[Note 10][80] In the darkness, the Texians fired on the remaining 32 men, whom they assumed were Mexican soldiers. [78], Texians gathered in Gonzales were unaware of Fannin's return to Goliad, and most continued to wait. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The commander of the Texan forces was Lt. Col. William Travis, a 26-year-old lawyer from Alabama, according to Humanities Texas (opens in new tab), a nonprofit educational organization. For 15 minutes after that, soldiers continued to fire into dead bodies. Small skirmishes took place with few casualties. 180 Americans were laid to siege by the Mexican Army consisting of 4000 soldiers led . [96], In the initial moments of the assault, Mexican troops were at a disadvantage. The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event and military engagement in the Texas Revolution. [114] Mexican soldiers turned their attention to a Texian flag waving from the roof of one building. The battle during the assault was over in approximately 90 minutes. Many did not even have weapons or ammunition to fight with. [47] Several members of the garrison who had been living in town brought their families with them when they reported to the Alamo. According to Alamo.org, the Texians' eventual victory came on April 21, 1836, at the Battle of San Jacinto, when Santa Annas army was resoundingly defeated. Travis died opposing a mass attack against the weak north wall that finally penetrated the compound. This Monday, March 6, marks the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo outside of San Antonio, Texas, back in 1836. In July 1936 a coffin was discovered buried in that location, but according to historian Wallace Chariton, it is unlikely to actually contain the remains of the Alamo defenders. I reply to you, according to the order of His Excellency, that the Mexican army cannot come to terms under any conditions with rebellious foreigners to whom there is no recourse left, if they wish to save their lives, than to place themselves immediately at the disposal of the Supreme Government from whom alone they may expect clemency after some considerations. In 1837, Santa Anna's secretary Roman Martinez Caro did report "two small reinforcements from Gonzales that succeeded in breaking through our lines and entering the fort. [166] In the decades since, the battle has featured prominently in many non-fiction works. At dawn on March 6, 1836, the 13th day of the siege, the Battle of the Alamo commenced. NASA warns of 3 skyscraper-sized asteroids headed toward Earth this week. Unaware that the Alamo had fallen, Robert Potter called for the convention to adjourn and march immediately to relieve the Alamo. A Mexican patrol attacked, driving off four of the men including Bastian. During the Battle of the Alamo, thousands of Mexican soldiers besieged a small force of around 180 Texan rebels, who held out in the fort for two weeks. [117] In the confusion, the Texians had neglected to spike their cannon before retreating. Mexican perceptions of the battle often mirrored the prevailing viewpoint. By March 1, the number of Mexican casualties was nine dead and four wounded, while the Texian garrison had lost only one man. [75] On February 26, after days of indecision, Fannin ordered 320 men, four cannons, and several supply wagons to march towards the Alamo, 90 miles (140km) away. Based in the U.K., she graduated from the University of Stirling (opens in new tab) with a BA (Hons) journalism degree. Bowie arrived at San Antonio on Jan. 19, along with 30 volunteers to defend the city, according to TSHA. Key Players/Participants: Santa Anna (president of Mexico), William Travis, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie Event Date: March 6, 1836 He showed some decent consistency in the second half of 2022, finishing 11th or better in nine of the last 10 races. [Note 18][135] Shortly after the battle, Colonel Jos Juan Sanchez Navarro proposed that a monument should be erected to the fallen Mexican soldiers. Although the Rio Grande now marks the border between Texas and Mexico, in this era the, The fiesta was in celebration of the birthday of, Although Santa Anna later reported that Texian cannon fire on February 23 killed two Mexican soldiers and wounded eight others, no other Mexican officer reported fatalities from that day. When partnered with a smartphone or tablet, the book invites the reader to travel back to 1836 and "step inside" the Alamo to meet the heroes from the most legendary battle in Texas history! They were encouraged to relate the events of the battle, and to inform the remainder of the Texian forces that Santa Anna's army was unbeatable. The Alamo: Directed by John Lee Hancock. [54][Note 9], The first night of the siege was relatively quiet. (Edmondson (2000), p. Short Description: The Alamo was the site of a battle that took place during Texas's bid for independence from Mexico: All defenders were killed, but within six weeks the opposition leader, Santa Anna, was captured. Tennessee Ernie Ford's "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" spent 16 weeks on the country music charts, peaking at No. D. [19], When Mexican troops departed San Antonio de Bxar (now San Antonio, Texas, USA) Texian soldiers captured the Mexican garrison at the Alamo Mission, a former Spanish religious outpost which had been converted to a makeshift fort by the recently expelled Mexican Army. [57] No Texians were injured.