Foundation
The Mission San Antonio de Valero was founded on May 1, 1718 at the request of Padre Antonio de Buenaventura Olivares. A stopping point was needed between San Juan Bautista and east Tejas, so the governor of Coahuila y Tejas, Martin de Alarcon consented. On May 5, 1718 the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar (BE-har - roll the "r") was founded one mile to the north, and ten families settled outside of the fort, forming the Villa de Bexar (town of Bexar). It is from the Presidio that the present-day city of San Antonio takes its name.

The Taking of San Antonio de Bexar
On October 12, 1835 Stephen F. Austin led approximately 300 volunteers against General Cos. Cos' force numbered 647 when they entered Bexar, and grew to around 800, and they were well-entrenched within the town and fort. On October 28, James Fanin and Jim Bowie skirmished at Mission Purisima Concepcion de Acuna, killing 14 Mexican troops but only losing one of theirs. After that skirmish, the Texicans opted to lay siege to the town, hoping to starve the Mexican troops out.

On November 25 Austin sent a delegation to the US, and Edward Burleson was chosen to command the siege in Bexar. The next day a group of Texicans spotted a troup of Mexicans out foraging grass for their horses. Mistaking them for reinforcements, the Grass Fight broke out, giving the Texicans a small victory.

In late November and early December, hunger and cold began to take hold of the Texican forces, and many decided to winter in Goliad to the south. Benjamin Milam called for volunteers to accompany him to take San Antonio (Bexar). On December 5, about 371 men followed Milam into a battle that lasted four days. Milam was killed on December 8. On December 9 Cos hoisted the white flag after a powerful house-to-house assault from the Texicans. Under the agreement formed that day, Cos was to turn over all public lands and supplies and take his troops south of the Rio Grande, and he agreed to never again oppose the restoration of the Constitution of 1824.

The problem with the outcome was the Cos was Santa Ana's brother-in-law. Santa Ana's own family, which had a 2:1 advantage during the siege, had lost to a bunch of volunteers. The "Napoleon of the West", as he called himself, could not stomach such an embarrassment. This 2:1 statistic also made the Texicans a bit over-confident.

The Alamo
The Mission San Antonio de Valero had been home to a Mexican military company. This company had originally been based in a town known as Alamo de Parras. The name was transferred to the mission, so it became known as "The Alamo"

During December 1835 and January 1836, the garrison at San Antonio de Bexar was stripped of supplies and men for an attempted foray into Matamoros, Mexico. The foray was aborted, but the men and supplies did not return. This left the commander, JC Neill, with approximately 100 men and few provisions. General Houston sent Jim Bowie to San Antonio with orders to strip the town of cannon and supplies, then raize the fortifications and retreat to Gonzales. The council, however, wanted to hold San Antonio, so they sent William Barrett Travis with orders to recruit reinforcements. Travis arrived on February 3, 1836 with 29 men. In mid-February, Neill took a leave of absence, leaving Travis and Bowie to share the command.

Other noteworthies arrived to reinforce the town. One of them was a lawyer from Alabama named James Bonham, who had organized the Mobile Grays. He arrived from Goliad. Probably the most famous person to arrive at the Alamo was Davey Crockett, an ex-Tennessee congressman. Crockett brought with him 20 Tennesseeans and their weapons. These weapons were a major factor in allowing the defenders to hold out as long as they did. Their rifles were vastly superior to the rifles of the Mexican army, having greater range and accuracy. Despite the recruits and weaponry, the grounds of the mission were still too large to be effectively defended by such a small force. The fact that they succeeded for so long is a testament to their skill, courage, and determination.

Santa Ana's main force crossed the Rio Grande on February 16, 1836. They brought 21 cannon, 1800 mules, 33 wagons and 200 carts. Despite the urgings of General Filisola to continue to San Felipe, Santa Ana marched straight to San Antonio de Bexar. He was so bent on vengeance that he just wasn't thinking straight - you'll see why I say that later. The Mexican vanguard arrived on February 23, months before Travis was expecting an assault. Travis sent a messenger to the alcalde of Gonzales to ask for reinforcements. He sent another plea the next day, calling "VICTORY OR DEATH". On February 25, Juan Seguin rode to Gonzales yet again. On February 26, Col. James Fannin, now at Goliad, set out from the Presidio la Bahia to defend the Alamo. On February 27, he changed his mind and returned to La Bahia. On March 1, Albert Marin and 32 volunteers from Gonzales slipped through the Mexican lines at 3 am. March 3 was Travis' final plea - sent to the ears of the delegation meeting at Washington-on-the-Brazos. It was this plea that they read three days later, when it was already too late.

On March 4 and 5, the Mexican forces moved the cannon closer to the Alamo for improved effectiveness. At dawn on the 6th, marching to the tune of "Deguello" ("No Quarter"), Santa Ana's forces stormed the walls of the Alamo. Estimates of the Texican fatalities only vary by one - 182 or 183. One Texican by the name of Jose Maria Guerrero survived by convincing Santa Ana that he had been galvanized into fighting by the Texicans. Mexican fatality estimates vary wildly - from 600 to 1600. Either way, Santa Ana lost between 3 and 9 men for every Texican that died.

Aftermath
Although it was a victory for Santa Ana, it is a classic example of winning the battle and losing the war. The small force stationed in San Antonio de Bexar represented no real military threat to him - it was just over 100 men at the end of 1835. Compared to the thousands that Santa Ana brought into Tejas, they were nothing. Revenge seems to have been his only motivation for fighting this battle (Do I hear passages from Moby Dick being whispered in the background?). It cost him a large portion of his troops and supplies, and two weeks that would have been better put to use hunting down Houston. Instead it gave Houston breathing room to recruit, train and maneuver for San Jacinto, while improving the odds for the Texican volunteers. It also gave them their first rallying cry, which is known around the world today - "Remember the Alamo!"

After the Revolution
Following his thorough routing at San Jacinto, Santa Ana ordered the destruction of the Alamo by the Centralist forces that still held it. They succeeded at destroying the armaments, but their attempt to destroy the chapel itself has become a legend immortalized in stone. Some say that the priests who worked the mission rose to defend it. Others say that the funeral pyres of the Alamo Defenders gave strength to something greater - the Spirit of Sublime Sacrifice, a towering spirit which appeared, sword in hand, to protect the Alamo. Who can say for sure? Those who tried to bring it down ran in fear, mumbling and screaming about the diablos that had come through the walls ordering them, "Do not touch the Alamo! Do not touch these walls!"

Since 1905 the Alamo has been in the care of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), who keep it open to the public as the shrine that it is. They have also established a library of rare and original works related to Texas history on the grounds of the Alamo.

Conclusion
As you go about your business on Tuesday, March 6, 2001, think back for a moment on the price that has been paid for our present. And when you enter the Alamo chapel, remove your hat and keep your voice down. The sacrifices of over 180 men have rendered the Alamo sacred. Time has altered the appearance of the Alamo, but it has not altered our perception of it, or the strength of its symbolism. It may be shorter than the hotels and skyscrapers crowding around it, but it seems to stand infinitely taller, at least, in my mind. What about yours?

Bibliography
Texas: the Lone Star State (7th ed.) (New Jersey, 1997) Richarson, Anderson and Wallace

For more information, check out thealamo.org