The Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, Volume 21, Number 1, November 1985 Page: 77
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SKETCH OF THE TEXIAN REVOLUTION (1835)
The bodies of the slain were thrown into a heap in the centre of the
Alamo and burned. On Col. Bowie's body being brought out, Gen. Cos
said that he was too brave a man to be burned like a dog; then added, -
never mind, throw him in. The loss of the Mexicans in storming the place
was estimated at no less than one thousand men killed and mortally wounded,
and as many more disabled - making, with their loss in the first assault,
between two and three thousand killed and wounded. It is worthy of remark
that the flag of Santa Anna's army at Bexar was a blood red one, in place
of the old constitutional red-colored flag. Immediately after the capture of
the place, Gen. Santa Anna sent Mrs. Dickinson and Col. Travis' servant
to Gen. Houston's camp, accompanied by a Mexican with a flag, who was
bearer of a note from Santa Anna, offering the Texians peace and a general
amnesty, if they would lay down their arms and submit to his government.
Gen. Houston's reply was, "True sir, you have succeeded in killing some
of our brave men, but the Texians are not yet conquered."
Thus fell the brave defenders of San Antonio. Among the heroes, who
perished in the unequal conflict, were Col. W. B. Travis, Col. Jas. Bowie
and Col. David Crockett, formerly a member of Congress from the State
of Tennessee - every one of whom was himself a host. By a comparison
of dates, it appears that this little garrison of one hundred and eighty-two
men, held out eleven days against the repeated attacks of an army amount-
ing at last, by constant re-enforcements, to five thousand men. All that the
most determined bravery could achieve was accomplished by the besieged.
Although worn down by fatigue and want of sleep, which the continual
alarms and discharges of artillery rendered nearly impossible, while the more
numerous besiegers could relieve each other, the brave band in the fort did
not die unavenged. In the various attacks from first to last, it is probable
that they destroyed of the enemy, eight or ten times their own number. This
history of their achievements and sufferings, in this memorable siege, may
never be known in detail; but enough is revealed to immortalize the names
of these martyrs in the cause of liberty, and to stamp with eternal infamy
and disgrace their remorseless besiegers. Something of the chivalrous spirit
that animated and sustained this truly Spartan band during this trying oc-
casion, maybe seen by the despatch of Col. Travis, addressed to his fellow
citizens and compatriots, during the siege. He says, "I shall defend myself
to the last extremity, and die as becomes a soldier. I never intend to retreat
or surrender. Victory or Death."
This was the first victory obtained by the Mexicans; and the slaughter
of the whole garrison confirmed what was before suspected, that the con-
test on their part was to be a war of extermination. No quarter is to be given,Nov. 1985]
77
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Texas Gulf Historical Society. The Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, Volume 21, Number 1, November 1985, periodical, November 1985; Beaumont, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1433656/m1/79/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Gulf Historical Society.