The war of revolution was now a fact. No turning back. Many factors lead to the eruption of violence in Texas, but perhaps the largest part of the Texans dissatisfaction would lie with Santa Anna himself. The instability of the Mexican government and the fact that he completely discarded the Constitution of 1824, becoming in fact a dictator, was something that the Americans in Texas could not live with.
In November a "consultation" was held at San Felipe de Austin. The delegates were divided over whether to declare independence from Mexico or to support the Constitution of 1824 that Santa Anna had chosen to ignore. They voted to support the constitution, but reserved the "natural right" to create their own government if Santa Anna would not honor the Constitution of 1824.
The "consultation" did set up a provisional government, however there was no clear separation of powers. There was much confusion over who could give orders and who should obey them. Many areas over lapped and some where not covered at all. Sam Houston was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Army, but was given no power to enforce his orders or to recruit forces. They also voted to reassemble on March 1, 1836.
In October Stephen F. Austin led a force of about 300 volunteers against General Perfecto de Cos at the The Presidio San Antonio de Bexar. Cos had 700 to 800 troops well entrenched at the fort and surrounding village. The Texans surrounded the area, hoping to starve them out by cutting off re-enforcement or re-supply.
In late November Austin left to go as a delegate from Texas to the United States. Command was left in the hands of Edward Burleson. The delegation was to plead the case for money and manpower to help in the Texas struggle against Santa Anna's dictatorship.
On December 5th, growing tired, hungry and cold themselves the Texas volunteers moved on Bexar. About 370 men followed Ben Milam into a four day long bloody hand-to-hand house-to-house fight. Cos and his troops surrendered on the 9th, after being driven into the old mission at Bexar, the Alamo. Milam had been killed before the surrender. Cos signed an agreement to turn over all public lands and supplies. He was to take his troops south of the Rio Grande and never again oppose the restoration of the Constitution of 1824. This Texas victory would set into motion a chain of events leading to independence for Texas.
The first days of 1836 found Texans in control of their state and confident in their own destiny. Many even thought the Mexicans would not try to re-take Texas. Few of them had taken into account that General Cos was Santa Anna's brother-in-law. Santa Anna was not pleased that Cos, with 2 to 1 advantage, had lost Bexar to a bunch of volunteers, pirates in his opinion. Independent mood and over confidence would prove to be the undoing of the Texans. The newly formed government was in disarray and unable to coordinate the defense of Texas. As Santa Anna embarked on his counterattack, no one was in charge.
General Sam Houston sent James Bowie to San Antonio, in early January, to destroy the Alamo and retreat to Gonzales with any supplies and armaments. The "consultations" acting governor and council wanted to hold San Antonio, so they sent William Barrett Travis and 29 army regulars to recruit reinforcements to hold the Alamo. Bowie and his men stayed with Travis, but under the shared command of Bowie and Travis.
Volunteers and reinforcements trickled into the Alamo during the first two weeks of February among them James Butler Bonham, who had helped organize the Mobile Greys, David Crockett, ex-congressman from Tennessee and a group of 30 or so men from Gonzales. The number of men at the Alamo was 182 or 183, with the official list now at 189. This was the whole of the fighting force that would meet overwhelming odds in a few short days.
Sometime in early to mid February Santa Anna crossed the Rio Grande headed for San Antonio. He was determined to avenge the series of defeats suffered by the Mexican army in 1835. But the ouster of General Cos from the Alamo was the main reason he headed straight for San Antonio. There were other easier targets he could have chosen. He arrived at the Alamo on the 23 of February at least a month before Travis was expecting an assault.
Santa Anna left no doubt regarding his attitude towards the defenders of the Alamo. He sent a message that demanded immediate surrender or death by sword. Travis answered the demand with a cannon ball. Santa Anna hoisted a blood-red battle flag, the traditional Mexican symbol of no quarter, no surrender, no mercy. He also started a continual bombardment of the fort.
On February 24 Jim Bowie became ill leaving Travis in full command. Travis sent out his well known plea for help on that day. Although the Alamo was under continual bombardment from the Mexican artillery none of the defenders were killed. They were also able to conduct several forays outside the walls of fort to burn building that the Mexican gunners were using for cover. They gathered fire wood and collected water from a near-by creek. Messengers moved in and out through the Mexican lines at will.
March 3 Travis sent out one last appeal for help. Again he showed determination to hold the Alamo at cost. This plea reached the delegation meeting at Washington-on-the-Brazos March 6, by the time is was read the Alamo had fallen.
Around five o'clock in the morning on March 6 Santa Anna hurled his columns at the battered walls of the Alamo from four directions. About 1,800 Mexican assault troops started the advance into the range of the Texas gunners. Cannon shots ripped through their ranks. The concentrated fire from cannon and the accurate and deadly Texas rifles halted the advance until more troops were brought up to help reform and drive forward. Past the defensive perimeter within minutes they began to storm the walls. The defenders withdrew into the Long Barracks with the Mexicans surging after them. Bloody hand-to-hand fighting occurred in the dim rooms as the Texans were pushed back into the chapel. By dawn it was over and by eight o'clock every defender was dead. Travis had been among the first to die, he fell on the north wall beside his cannon. The assault had lasted barely ninety minutes.
Santa Anna had his revenge and a victory, but a victory at what price? It cost him at least 600 men dead or wounded, his supplies were being stretched thin by two weeks spent trying to subdue a garrison of less than 200 with a force of 4,000. The heroic stand of the defenders of the Alamo also gave the delegation meeting at Washington-on-the-Brazos enough time to declare independence, form a more stable revolutionary government, and draft a constitution for Texas. If he had moved on the Texas settlements first most, if not all, of the insurgents might have been driven across the Sabine river into Louisiana. The sacrifice of Travis and his command at the Alamo did one more very important thing, it gave spirit and support to the rest of Texas and ignited an outraged sense of justice that swept the Mexicans down at San Jacinto. "Remember the Alamo!"
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