[65]. [146] Alsbury and the other Tejano women were allowed to return to their homes in Bxar; Dickinson, her daughter and Joe were sent to Gonzales, escorted by Ben. [179] The "Remember the Alamo" battle cry, as well as the Alamo Mission itself appear on the current version of the reverse side of the seal of Texas. sam houston asks jim bowie to go to the alamo to fetch the _____. ), Edmondson speculates that these men might have been sick or wounded and were therefore unable to fight. [104] Travis rushed to his post yelling, "Come on boys, the Mexicans are upon us and we'll give them hell! It ended in a decisive victory for Mexican forces over Texan volunteers. In the meantime, more information about the article and the author can be found by clicking on the authors name. What happened at the Alamo and why is it important? [39] Rather than advance along the coast, where supplies and reinforcements could be easily delivered by sea, Santa Anna ordered his army inland to Bxar, the political center of Texas and the site of Cos's defeat. [98] As a precaution, 500 Mexican cavalry were positioned around the Alamo to prevent the escape of either Texian or Mexican soldiers. [158] Santa Anna had been disgraced following his capture at the Battle of San Jacinto, and many Mexican accounts of the battle were written by men who had been, or had become, his outspoken critics. As the defenders began to realize they were losing the fort, some tried to flee over the east wall but were met by Mexican troops who were stationed to target escapees. When Texan defenders retreated to the adobe barracks buildings for cover, Mexican gunners rolled up cannon and blew down the heavy doors. [136] Other estimates of the number of Mexican soldiers killed ranged from 60 to 200, with an additional 250300 wounded. Measured against this standard, The Battle of the Alamo is a book with a powerful distinction. 1. The news sparked both a strong rush to join the Texian army and a panic, known as "The Runaway Scrape", in which the Texian army, most settlers, and the government of the new, self-proclaimed but officially unrecognized Republic of Texas fled eastward toward the U.S. ahead of the advancing Mexican Army. According to Todish et al., "there can be little doubt that most Americans have probably formed many of their opinions on what occurred at the Alamo not from books, but from the various movies made about the battle. March 6, 2023. As of 2023, the Alamo Trust (which operates the site) seeks to expand the property to build an Alamo museum. The Alamo garrison had been under fire for 13 whole days in February 1836 in San Antonio. The last bastion to fall was the chapel, where a small Texan detachment controlled their last cannon. [43], On February 21, Santa Anna and his vanguard reached the banks of the Medina River, 25 miles (40km) from Bxar. How long did Alamo Battle last? Santa Anna called himself Napoleon of the West. Some witnesses maintained that they saw several Mexican soldiers enter Bowie's room, bayonet him, and carry him alive from the room. The Mexican Army kill all the Alamo's defenders. Fifteen minutes into the battle, they attacked a third time. Sam Houston's army defeated Santa Anna's forces guaranteeing the victory for Texas independence. The final attack of the Battle of the Alamo took place just before dawn. Volunteers in the Texian Army asserted the right to choose their own leaders, and most of them were unwilling to serve under officers of the regular army. It is not enough to know that he died.We need to know exactly how this legendary American lost his life in one of our nation's most famous battles.Thankfully, there were eyewitnesses. To mitigate the resulting ill feelings, Bowie agreed to share command with Travis. [83], The arrival of the Mexican reinforcements prompted Travis to send three men, including Davy Crockett, to find Fannin's force, which he still believed to be en route. How long did the battle of the Alamo last? According to historian Mary Deborah Petite, the letter is "considered by many as one of the masterpieces of American patriotism. [159] As the English-speaking population increased, the complex became best known for the battle. Women, children and slaves were allowed to live and leave the Alamo. Potter based his work on interviews with many of the Mexican survivors of the battle. [157], Following the battle, Santa Anna was alternately viewed as a national hero or a pariah. (The story of this weeks long military campaign is presented in the . Cold winter weather made life difficult for both sides. This Monday, March 6, marks the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo outside of San Antonio, Texas, back in 1836. [102] At this point, the silence was broken by shouts of "Viva Santa Anna!" It is true that nearly all of the Texans under arms inside the fort were killed in the March 6, 1836 attack. [116] Many of the remaining occupiers were ensconced in the fortified barracks rooms. [45], In the early hours of February 23, residents began fleeing Bxar, fearing the Mexican army's imminent arrival. