The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 33
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
who ate it at the walls. Coffee would have been a boon, but their
scant supply had been exhausted long before this day. It is no
wonder that a moment's respite found these worn-out men asleep.
Even so, they did not leave their posts of duty, but lay near the
walls with their weapon in their hands."7
By two o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday, March 5, Santa
Anna had decided to act on his own opinion and had issued secret
orders to prepare for the storming of the Alamo at four o'clock on
the following morning. The orders were carefully prepared and
with great minuteness. On March 4, picked companies of Santa
Anna's third brigade had arrived by forced marches, and the
Alamo was now surrounded by more than 5,000 men."s The in-
fantry of all the battalions were directed to form in four columns
of attack to be led by the most experienced commanders of the
army: the first column was commanded by General Cos who had
so dishonorably broken his parole; the second, by Colonel Francisco
Duque, with General Castrillon as his successor in case of death
or disability; the third, by Colonel Jose Maria Romero, with Col-
onel Mariana Salas as his alternate; the fourth, by Juan Morales
with Colonel Jos6 Mifi6n to take his place in case of casualty.
Each column was supplied with axes, crowbars, and scaling ladders.
The light companies of all battalions were joined with the battalion
of engineers to form the reserve. The reserve was commanded by
Santa Anna in person but was under the direct orders of Colonel
Agustin Amat. The cavalry commanded by Sesma, was to be sta-
tioned in the rear, at different points about the fortress, so as to
prevent desertion of their own troops and to intercept any Texan
who might attempt to escape."9
0ITn addition to the sources already cited, the following works were
used in compiling the foregoing chronology: William Kennedy, Texas,
II, 176-180; Yoakum, History of Texas, II, 76-80; Bancroft, North Mex-
ican States and Texas, II, 205-210; C. W. Raines, Life of Santa Anna
in Texas Monthly Magazine (this is a serial article running through
the twelve issues of 1897 and to May, 1898); John J. Linn, Reminis-
cences of Fifty Years in Texas, 130-136; R. M. Potter, The Siege of the
Alamo; Henry S. Foote, Texas and Texans, II, 220; Stephen Gould,
Alamo Guide, 17-20; Johnson-Barker, Texas and Texans, I, 404-406;
Almonte's Diary, which is to be found in many histories of Texas. All
available Telegraph and Texas Register issues from 1835-1837. Files
of Arkansas Gazette from 1835-1840; and of Arkansas Advocate from
1835-1837.
"sWilliam Kennedy, Texas, II, 183 (Almonte's Diary); El Mosquito
Mexicano, March 4, 1836.
"Vicente Filisola, Guerra de Tejas, 7-9; Texas Almanac, 1870, 37;
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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/m1/41/?rotate=270: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.