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Post by alamonorth on Oct 22, 2010 21:32:19 GMT -5
Another question we have to consider is what was really happening in San Antonio during the American and Santa Anna's occupation of SA in 1836. We have to go beyond the pop culture images of fandangos and evacuees. We know that Santa Anna's occupation of 1836 was different than that of 1813. It would be nice to see some hard core evidence of the social, economic and political processes that went on during the American and Santanista occupations of the city. For example, how was it that Santa Anna could find locals to fight against the Americans. Were they coerced or just biding their time. Were the women offering their services ( like the romance in 13 Days to Glory) or were they forced. Did the population of San Antonio really give support to the men in the Alamo or was it only those with strong economic ties to America. The questions are endless
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Post by alamonorth on Oct 22, 2010 22:10:16 GMT -5
Just as an example ,do church records show a lot of births between September and December of 1836.
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Post by sloanrodgers on Oct 27, 2010 15:58:56 GMT -5
Most San Antonians and Mexicans soldiers were Catholic, many married, in a war zone and living under the social mores of the time. It might be jumping to the wrong
conclusion if there were an unusual number of births nine months later. Church records would probably only show that children were baptized by married parents, but
I might be wrong about this detail.
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Post by monson on Oct 31, 2010 0:39:22 GMT -5
It occurs to me that, during the occupation and with that many mouths to feed, there was probably a shortage of food. Considering the distance traveled by the troops, the food brought for the march had to be either running low or used up.
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Post by Herb on Oct 31, 2010 11:03:31 GMT -5
You got it. In fact Santa Anna sent patrols out to secure food on Feb 27th. One of these patrols went to the Seguin Rancho, and arrived shortly after CPT John Chenoweth's company (Fannin's command) had departed the Rancho after accomplishing a similar mission. Apparentlly, this near miss, was what alerted Santa Anna that Fannin was on the move and led Santa Anna to dispatch Sesma with cavalry and infantry, the next day, to intercept Fannin.
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Post by Kevin Young on Oct 31, 2010 14:04:23 GMT -5
Now, there is a good research/paper idea. From my old notes, it would appear that things were a lot more tense between the locals and the garrison at Goliad, and a significant more members of that community remain loyal to the Mexican Republic.
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Post by alamonorth on Dec 16, 2010 12:55:24 GMT -5
Popular legend has it that the Americans were selling everything of value down to their rifles for drink and probably sexual favors. Ramon Caro says that the public auction of the goods and supplies taken from the enemy at the initial occupation of SA on Feb 23 were " a miserable prize and the only one taken" ,and a major disappointment at the auction block . Is there any chance that any record exists of this sale since it was conducted under the supervision of the Commissary Department. Of course many of the items were probably in private hands and not in a central depot. The sale apparently took place beside Santa Anna's residence, so if something of value , like a flag or papers turned up they might have been appropriated before being sold.
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Post by alamonorth on Dec 23, 2010 12:43:40 GMT -5
Roger Borroel, in one of his publications ( I think it is also mentioned in The Alamo Journal- help me Bill) says that a Mexican courier was captured with an Alamo defenders saddlebags. The question is whether this item was taken after the storming of the fort or whether it was an item purchased at the auction mentioned in my previous post.
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Post by Herb on Dec 23, 2010 14:20:32 GMT -5
Roger Borroel, in one of his publications ( I think it is also mentioned in The Alamo Journal- help me Bill) says that a Mexican courier was captured with an Alamo defenders saddlebags. The question is whether this item was taken after the storming of the fort or whether it was an item purchased at the auction mentioned in my previous post. That was Travis's saddlebags, CPT Karnes and some men including Deaf Smith, on April 18th, captured three men. One a courier, CPT Miguel Bachliller was carrying Travis's saddlebags and letters for Santa Anna. See Moore's Eighteen Minutes pp. 238-239. |
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Post by alamonorth on Dec 23, 2010 14:40:43 GMT -5
No I am not talking about the Travis items. I am having trouble locating it, but as I mentioned it is in one of Borroel's and the Alamo journal.
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Post by alamonorth on Jan 1, 2011 12:36:06 GMT -5
Roger Borroel, was kind enough to inform me that the Mexicans recovered a pack saddle with Richard Starr's name on it. This was found at the Ciblolo and reported in a letter from Sesma on March 15. The letter appears in Roger Borroel's Field reports of the Mexican Army Vol. 1.
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