Gen Antonio López de Santa Anna 6

Today in Texas History On the trail to Texas independence. Mar 05, 1836 - (12th day of the siege of the Alamo) Mexican artillery stops shelling the Alamo. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and General Juan Valentín Amador formulate the plan to assault the Alamo. It was apparent that Santa Anna not only wanted San Antonio as a Mexican outpost, but also desired the utter destruction of the Texas defenders, of whom he wanted to make an example. Again, his senior officers advocated waiting for the arrival of the heavy artillery. According to his aide, Fernando Urissa, Santa Anna responded "What are the lives of soldiers than so many chickens? I tell you, the Alamo must fall, and my orders must be obeyed at all hazards. If our soldiers are driven back, the next line in their rear must force those before them forward, and compel them to scale the walls, cost what it may." The decision was made for the assault to begin on the following day utilizing four assault columns and one reserve column. General Juan Valentín Amador drew up detailed battle orders. The orders instructed all men to wear shoes or sandals and to properly tie their shako chin-straps. Despite the cold, soldiers were prohibited from wearing cloaks or blankets, as these might limit their movements on the battlefield. Each soldier would receive either 4 or 6 rounds of ammunition and would be given 2 flints. Santa Anna calls for reconnaissance to determine Mexican attack positions and approaches. Mexican soldiers would be divided into four columns. Cos would command the first column, consisting of the Aldama Battalion and three companies of the San Luis Battalion. The remaining rifle companies of the San Luis Battalion, as well as the Toluca Battalion, would be under the command of Colonel Francisco Duque. A third column, commanded by Colonel Jose Maria Romero, comprised the rifle companies from the Matamoros and Jiménez Battalions. The scouting companies of the Matamoros, Jiménez, and San Luis Battalions would form the fourth column, under Juan Morales. Santa Anna would command the reserve force, primarily the grenadier companies from each of the battalions. The cavalry would guard the camp and patrol the area around the battlefield to stop any soldier, Texian or Mexican, who attempted to desert. Although not explicitly codified in the orders, Santa Anna ensured that the troops who had previously been stationed in Bexar did not take part in the fighting; this would ensure that relatives were not forced to fight each other. At the Alamo, a messenger arrives at the compound with the grim news that reinforcements aren't coming. Although evidence is lacking, tradition holds that Travis gathered his command together one final time to offer them the chance to leave. According to legend, Travis draws a line in the sand and asks the garrison to make a decision to stay or leave. Supposedly, a bedridden Bowie requested that Crockett and several others carry his cot over the line, leaving only one man, Louis "Moses" Rose on the other side. Explaining that he was not yet ready to die, Rose escaped that evening. Also that evening, James Allen became the last courier to leave the Alamo, carrying messages from Travis and several of the other men. At 10 pm, the Mexican artillery ceased their bombardment that had been sporadic throughout the day. As Santa Anna had planned, the exhausted Texians soon fell into a deep sleep, the first uninterrupted sleep many had gotten since the siege began. Three Texians were sent to act as sentries outside the walls. At midnight, the Mexicans begin moving into attack position. As Santa Anna had anticipated, the exhausted Texians soon fell into the first uninterrupted sleep many of them had since the siege began. The Mexicans north battery is now 200 yards from the Alamo. Col. James Neill is now at Gonzales in command of 375 troops gathering there. Pictures: General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, The Alamo, General Juan F. Morales, painting of Wm. Travis drawing a line in the sand, Colonel James Bowie, Colonel David Crockett, Colonel James Neill.