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Post by billchemerka on Jul 18, 2010 13:53:23 GMT -5
Chuck, Allen, I touched on the supply issue in the article I wrote in the March issue of the AJ. When you take Bowie's letter of Feb 2d, Jameson's letter of Jan 18, and Travis' letter of Feb 23rd, there was probably sufficent food in the Alamo to last until the end of March without going on short rations. Now it might have been mostly beef and corn everyday, but there was plenty. Good gunpowder might have been a different story. Your outstanding article, "The Early Siege of the Alamo: Feb. 23 - March 6, 1836," in The Alamo Journal (#156, March 2010) is essential reading for anyone investigating the subject. And I have received nothing but complimentary remarks regarding your six-page analysis. Well done, sir! [Note: Hansen is providing a number of previously unpublished Mexican documents in the Sept. Issue of The Alamo Journal.]
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Post by Chuck T on Jul 18, 2010 14:20:33 GMT -5
Herb: I have been blind as well as stupid. You are correct. It is 1805 all over again. I better get out my Chandler.
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Post by Herb on Jul 19, 2010 10:20:40 GMT -5
Given that transportation assets were very poor, I am still appalled by the lack of security in the form of outposts on the two major avenues of approach to San Antonio. Lack of even minimal security took any option but defense away from Travis and his men. Chuck, my comments about Neil's intelligence efforts were in partial response to this. After Sesma moved from Laredo (in Jan?) to the Camino Real a fact that Neil reported in one of his letters, the critical need was obviously to post this avenue of approach. Neil apparently did , for his intelligence of what was going on with Sesma's forces remained highly accurate and he regularly reported to the governor. There was apparently a lot more going on, along this road, than have been picked up in most histories. Travis and his cavalry outposted the road at the Medina Crossing when the trouble between him and Bowie erupted. The fact that he chose to go there seems to impy that there was already some sort of outpost there and that Travis was already somewhat familiar with the area. Almonte reports in his journal, that while the Mexican Army was encamped along the Medina, that a Tejano named Menchaca enterred their camp. Coincidentally, there was a Menchaca (same man?) that served in Seguin's company. Sutherland reports that a Tejano, interrupted Travis the night before the Mexican Army arrived, while the defenders were having a fandango celebrating George Washington's birthday. According to Sutherland, Travis then had a mini officers call, posted the sentry in San Fernando, and ended the fandango. While the evidence is fragmentary at best, it does suggest that the Hollywood depiction of total surprise is totally out the window. While only the senior officers may have known exactly what the situation was before Feb 23rd, I would suggest that they had a pretty good picture. Travis' decision the night of the 22d to not go on full alert, and begin moving into the mission seems questionable at best. Even if this Menchaca was the same man and it was he that broke up the fandango, and reported that the Mexicans were encamped for the night, the risk that Santa Anna/Sesma would conduct an early morning attack (as was attempted) was just too great.
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Post by Herb on Jul 19, 2010 10:24:01 GMT -5
Bill, thank you, sir, I appreciate the kind words!
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Post by Chuck T on Jul 19, 2010 11:59:53 GMT -5
Herb: The whole episode seems quite strange, and inconsistent with how we both have been trained. Maybe that is my problem. I am calling upon what I was trained to do and not seeing the picture through their eyes.
Do you have any notion of what security precautions that Santa Anna made for his camp, cold camp, outposted etc. ?
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Post by Kevin Young on Jul 19, 2010 12:59:56 GMT -5
This always begs the question of which crossing and which branch of the road?
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Post by Herb on Jul 19, 2010 15:18:29 GMT -5
This always begs the question of which crossing and which branch of the road? Kevin, you're probably the most knowledgeable person to take a stab at that!
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