On the evening of February 29, 1836, the Gonzales Volunteers slipped the wall into the Alamo compound. Yes, 1836 was a leap year, too.
March 1, 1836 was a day of celebration. Colonel Travis had hoped for more than the 32 men from Gonzales, but at least they made it through the Mexican forces without incident. Travis was certain that more defenders were on the way. In their honor, Davy Crockett broke out his fiddle and John McGregor his bagpipes. Travis ordered two cannon shots in celebration. (No more; ammunition was short). One shot fell in Military Plaza. The other, according to historian Stephen Hardin, crashed into a nearby house where Santa Anna had his headquarters. If he’d been home….
The Texian defenders were confident that Colonel Fannin was on the march from Goliad with 400 men. Travis didn’t know that Fannin’s column had bogged down with broken carts, and had returned to the old mission at Goliad. That news would reach Travis soon.
In the meantime the Mexican bombardment of the Alamo continued. The adobe wall fell prey to cannon balls. At night, under the moonlight, the Texians shored up the walls with whatever materials were at hand. What would Santa Anna do next?
Today the voice of my historian mother rings in my ears.
Dac Crossley
March 1, 2016
“A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good man.” – Antonin Scalia.
If only Travis and Fannin had had cell phones! My heart aches for their predicament.
Posted by: Janice Pulliam | March 01, 2016 at 12:46 PM
distorted thinking on the part of Scalia.
Posted by: Janice Pulliam | March 01, 2016 at 12:45 PM