February 23, 1836: Santa Anna Arrives
It was a brisk morning in Béxar, but at least the heavy rains had stopped. The Texans, who’d been celebrating into the early morning hours, were rudely awakened by the sounds of wagons and oxen in the street. When asked where they were going, the townsfolk answered that they were going to the fields to prepare for the spring planting. Travis didn’t trust this story, so he kept probing the town’s citizens for their reason for leaving. Finally, a person came forward.
He told Travis that a messenger from Santa Anna had been in town the night before. And had informed them that the president and his army were at Leon Creek, just eight miles away, and that they should evacuate the town.
As the garrison prepared for the coming battle, they purchased a large quantity of corn and twenty to thirty head of cattle from the residence of La Villita. Once inside the safety of the Alamo, the defenders and their families alike flocked to the fort’s west wall to watch Santa Anna and his army march into town.
At around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Santa Anna, leading his vanguard columns, entered Béxar from the west along the Presidio de Rio Grande road onto Portrero Street. Once Santa Anna had reached the Main Plaza in front of the San Fernando Church, he ordered soldiers to climb to the church’s bell tower and raise a blood-red flag. Tejano and Texans knew precisely what that flag represented: no quarter, no prisoners, no mercy.
From the 18-pound cannon platform on the southwest corner of the fort, Travis watched as the Mexicans raised their red flag. Angered, he ordered a shot fired from the big gun. Santa Anna answered with cannon shots from the newly positioned howitzers near the then Veramendi house and the town’s Main Plaza. Neither Travis’s nor Santa Anna’s cannon shots caused any damage.
Jim Bowie felt that the young Travis may have acted too hastily. Hoping to defuse what happened, he sent his friend Green B. Jameson out with a letter to Santa Anna. The letter asked if Santa Anna would agree to a parley. At the small footbridge, Jameson met with Colonel Juan N. Almonte, Santa Anna’s Chief of Staff. Almonte, who spoke perfect English, agreed to give the general Bowie’s letter.
Travis watched Bowie’s overreach, which made him mad. He and Bowie had agreed to share the command of the Alamo, but now Bowie went off on his own. Travis sent his messenger, Captain Albert Martin, to meet with Almonte. But this time, Almonte already had Santa Anna’s answer; the garrison would surrender unconditionally or be put to the sword.
Bowie and Travis agreed on the appropriate response to Santa Anna’s demand this time. Once again, the Alamo’s 18-pounder roared. And so began the siege of the Alamo.
Still Current 