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. When the Texans refused to surrender to the thousands besieging them, the attackers raised a red flag, meaning "no quarter," according to Smithsonian Magazine (opens in new tab). (Estimates of the eventual size of Santa Annas army vary widely, from perhaps 1,800 men to as many as 6,000.) Santa Anna's refusal to take prisoners during the battle inspired many Texians and Tejanos to join the Texian Army. Of the official list of 189 Texan defenders, all were killed. In a letter to the people of Texas written during the siege, Travis wrote: "The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion I have answered the demand with a cannon shot and our flag still waves proudly from the walls I shall never surrender or retreat," according to the journal Southwest Review (opens in new tab). Celebrated in song, story and cinema, the story of heroism against all the odds helped define the . With John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Laurence Harvey, Frankie Avalon. On March 6, 1836, however, the Alamo finally fell. [142] According to a March 28, 1837, article in the Telegraph and Texas Register,[143] Segun buried the coffin under a peach tree grove. A. [156] Santa Anna was captured the following day, and reportedly told Houston: "That man may consider himself born to no common destiny who has conquered the Napoleon of the West. The Battle of the Alamo came to a brutal conclusion on March 6, 1836, 13 days after a sporadic battle, rounding off a critical milestone in the Texas Revolution. Within Mexico, the battle has often been overshadowed by events from the MexicanAmerican War of 18461848. The Battle of the Alamo was fought over 13 days on the grounds of an 18th century Spanish mission in San Antonio in the winter of 1836. . According to Almonte, the Texians asked for an honorable surrender but were informed that any surrender must be unconditional. A Mexican force of over several thousand men arrived at the Alamo on February 23 and a 13-day long siege ensued. Deconstruct the myth shrouding the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. (Lindley (2003), p. The Battle of the Alamo was a battle between Texans and Mexicans during a time when Texas was part of Mexico. Many soldiers shouted, "Remember the Alamo" as their battle cry. Santa Anna became president of the independent republic of Mexico in 1833 and centralized power in Mexico, which caused the country to fall into a state of civil war, according to Alamo.org (opens in new tab). (Todish, According to Edmondson, Wolf then ran into the room, grabbed his remaining son, and leaped with the child from the cannon ramp at the rear of the church; both were killed by musket shots before hitting the ground. The Texas Revolution began in October 1835 with a string of Texan victories that drove the Mexican federal forces south of the Rio Grande by December. Susannah Dickinson recalled Travis announcing that any men who wished to escape should let it be known and step out of ranks. One of the historical battles was fought on March 6, 1836, at the Alamo, a crumbling fort defended by 154 men. By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Motivated by a desire for revenge, as well as their written desire to preserve a border open to immigration and the importation and practice of slavery, the Texians defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, ending the rebellion in favor of the newly formed Republic of Texas. ), A week after Neill sent his letter, the Texian provisional legislature impeached, Houston's orders to Bowie were vague, and historians disagree on their intent. [108] Others climbed through gun ports in the west wall, which had few occupiers. [31] Instead, he sent Colonel James Bowie with 30 men to remove the artillery from the Alamo and destroy the complex. Women . [122] Had he succeeded, the blast would have destroyed the church and killed the women and children hiding in the sacristy. C. To be used for a hospital . [135] The ashes were left where they fell until February 1837, when Juan Segun returned to Bxar to examine the remains. He supposedly drew a line in the ground and asked those willing to die for the Texian cause to cross and stand alongside him; only one man (Moses Rose) was said to have declined. Houston replied, "You should have remembered that at the