Osprey Campaign 89 : The Alamo 1836 : Santa Anna's Texas Campaign

This is the story of the 1836 campaign in Texas, including the epic siege of the Alamo and the battle of San Jacinto. In 1835 Texas was a province of the Mexican Republic, the President of which was the despotic Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a thief, liar, compulsive gambler, opium addict and megalomaniac to boot. (He once declared: 'Were I made God, I should wish to be something more.'). Dissatisfaction with increasingly oppressive Mexican rule on the part of the Texans, led, ultimately to war. Initial success was short-lived and in February 1836 Santa Anna marched his army into Texas. He lay siege to the old mission named the Alamo outside San Antonio. It was defended by a collection of volunteers under Colonel William Travis and the famous adventurer Jim Bowie (he of the knife), and included David Crockett. After a siege of 11 days the Mexicans stormed the Alamo and slaughtered the garrison, the bed-ridden Bowie apparently being tossed on their bayonets like a bale of straw. The situation was bleak, but the outrage at the Alamo followed by another massacre at Goliad on 27 March galvanised the Texans. Sam Houston's force, now the only thing between Texas and subjugation, fell back to the San Jacinto River. There on 21 April they fell upon Santa Anna's force and destroyed it, amid much bloodshed, in a battle lasting a mere 18 minutes. The Texans battle cry as they charged was, 'Remember the Alamo!'. Text by Stephen L. Hardin with illustrations by Angus McBride.

Contents

• Origins of the Campaign
• Opposing Commanders
• Opposing Armies
• Opposing Plans
• The Campaign of 1836
• Aftermath
• Chronology
• Bibliography
• Index