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Chapter 10 Section 2: Texans Defend the Alamo
1. After Bowie arrived at the Alamo, what belief did Bowie and Travis both share? What
did they do then?
Holding the Alamo was vital to the fate of Texas; they began to strengthen its defenses
2. What happened on February 23rd?
Travis was surprised when an advance wing of Santa Anna’s army arrived at San Antonio; the
Texans barely made back inside the Alamo
3. What are some examples of the good defensive position the Texans were in at the
Alamo?
Walls 2-3 feet thick and 12 feet high; 21 cannons, including an 18-pounder; large supply of
water, corn, and beef
4. What were some weaknesses?
The wall was incomplete—there was a gap between the chapel and the south wall; the gap
was only protected by a fence made of sticks and dirt; the mission was too large for Travis
and his limited number of men (about 200) to protect
5. Who wrote the letter declaring, “Victory or death”?
William B. Travis, on February 24, 1836
6. Why did Fannin remain in Goliad instead of moving his men to San Antonio to help
Travis?
Fannin lacked enough wagons to move all of his supplies
7. Who arrived at the Alamo on March 1st? Where had they come from? Who led them?
Albert Martin and George C. Kimball brought a force of 32 volunteers from Gonzales
8. Where did Santa Anna make his headquarters? What did the red flag of “no quarter”
mean?
At the San Fernando church near the Alamo; it meant he did not intend to take any prisoners
in the coming battle
9. What did Travis do on March 3rd? What did he describe and what did he ask for? How
did Travis end his correspondence?
Wrote his last appeal for help at the Alamo; Travis described the fighting that had already
taken place and repeated his request for assistance; Travis ended by saying he and his troops
were determined to hold the Alamo
10. What was the “legend” that described Travis’s actions on March 5th?
Travis took his sword and drew a line on the ground; all those who wished to stay and defend
the Alamo were asked to cross over the line; all but one of the men crossed over the line
11. Who was the one man who refused to fight? Why?
Louis “Moses” Rose; as a Frenchman and a veteran of the Napoleonic wars, he refused to
sacrifice his life for a hopeless cause
12. When did Santa Anna’s attack on the Alamo begin? About how many Mexican troops
took part in the final assault?
About 5:00am, March 6, 1836; about 1800 Mexican troops
13. What was “El Deguello”?
An ancient chant showing no mercy would be shown, that was played by Mexican buglers to
the Texans in the Alamo
14. How many attacks did the Texans turn back before Santa Anna’s men made it over the
Alamo’s walls? When did the battle for the Alamo end?
2 attacks; ended around 8:00am on March 6th
15. How many men did Santa Anna claim were killed? What happened to Bowie, Travis, and
Crockett? About how many Mexicans do historians claim were killed?
Santa Anna claimed 600 Texans were killed (historians now say the death toll was around
250); all 3 were killed; historians say about 600 Mexicans were killed (Santa Anna claimed
only 70)
16. Although Santa Anna ordered the deaths of the defenders of the Alamo, list 3 or 4
people who survived. What were some of these freed citizens ordered to do?
Many women and children were released, including Ana Salazar de Esparza, Juana Navarro de
Alsbury; also Susanna Dickinson, her daughter Angelina, and Joe Travis (a slave), who were
ordered to leave San Antonio and travel to Goliad to tell the Texans of the massacre at the
Alamo
17. Who was Andrea Castanon Villanueva? Who was Brigido Guerrero?
She was a Tejano woman who nursed an ill James Bowie and received a pension from the
Texas government because she was an Alamo survivor; Brigido Guerrero survived the battle
at the Alamo by telling Santa Anna he was a prisoner of the Texans and that they forced him
to fight against his will
18. What were 3 reasons why many historians believed Texas wouldn’t have won its
independence without the Battle of the Alamo?
Santa Anna lost many professional soldiers and may have been delayed in continuing his fight
against the Texans; Texans were more determined than ever to win independence after
hearing of the courage of Travis and his men—the cry “Remember the Alamo!” became
popular among the soldiers; the battle also encouraged U.S. citizens to help the Texans in
their fight for independence