The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 177
330 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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A Critical Study of the Siege of the Alamo
of San Jacinto. It came from Ram6n Caro, the private secre-
tary of Santa Anna. During my interview with this man, I re-
quested Captain Patton, the interpreter, to ask him how many
men they had in the siege of the Alamo, and what was their loss
there. Patton did so, and the answer was: 'We brought to San
Antonio more than 5000 men, and we lost during the siege 1544
of the best of them. The Texans fought more like devils than
like men.' Santa Anna and Almonte were both present at this
conversation and they did not contradict the statement.
In his account Sutherland goes on to figure out that Caro meant
1544 men were killed or mortally wounded, and he cites Ruiz's
estimate of 1600 to back up his reasoning.43
Sutherland's reasoning may be correct. A study and com-
parison of all these statements with one another and with cor-
related accounts convinces me that Caro gave a truthful answer
to Patton's question, and the majority of the sources indicate,
as Sutherland thought, that he meant 1544 killed.44 But we
must remember, as the Mexican reports clearly show, that the
Texans did not do all that slaughter, for during the first part of
the final assault, the Mexicans were so distributed and arranged for
the attack that they practically battled against themselves. More-
over, their hospital service was very deficient. Many of the
wounded died far lack of medical attention, beds, shelter, and
surgical instruments.4"
4Citation to above mentioned sources is as follows: Texas Almanac,
1860, 80; John J. Linn, Reminiscences of Fifty Years in Tewas, 144; J. M.
Morphis, History of Texas, 186; A. J. Sowell, Rangers and Pioneers of
Texas, 140; Telegraph and Texas Register, March 24, 1836; John S. Ford,
Journal (MS.), p. 73, University of Texas Archives; Arkansas Gazette,
April 15, 1836; Edward Stiff, Texas Emigrant, 8; Yoakum, II, 82; D. G.
Wooten, A Comprehensive History of Texas, I, 242; R. M. Potter, "The Fall
of the Alamo," Magazine of American History, January, 1878; John
Sutherland's "Account of the Fall of the Alamo," Dallas News, February
12, 1911; also in John S. Ford's Journal (MS.), pp. 74-75, University of
Texas Archives.
"See Travis to Houston, February 25, 1836, Chapter II, pp. 28-29.
Beyond a doubt the Mexicans lost heavily on February 25. See also,
Arkansas Gazette, April 12, 1836, which reports that the Mexican loss at
the Alamo was not less than 1000 killed and as many wounded. Again
that paper, May 3, 1836, prints a letter from Henry Raguet of Nacogdoches,
stating that there were 187 Texans slain on March 6, and that the Mexicans
lost 521 slain and as many wounded. He adds that the Mexicans had lost
an equal or greater number in previous attacks which would make more
than 1000 loss for Santa Anna.
"Ramon Martinez Caro, Verdadera Idea, 11; John Ford, Journal (MS.),
"Dr. John H. Barnard's Journal from December, 1835, to March 27, 1836,
and Scraps from then on till May 30." In this journal Dr. Barnard, a177
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Texas State Historical Association & Barker, Eugene C. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934, periodical, 1934; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101094/m1/196/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.