The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 29
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
gave up the attempt to set up their guns; but during the night,
protected by some old houses between the Alamo and the bridge,
they succeeded in erecting a battery 300 yards south of the Alamo
gate. They also erected another battery near the old powder
house, about 1,000 yards to the southeast, and they posted their
cavalry at the old Casa Mata on the Gonzales road to the east.
During the night the Texans sallied out and burned the straw
and wooden houses in the vicinity of the fort that had furnished
cover to the enemy. A strong norther had blown up about nine
o'clock and the thermometer fell rapidly.
Fourth Day, February 26. There was a skirmish at daylight
between a detachment of the Texans and Mexican cavalry which
was stationed east of the fortress. Santa Anna received rein-
forcements and doubled his guard, placing sentinels nearer the
Alamo, but the Texans sallied forth for wood without loss. All
day the Mexicans kept up a continual firing of their cannon; but
being short of ammunition, the Texans answered only occasionally.
An unsuccessful attempt was made by the Mexicans to cut the
garrison off from water. After nightfall the Texans burned some
old houses northeast of the fort and near a battery which the
Mexicans had erected on the Alamo ditch about 800 yards distant.
Fifth Day, February 27. Bonham left for Goliad and Gonzales
to hurry up reinforcements. The Mexicans kept up, a desultory
fire without damage to the Texans, but frequent night alarms,
necessity for unremitted watchfulness and ceaseless expectation of
assault were beginning to wear on them. The Mexicans sent out
foraging squads to the farms of Seguin and Flores. They decided
to make another attempt to cut off the water from the Texan
brought into action, conducted themselves with such undaunted hereoism
that it would be injustice to discriminate. The Hon. David Crockett
was seen at all points, animating the men to do their duty. Our num-
bers are few and the enemy still continues to approximate his works to
ours. I have every reason to apprehend an attack from his whole force
very soon; but I shall hold out to the last extremity, hoping to secure
reinforcements in a day or two. Do hasten on aid to me as rapidly as
possible, as from the superior number of the enemy, it will be impossi-
ble for us to keep them out much longer. If they overpower us, we
fall a sacrifice at the shrine of -our country, and we hope posterity and
our country will do our memory justice. Give me help, oh my Country!
Victory or Death!
W. Barret Travis
Lt.Col.Com.
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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/m1/37/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.