Alamo". For 13 days, 189 brave and determined patriots withstood Santa Anna's . The fort was retaken by Mexican soldiers and virtually all of . [2][3][4] This would represent about one quarter of the over 2,000 Mexican soldiers involved in the final assault, which Todish remarks is "a tremendous casualty rate by any standards". [171] Jane Bowers' song "Remember the Alamo" has been recorded by artists including Johnny Cash,[172] Willie Nelson,[173] and Donovan. [58] On the evening of February 26 Colonel Juan Bringas engaged several Texians who were burning more huts. Among the defenders was James Bowie, a land prospector, slave trader and militiaman. [32] In a letter to Governor Henry Smith, Bowie argued that "the salvation of Texas depends in great measure on keeping Bxar out of the hands of the enemy. [107] Duque fell from his horse after sustaining a wound in his thigh and was almost trampled by his own men. The Mexican army under General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna laid siege on the Alamo to recapture it. On the thirteenth day of the siege, Santa Anna's artillery bombards the Alamo, and the entire Mexican army sweeps forward, attacking on all sides. [25] The walls surrounding the complex were at least 2.75 feet (0.84m) thick and ranged from 912ft (2.73.7m) high. Sam Houston convinced the delegates to remain in Washington-on-the-Brazos to develop a constitution. Santa Anna posted one company east of the Alamo, on the road to Gonzales. [28][29] The Texian government was in turmoil and unable to provide much assistance. [13] By this point, the Texian Army was dominated by very recent arrivals to the region, primarily illegal immigrants from the United States. At some point that day, Bowie collapsed from illness,[60] leaving Travis in sole command of the garrison. For the next 10 days, the two armies engaged in several skirmishes with minimal casualties. In December of 1835, a group Six hundred Mexicans were killed. Susanna Dickinson, the wife of an Alamo occupier, her infant daughter, Angelina, and Joe, a slave of William Barret Travis, were released to tell Sam Houston what had happened. (Edmondson (2000), p. 373), According to Petite, "Every account of the Crockett surrender-execution story comes from an avowed antagonist (either on political or military grounds) of Santa Anna's. [22] Mexican forces had left behind 19 cannons, which Jameson installed along the walls. Related: Alamo, San Antonio missions nominated for World Heritage Site. A Mexican army under General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna advanced north to put down the rebels, and most of the victorious Texas volunteer rebel army went home. Most Texan soldiers were killed, and there were about 1000 to 1600 casualties in the Mexican army. [128], According to many accounts of the battle, between five and seven Texians surrendered. . [2] Some people, historians, and survivors such as Susanna Dickinson have estimated that over 1,000-1,600 Mexican soldiers were killed and wounded, but it is most likely that total casualties were less than 600. Fragments of uniforms were found in the coffin and the Texian soldiers who fought at the Alamo were known not to wear uniforms. [110] The Mexican soldiers closest to the north wall realized that the makeshift wall contained many gaps and toeholds. A blue norther blew in on February 25, dropping the temperature to 39F (4C). as they slaughtered fleeing Mexican troops. At first, the Texians matched Mexican artillery fire, often reusing the Mexican cannonballs. The battle ended on March 6, 1836, when those who surrendered were executed. As the Texians discharged their previously loaded rifles, they found it increasingly difficult to reload while attempting to keep Mexican soldiers from scaling the walls. (Todish, According to Francisco Ruiz, possibly the, Cremating bodies was anathema at the time, as most Christians believed that a body could not be resurrected unless it were whole. Four days later, the delegates at the convention received a dispatch Travis had written March 3 warning of his dire situation. Battle of the Alamo, battle during the Texas Revolution that occurred from February 23 to March 6, 1836, in San Antonio, Texas. [60] Late that afternoon, two Mexican scouts became the first fatalities of the siege. Based on the 1836 standoff between a group of Texan and Tejano men, led by Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, and Mexican dictator Santa Anna's forces at the Alamo in San Antonio Texas. Texan cannon, loaded with nails, horseshoes, and old iron, fired into the Mexican forces and, together with the rifle fire, repulsed the first assault. [123], As soldiers approached the sacristy, one of the young sons of occupier Anthony Wolf stood to pull a blanket over his shoulders. [Note 15][129][130] Incensed that his orders had been ignored, Santa Anna demanded the immediate execution of the survivors. Meanwhile, Cos' men gained access to the northwest corner, according to "The Encyclopedia of the Mexican-American War (opens in new tab)" (ABC-CLIO, 2012). [163] According to Bill Groneman's Battlefields of Texas, the Alamo has become "the most popular tourist site in Texas".