This just in from Woody:
Howdy,
A reminder. Today in 1836 at San Antonio, Texas, 186 Texian heroes died at the battle of the Alamo mission. This incident in our history has been compared to the battle of Thermopylae at which the Spartans, under Leonidas, also fought bravely to the death. Those 186 brave men spent their lives to buy the time General Sam Houston desperately needed and walked in spirit beside the Texian soldiers who routed Santa Anna's troops on 21 April 1836 at San Jacinto.
Take a little time today to remember those men and to thank them for their sacrifice.
11 comments:
I would argue against the "established" history. Judging from letters found in the last 10 years or so, Sam Houston had more up his sleeve than we thought. He had a secret agreement with Jackson to lure Santa Anna into the Neutral Territory, where the US Army would pounce on him, crush his force, and then take Texas for the US as spoils.
The Alamo delayed Houston in drawing Santa Anna north, which stretched his supplies. (He repeatedly tried to tell Travis to abandon the position, which is consistent with this.) In a fortuitous turn, the Twin Sisters showed up from Cincinnati, Santa Anna made a boneheaded maneuver that split his forces, and Sam Houston saw an opportunity to beat Santa Anna without the US Army.
(Of course, the women whom Houston had commandeered the oxen to draw the Twin Sisters had stolen her livestock back in the night, which also helped push Houston into the confrontation at San Jacinto. God I love Texas history.)
I wonder if this is still taught in school, I guess it not pc to teach American History anymore. Alex of Arley, Alex Martinez
Hey Mike, hope alls well. Is Pat Dollard site down, cant find it. Thanks Alex
Living in San Antonio as I do, it is difficult NOT to "Remember the Alamo". I am, indeed, grateful for their sacrifice and make a point of looking over towards and tipping my hat to the Alamo every time I drive up or down I37/SH281 downtown.
I do not doubt, now, that a rebellion is coming. Nor do I doubt that there will be one or more sieges such as was held at the ruins of the Mission San Antonio de Valero before the forces of liberty counter attack.
I DO doubt that, for all his damnable, o'erweening hubris, Himself will follow in the steps of Antonio López de Santa Anna. The promised one considers himself FAR TOO valuable to actually risk his precious hide by leading troops in battle.
No, unlike Santa Anna, Obama most likely will be hiding (huddling?) in a bunker, somewhere far underground, while better men than he give their lives.
I DO, however, expect him to emulate Santa Anna and - before the end - start having prisoners executed. You may not be aware but there is good evidence that the majority of the Alamo's defenders survived the final assault. Despite pleas for their lives from Gen. Kos and the other senior officers - professional soldiers all - and over their strongest objections, Santa Anna had all the surviving defenders executed by firing squad and their bodies burned - denying them even the "honor" of a Christian burial.
It's going to get MEAN, friends. It is GOING to get VERY MEAN before it's over.
Bad Cyborg X
Thanks for the post Mike.
WarriorClass
III
Texan
Thank you, Mike
[W3]
Whether they died fighting or were executed after the battle, and whether Houston had secret deals working with Jackson to which the men at the Alamo weren’t made privy, actually makes no difference to what actually happened in San Antonio on this date in 1836.
Somewhere in the close neighborhood of 186 men died that day. Those men knew going in that they very likely would not leave the battlefield alive. Santa Anna had a rather notorious reputation as to treatment of prisoners.
Those men stayed put and made themselves as much a part of history as did Leonidas’ Spartans. Anyone who would denigrate their resolve may pucker up and kiss my ass.
[W3]
I grew up in South Texas, learned the stories in Texas history class, and visited The Alamo a few times as a child.
I never really appreciated The Alamo until I took my children there a few years ago. I got chills just walking across the yard there.
It was then that I realized I was walking on sacred ground, and realized what Lincoln had meant in his Gettysburg Address "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it
far above our poor power to add or detract."
Indeed, the blood of the men who fought and died there hallowed the ground. Please, God, may we fight valiantly when the time comes.
Mr. Vanderboegh, Et Alii:
I'm glad somebody remembers.
Here is the URL for my own submission in observance of the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the Alamo.
http://writesong.blogspot.com/2011/02/ballad-of-alamo.html
I posted it on Thursday 24 February 2011, the anniversary of the beginning of the battle.
Note the links for watching a LIVE streaming web camera at the Alamo, and for using your own personal computer as a volunteer in helping the state of Texas to guard their border with Mexico.
Thank you.
John Robert Mallernee
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Gulfport, Mississippi 39507
There is no doubt that the men at the Alamo took a valiant and honorable stand, and that battle consumed many of Texas' heroes. I often wonder what Texas would have been like as a republic had Crockett survived to pit his abilities as a statesman against Houston (or with, as it may have turned out.)
But they certainly knew what they were doing, and they knew what Santa Anna would do if he managed to take the mission. It wasn't just rumor or reputation with Santa Anna. The battle cry at the Alamo was "Remember Goliad!" They knew what they were doing, knew the cost, and did it anyways. We can ask no more.
I had the thought that if the PTB want to make AK-47 style rifles less popular with the Mexican criminal groups, they might use a tactic I've recently learned was used in VN back in the war there.
I think they called them "Italian Specials," ordinary looking 7.62mm rounds loaded with higher charges (black powder or some type of HE) than were safe to shoot.
When they were fired, the weapons blew up in Charlie's face. Bang, bang, bang, bang, BOOM!
It wouldn't be difficult to make a few such rounds and pack them into magazines to leave on the desert floor.
It's just a thought.:)
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