The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 11
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
carts loaded with household and kitchen goods, moved along the
various roads leading from the town. There was much subdued
excitment. Upon being questioned, these movers would declare
that they were simply going into the country to begin farming
operations. Nevertheless, the Texans became apprehensive and
decided to place a sentry in the tower of the San Fernando church
with instructions to keep vigilant watch to the west, and at first
sight of Mexican troops to ring the bell. About noon of that
same day the sentry sighted moving figures beyond the Alazan.
Glittering lances seemed to indicate that they were cavalry troops;
but at the ringing of the church bell they disappeared over the
hills, so that when no enemy could be seen by the crowd that had
assembled at the alarm, the sentry was accused of falsehood.
But the sentry's report was true, for as has just been related,
Santa Anna's army had arrived. In fact, Santa Anna had arrived
at the Medina River during the night of February 20. There he
halted and intended to go into camp, partly to rest his weary
troops, partly to await the coming of his slower brigades; but
upon learning from his scouts that the Texans were to join with
the Mexicans in a fandango on the night of the 21st, he planned
to push on and make an attack before daybreak of the morning
rigues immediately warned Travis, and urged him to withdraw his forces
from Bexar, join Houston, and make a stand at Gonzales; but Travis
refused to believe the report, saying that it could not be true, for since
it was less than three months since the defeat of Cos, the Mexicans
would not dare to return so soon. After the 18th of February, Mexi-
cans arrived daily from the Rio Grande, all bearing similar reports of
the advancing Mexican forces. After each new report Rodrigues would
urge Travis to leave before it was too late. Finally Travis told him
that he and his men had decided to stay and die at the Alamo, if need
be, fighting for Texas. Rodrigues belonged to a company of twenty-four
Mexicans, organized by Juan N. Seguin. All except nine of this com-
pany were with Houston's army which had been left at Gonzales. These
Mexican soldiers of the Texan army were engaged chiefly in foraging
from ranch to ranch in order to maintain food supplies for the soldiers
with Travis at Bexar and with Fannin at Goliad. The nine members
of this company not at Gonzales were with Juan N. Seguin, their cap-
tain, under Travis's command. On the 20th of February, Rodrigues
received orders to join his command at Gonzales. On the morning of
February 22, Rives came again to the home of Mrs. Rodrigues, and
urged her to leave Bexar, for he said he had seen Santa Anna himself
(whom he knew) in disguise, looking in on a fandango in Soledad street
the night before. This news spread rapidly among the Mexicans. By
dawn of the 23rd Mrs. Rodrigues and her children left the city and
went to the ranch of Dofia Ximines which was twenty miles in the coun-
try. This story gives some idea of what the condition at Bexar must
have been.
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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/m1/19/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.