[162]. [12], In October, Texians engaged Mexican troops in the first official battle of the Texas Revolution. This letter was not widely distributed, and it is unlikely that most of the United States recruits serving in the Texian Army were aware that there would be no prisoners of war. [17] Angered by what he perceived to be United States interference in Mexican affairs, Santa Anna spearheaded a resolution classifying foreign immigrants found fighting in Texas as pirates. [8] The border region of Mexican Texas was largely populated by immigrants from the United States, some legal but most illegal. Between 1,800 and 6,000 Mexican soldiers besieged the fort, while the defenders numbered less than 200, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica (opens in new tab). [111] As the Texian occupiers abandoned the north wall and the northern end of the west wall,[108][111] Texian gunners at the south end of the mission turned their cannon towards the north and fired into the advancing Mexican soldiers. A simple coffin inscribed with the names Travis, Crockett, and Bowie was filled with ashes from the funeral pyres. Published on: March 2, 2023. The Battle of the Alamo's finale is commemorated on Alamo Day, which takes place on March 6 every year. a dozen of them have come to light over the last 50 years, show that between a . This contribution has not yet been formally edited by Britannica. According to the San Jacinto Museum of History, in 1835 Cos agreed to retire to the interior of the Mexican republic under parole of honor, and never again to invade Texas with arms. Despite this, he joined Santa Annas army and led soldiers during the battle in 1836. The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 - March 6, 1836) was a pivotal e. Let us know. Most Americans, however, are more familiar with the myths and legends spread by many of the movie and television adaptations,[5] including the 1950s Disney miniseries Davy Crockett and John Wayne's 1960 film The Alamo. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [139][140], Mexican soldiers were buried in the local cemetery, Campo Santo. 1.9K. 13 days. [52] When the Mexican troops raised a blood-red flag signifying no quarter, Travis responded with a blast from the Alamo's largest cannon. Between 1,800 and 6,000 Mexican soldiers besieged the fort, while . The Battle of the Alamo went down in history as a 13-day siege. open. [33] Volunteers comprised much of the garrison, and they were unwilling to accept Travis as their leader. Was the author of the account in a position to observe the details recorded? [23] A wooden palisade stretched between these two buildings. 30. [134] Another officer then remarked that "with another such victory as this, we'll go to the devil". Santa Anna remained in camp with the 400 reserves. Battle of the Alamo Timeline Fact 1: The Texas Revolution began in October 1835 with the Battle of Gonzales. The Alamo became a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and is The Battle of Alamo was fought February 23-March 6, 1836, between Texan and Mexican forces and saw the Mexicans overrun the Alamo after a brief siege. Those who were unable to reach these points were slain by the Mexican cavalry as they attempted to escape. Dickinson's crew fired their cannon from the apse into the Mexican soldiers at the door. [53] Believing that Travis had acted hastily, Bowie sent Jameson to meet with Santa Anna. Between five and seven Texians may have surrendered; if so, they were quickly executed. [131] Weeks after the battle, stories circulated that Crockett was among those who surrendered. Others were ordered to retreat to the fort's church for a last stand, according to Smithsonian Magazine. . Impressed with Susanna Dickinson, Santa Anna offered to adopt her infant daughter Angelina and have the child educated in Mexico City. Ailsa's interest in the environment also lies outside of writing, as she has worked alongside Operation Wallacea (opens in new tab) conducting rainforest and ocean conservation research. The siege and subsequent Battle of the Alamo lasted for 13 days a lot longer than anybody expected the garrison of the Alamo to survive. [51] Travis was angered that Bowie had acted unilaterally and sent his own representative, Captain Albert Martin. [109] When Santa Anna saw that the bulk of his army was massed against the north wall, he feared a rout; "panicked", he sent the reserves into the same area. [10] The centralized government ended local federal exemptions to the ban on slavery, which had been negotiated by Stephen Austin and others. [46][Note 8] After learning of the planned celebration, Santa Anna ordered General Joaqun Ramrez y Sesma to immediately seize the unprotected Alamo, but