The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941 Page: 453

"THE ALAMO"
SOME MISCONCEPTIONS
MAURY MAVERICK
Even some well informed people refer to the chapel of the
Alamo as "The Alamo." Since being mayor of San Antonio I
hear guides tell people in front of the chapel that here is the
Alamo--that here died our immortal heroes, and so on.
To correct this misunderstanding, I have had prepared the
map on the opposite page. The black lines show "The Alamo,"
containing about two acres and having walls, barracks, houses,
convent and convent garden, and the Alamo chapel. The red
lines show the present or new structures.
In the battle, all the walls had to be manned by the 180-odd
Texan soldiers. Military experts agree that there were hardly
fifteen per cent of the necessary men and munitions to defend
the place.
That must be remembered, for the Texans never had a chance.
In the middle of the Alamo Plaza is the Alamo Cenotaph,
built by Federal funds for the celebration of the Texas Cen-
tennial. And it will be seen that the walls extended far into
the present post office, west to a point eight feet behind, and
parallel to the present building line on the east side. Also the
arcades extending south from the facade of the Alamo are
recent, put there for artistic effect.
In back of the Alamo, never a part of it, is the park, which
contains the Alamo Museum, and the Daughters of the Texas
Revolution Building.
When I was a boy I can remember seeing pictures of the
battle, indicating Mexicans scaling the walls of the chapel, as
though the battle was all fought there. I think it only proper
that this popular misconception be corrected before it is too late.

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