I love the quote from Elvia. I don't believe I've ever seen him quoted before. I'm a big fan.

[Bill Stroud]

Think of the good side. If the chicle chewing General Santa Anna had not been defeated and exiled to New York City, we would not have chewing gum!

[Caroline Clemmons]

Thanks for the reminder, Dac.An important day for Texans. Several well known Americans died there, but each person there was important.

[James R. Callan]

Thanks for the reminder, DAC. The Alamo is certainly the cornerstone for Texas history.

[Janice Pulliam]

Now there's a title for you, Dac: "Married at the Alamo."

[Marjorie Furr]

Here in San Antonio we don't forget! Historical reinactments have been going on at the Alamo since March 2nd. My son and daugher-in-law who were married at the Alamo have been there all this week.

[Shirley White]

It is good to think about the "what ifs" and good to mark the anniversary each year.

[Patricia Gligor]

Dac,
So many "what ifs" in history and in our own lives!
Whenever I think of the Alamo, I remember a TV episode of Davey Crockett and the Alamo from when I was a child. I was madly in love with Davey Crockett (played by Fess Parker) and I cried when he died - Davey, not Fess.