sudden rains halted that raid. and. Todish attributes the remark to Lieutenant Colonel Jos Juan Sanchez-Navarro. June 10, 2021 at 6:00 a.m. EDT. [13] Determined to quell the rebellion of immigrants, Santa Anna began assembling a large force, the Army of Operations in Texas, to restore order. The U.S. (Todish, Colonel Juan Almonte's journal did not mention any skirmishes that evening. The Republic of Texas began the fight for independence in 1833. Although seven defenders are thought to have survived the battle, they were afterwards executed by the Mexican forces, according to the TSHA. [40], Progress was slow. [109], As previously planned, most of the Texians fell back to the barracks and the chapel. [106] The tight concentration of troops also offered an excellent target for the Texian artillery. How do the accounts differ from one another in terms of details: for example, whether any of the Alamo's defenders survived the battle, the size of the Mexican army, and the number of deaths . Mexican soldiers drove a second group across the prairie. One of the first to scale the 12-foot (3.7 m) wall was General Juan Amador; at his challenge, his men began swarming up the wall. Wikimedia Commons James Bowie. His demand for unconditional surrender was answered with a cannon shot. Warnell died several months later of wounds incurred either during the final battle or during his escape as a courier. [58][59] On February 26 Travis ordered the artillery to conserve powder and shot. The triumph of conservative forces in the elections unleashed a series of events that culminated on October 23, 1835, under a new constitution, after the repeal of the federalist Constitution of 1824. [102] According to the diary of Jos Enrique de la Pea, "a single cannon volley did away with half the company of chasseurs from Toluca". B. Nevertheless, all of the escaping Texians were killed. [182] Conversely, the bar owner says that he wishes to participate in the economic success of adding an Alamo museum and that there is a certain unjust irony of seizing his property to expand the Alamo.[183]. James "Jim" Bowie. The Battle of the Alamo is centered around factual information. A. 372. The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 - March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event and military engagement in the Texas Revolution. The battle of the Alamo is well documented. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Answer (1 of 8): The battle lasted 13 days. After four failed attacks, some of the Mexican troops climbed over the north wall and opened a door for the rest of the soldiers. At dawn on March 6, 1836, the 13th day of the siege, the Battle of the Alamo commenced. [57][61][62] Several Texians ventured out to burn the huts[62] while Texians within the Alamo provided cover fire. Now It's Time to Correct the Record. Questions or concerns? [95] Clouds concealed the moon and thus the movements of the soldiers. The Mexican army was taken by surprise, and the Battle of San Jacinto was essentially over after 18 minutes. His brother Francisco, an officer in Santa Anna's army, received permission to give Gregorio a proper burial. If they spare you, save my child, Last words of Texian defender Almaron Dickinson to his wife Susanna as he prepared to defend the chapel. In October 1835, after years of simmering tensions, many Texans, who were then called "Texians," rebelled against Mexico , after the Mexican government became a dictatorship under Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna, wrote Will Fowler, a professor of Latin American studies at the University of St. Andrews in the U.K., in "Santa Anna of Mexico" (opens in new tab) (Bison Books, 2007). On March 6, 1836, after 13 days of intermittent fighting, the Battle of the Alamo comes to a gruesome end, capping off a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution. [21] The complex sprawled across 3 acres (1.2ha), providing almost 1,320 feet (400m) of perimeter to defend. [133] In Mexican history, the Texas campaign, including the Battle of the Alamo, was soon overshadowed by the MexicanAmerican War of 18461848. "[102] and, as he passed a group of Tejanos, "No rendirse, muchachos!" [100], At 5:30 a.m. troops silently advanced. At dawn on March 6, 1836, the 13th day of the siege, the Battle of the Alamo commenced. "[119], The last of the Texians to die were the 11 men manning the two 12-pounder cannons in the chapel. Nineteen cannon lined the walls. Jason Stanford. The Mexican president was captured the following day and agreed to recognize Texas independence. [Note 14][124] Possibly the last Texian to die in battle was Jacob Walker,[125] who attempted to hide behind Susannah Dickinson and was bayoneted in front of the women. [25] Cos' column, under fire from Texians on the west wall, also veered north. The Battle of the Alamo during Texas' war for independence from Mexico lasted thirteen days, from February 23, 1836-March 6, 1836.