Our history is full of legendary stories. And let’s face it, stories sell. The battle of the Alamo is no exception – in fact, more than 15 movies alone have been filmed about that fateful day, all with wildly different interpretations. So it’s no wonder that separating fact from fiction, especially when it comes to such a cinematic moment in history, is like trying to wade across a river of thick Texas barbecue.
Is what you know about the Alamo from the movies and television what really happened? Let’s take a stroll through the battle of the Alamo’s most memorable moments from the screen – and sort truth from lore along the way.
The year was 1836 when Texas was still a province of Mexico. Residents were tired of tyrannical rule, so they rose up in an effort to forge their independence from the Mexican government. Things came to a head when around 200 rebels decided to “draw the line” inside The Alamo – a remote mission on the wild Texas frontier.
Three legendary heroes – William Barrett Travis, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie, came together to lead the fight against Santa Anna’s approaching massive army of 3,000 men. They followed the orders of Sam Houston, Commanding General of the Texas Army, who told them to hold the Alamo at any cost, like in the 1960 classic, “The Alamo.”
Sam Houston telling William Travis and his men, “You people need to buy me time!” in the 1960 movie, “The Alamo”
Or did he?
Actually, Sam Houston wasn’t there, and he told the men not to defend the Alamo. What he said instead was something like, “We can’t defend that thing against Santa Anna’s army. Haul away the cannons, blow up the fort, and give the pile of rubble to the Mexicans.”
Before long, the freedom fighters found themselves surrounded by Santa Anna’s troops. The men knew they had their back to the wall. So Travis called all 200 hardscrabble rebels to the yard. Silence echoed off the mud walls as he slowly carved a long, jagged line in the dirt with his sword. He proclaimed that every defender who crossed that line must be willing to die for Texas. And every one of them did.
William Barrett Travis draws a line in the sand from the Disney miniseries, “Davy Crockett at the Alamo”
This is the line, both real and proverbial, that has illuminated every fierce, independent Texan soul for nearly 200 years.
Right?
Well, the jury is still out on this one. There’s no hard evidence that this occurred. And, stories about this defining moment didn’t emerge until nearly 40 years later. Is it merely lore, repeated and passed down so many times that it has taken on a life of its own?
In the end, it doesn’t matter. Because in reality, a line was drawn in the breast of every man that day who decided to stay and fight to the death.
Outnumbered 25 to one, the rebels managed to stand firm against the Mexican Army for 12 days. During that time, they sent numerous letters begging fellow Texians to rush to their aid. William Travis himself repeatedly sent pleading letters to Colonel James Fannin, who was stationed about 90 miles away with 300 men. The Alamo defenders searched the horizon every day for reinforcements.
But no one came.
The rebels came to the horrifying realization that no help would arrive in time. But to a man, they resolved to all die gallantly for their cause. Together. For the future of Texas.
A scene from the 2004 movie, “The Alamo”
Or did they?
Mexican soldiers later found a letter in William Travis’ coat pocket from his friend Robert M. Williamson. In the letter, Williamson reassures Travis that help is on the way. So did the men make a suicide pact of sorts, or did they genuinely believe that they only had to hold out for a few more days? Evidence shows that they were likely clinging to the hope that reinforcements would arrive if they could just hold on a little longer.
The battle finally erupted. Santa Anna unleashed 1800 men on the Alamo, and the fighting was waged under the burning hot Texas sun, as seen in many films.
The daytime Alamo battle scene in the 1960 movie, “The Alamo”
Well, not exactly.
The 90-minute battle was actually fought in the early morning darkness before dawn. And what ensued was less of a fight and more of a massacre.
Acting commander William Travis fought bravely alongside his men until he was dramatically stabbed to death towards the end of the battle.
William Barrett Travis dying from a bayonet stab to the heart in 1987’s “The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory”
Nope.
Actually, Travis died at the very beginning of the battle from a shot in the head.
Okay, well, Jim Bowie, the legendary knife fighter, fought bravely alongside his men even though he was ailing.
A fighting Jim Bowie resists soldiers as they try to carry him off the battlefield in the 1960 movie, “The Alamo”
Almost, but not quite.
Bowie had been ill for weeks (records indicate that he possibly had TB). But he was killed in his bed, unable to fight due to his illness.
Fine. But our hero, Davy Crockett, most definitely fought to his last breath when he finally went down, desperately swinging his beloved rifle, “Old Betsy”.
Davy Crockett (and Betsy’s) action-packed last stand in Disney’s “The Last Stand at the Alamo”
Hang on to your coonskin cap because…
That poignant image of Davy Crockett wielding his trusty rifle to the end is an impossibility. He left ol’ Betsy with his son in his home state of Tennessee before he came to Texas.
But did he die fighting? The historical jury is still out on this one, too. Some say that he died in battle. Yet several accounts show that he was captured and executed at Santa Anna’s request by the hand of the general’s personal guards.
By the time the sun rose that bloody day, Santa Anna had delivered total defeat. But, the brave defenders managed to kill 600 of Santa Anna’s first-line men, slowed his advancement, and gave the rebels a thirst for revenge and a battle cry that would ring through the centuries.
So no matter the details, let’s sit back and enjoy the Alamo story in all of its forms – choosing to remember instead that the men who died, defending insurmountable odds, remind us what being an American is all about.
What’s your favorite film, book, or TV series about the Alamo? Commenting below will serve as your entry for our August giveaway. Submit your comment (one comment only please) by August 30th. One winner will be randomly selected on August 31st to receive a Texas Commemorative 1 oz. silver round featuring the iconic symbols of Texas, including the inscription, “Remember the Alamo” on the reverse. Remember, inappropriate comments will be deleted and disqualified.
I kind of like the one with the John Wayne you can’t go wrong with John Wayne it was a awesome movie great history good stories y’all did good thanks again
Remember the Alamo was a great movie.
However having lived in central for 21 years I can honestly say that there is nothing quite like walking on those hallowed grounds and soaking up the history first hand.
I look the comments by Robert Marburger and Kirk Gilles. Marburger for the real history of Texas he shared with us. Gilles for a perspective on why the Alamo matters. I love history.
I like version “The Alamo starring John Wayne best.
Thank you
Thanks for the info.
great blog
The Alamo with John Wayne is my favorite, but the 2004 Alamo movie is more accurate. Long live Texas!
The Alamo is representative of the fighting spirit of American Patriots to protect their independence. My wife’s G3 Grandfather James Riley (1792-1844) was at the Riley Massacre near Leander, Texas in January, 1836 two months before the Alamo. His brother Thomas was killed in the fight with the Comanche and Caddo Indians. The attack on Parker’s Fort was also later that year when Cynthia Parker was captured by the Comanches and had a son Quanah Parker who became the last great war chief of the Comanches.
I like the Alamo movie from 1960 It’s American historical epic war film about the 1836 Battle of the Alamo produced and directed by John Wayne.
Hank Hill, from King of the Hill, has a great story about the Alamo. True??
Another example of the difference between truth and propaganda. Truth is based on facts and may lead to reasoned action on the reader’s part, depending upon those facts. Propaganda is based on a desired outcome or manipulation so that the reader will take emotion based action that the writer desires. Remember the Maine? The Gulf of Tonkin? The WMD’s?
The same is true of money. Gold and silver based currencies rely on the hard facts of supply and possession. Fiat currencies can be manipulated so the the consumer believes that prosperity built on debt can be sustained forever for the benefit of those manipulating the currency and lead the consumer to act based on emotions and feelings rather than hard facts.
James A. Mitchener’s Texas.
Have to make it there one day.
Pick me!
Interesting stories
Actually nothing’s better then the real thing. I’ve visited the Alamo several times and Hollywood will never capture the true history that the ground in which it stands remembers.
I enjoy the stories told by the history channel, which explain why the Alamo was built and the history of the Texas war.
The Alamo with John Wayne was my favorite.
It is very hard to imagine the reality that the defenders of the Alamo faced. It is healthy for modern people to give it a ponder, though, because so much of what we value is built upon the blood of determined, courageous fighters.
As for the good Alamo movie, I can only recall the John Wayne version, which of course was inspiring, even if it was a little loose with the hard truths.
Submitted for your approval: No Alamo. Choices made are undone. The combatants make alternate decisions. The men of the Alamo choose to flee or surrender in the face of overwhelming odds. General Santa Anna lays siege to or bypasses completely the insignificant outpost in favor of pressing his adavantage in the offensive into Texas. What happens then?
No battle means many things from a military, tactical and strategic viewpoint. Too much to catalog here. No, the Alamo is the ultimate in “Big picture” events. Change anything about it and it’s timelines and you change America and the World as we know it.
Here is an example fate and timing at its most critical. But for the actions and decisions or even lack of decisions that culminate in the battle for the Alamo everything changes. It could be extrapolated that Houston does not field an effective, motivated force. He losses or sues for a peace that does not form Texas. Texas does not achieve statehood. Mexico remains the dominant force in the Midwest and Western regions of what we know as America today. Those areas remain largely under the system of huge “Ranchos” and herds of roaming cattle. The riches and wealth of that land fill the coffers of Mexico. America basically stops at the Mississippi. Our weakened position may keep Spain in the southeast and British troops venturing south from Canada to reclaim lost territory.
The growth of America is stunted. The growth of the world is slowed. Advancements in areas of agriculture, industry, transportation are all delayed or never attempted. Horses and wagons into the mid twentieth century instead of cars and planes? The Moon? Far fetched? I don’t think so.
Decisions we make start new alternate timelines.
Turning left or right, stopping or going, good or evil, lead to different timelines and therefore different outcomes.
Thanks be to William B. Travis for his choice to elect to live by his words “One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name.”
Came for the silver, stayed for the history.
“Come and take it.”
Remember the Alamo
Because of the few, brave men, Texas is free and needs to stay that way.
My favorite Alamo movie would have to be “The Alamo” with John Wayne.
What a beautiful round!!
My favorite is the 1960 Director’s cut movie of The Alamo.
Commented on FB and now here. Literally amazing all the myths. I guess that happens over the years.
And now the Alamo is surrounded by the city….
I have been to the Alamo several times and Goliad once. There is a fantastic model of the Alamo, owned by legendary drummer Phil Collins, in a book store across the street from the Alamo. The 2004 Alamo movie comes closest to that layout and has the battle taking place before dawn. In that movie, Davy Crockett is executed after being nocked unconscious and taken prisoner. He is defiant to the end. This event is based on a Mexican Officer’s diary that has no providence, so it may or may not be real.
The Goliad defenders numbered more than twice as many as the Alamo defenders. Goliad’s Presidio is smaller and made of stone, which made it much more defendable than the mud walls of the larger Alamo. Houston had ordered Col. Fannin to abandon the Presidio and form a defensive line on the other side of the Guadalupe River. But Fannin took his time and his troops were caught out in the open. They were massacred three weeks after the Alamo fell. It is largely overlooked, because Fannin had surrendered his troops and the Mexicans murdered their prisoners.