Post by VictoriaR85 on Mar 16, 2008 2:10:39 GMT -5
I know that not everyone is a fan of this particular subject, and I have no intentions to sway anyone towards a particular viewpoint. However, I do offer what is merely an opinion of what may have happened in those waning moments of the Alamo battle, and where.
I'm not sure if this thought in its entirety has been suggested before, but I know parts of it have. That said, we all know of the several possible ways the battle may have ended. Some of us believe that virtually all the participating combatants died fighting. Some of us cling to the possibility that some of the defenders fled for their lives by breaking out of the compound. Others support theories that a small band of defenders were captured and executed. We may never know what really happened during those intense last few moments of the battle, but after learning of the different ideas of a few Alamo scholars, I've realized something interesting. This is also the result of having spoken with Mark Lemon about the state of the Alamo compound in 1836 and having examined it as it stands now.
Some scholars have alluded to the possibility that some defenders may have either been captured or taken prisoner after having surrendered. It has been said that such prisoners were executed shortly after their capture. Documents such as those of de la Pena and accounts from other Mexican officers support such a scenario. But when and where could such an occurence have taken place? Alcalde Francisco Ruiz states: "Toward the west and in a small fort opposite the city, we found the body of Colonel Crockett...and we may infer that he either commanded that point or was stationed there as a sharpshooter." While I'm not trying to take a side on whether or not Crockett was among those allegedly executed, this statement is relevant because Crockett is traditionally accepted to have commanded the graveyard area between the church, the Long Barrack, the low wall, the kitchen, the South wall, and the palisade. Such an enclosure, with the inclusion of a palisade reminiscent of a traditional fort, can easily be thought of as a fort unto itself. This is especially true when taken in the context of the large space immediately west of the graveyard area enclosed by much larger walls. Such a large space could be thought of by a non-combatant surveying the carnage as a secondary combat location. If so, Ruiz may have thought that the Alamo defenders were primarily concentrated in certain areas that he percieved as small forts.
While many argue the validity of Susannah Dickinson's ever-evolving remarks on the Alamo battle, it must be pointed out that she referred to having seen Crockett's body "lying dead and mutilated between the church and the two story barrack building." If so, this likely corroborates the small fort that Ruiz documented as the graveyard-palisade area.
Some of the fiercest of fighting of the battle is said to have taken place in the Long Barrack. I believe that any soldiers falling back during inevitable defeat would likely have retreated nearer good cover. For those who had familes in the sacristy of the church, they most likely would have tried to fall back towards that area. If any defenders who had families retreated to the church, it is likely that at least a few defenders without families followed suit. When Mexican troops entered the church, and perhaps after a brief skirmish, I feel it is likely that at least some of the defenders inside decided to stop fighting in the best interests of their families in the sacristy. Eventually, those defenders without family in the sacristy who were not killed probably went along after having seen their fellow combatants seek a possible alternative to death. Mexican soldiers, after having realized that some defenders had families near them in the sacristy, may have become confused and undecided as to how to handle the situation. They may have ultimately put down their arms while holding the occupants of the church at bay while seeking out a solution to their newfound dilemma. After an inquiry was sent to General Santa Anna by Castrillon and perhaps other officers, it was ordered that the remaining defenders be executed.
Some historians have alluded to the possibility that the defenders were held either in the sacristy or in the monks' burial chamber pending orders from Santa Anna. This may be so. At some point, however, they must have been brought out and executed. Some scholars, such as Gary Foreman, have suggested the possibility of the defenders being executed in the alcove between the church and the south wall of the Long Barrack. Everyone has undoubtedly seen the large concentration of likely musket shots under the lower, western facing window of the facade of the church.
One of the things that makes this collection of possible musket shots on the Alamo facade interesting to me is that they're about chest to shoulder-height. In 1836, the ground was considerably lower than it is today. This would make these shots leveled at about the head. There are roughly twenty visible musket ball holes in this concentrated area, with a few sporadically spread around the same area. If this is any indication to the number of defenders executed at this spot, I believe the number was probably fairly small. That or the firing squad consisted of only a few soldiers.
If an army is electing to execute prisoners, and is interested in ensuring that their prisoners attempt no escape, they will most likely hold them in a confined area. My discussions with Mark Lemon have made me aware that there was no doorway in the alcove between the church and the Long Barrack's southern wall. Mark also pointed out to me that there was probably not a doorway that lead into the convento courtyard from the graveyard area during the time of the battle. If this is the case, then holding the Alamo prisoners in the alcove awaiting execution was probably the best place they could have been held at in the Alamo.
Taking into account all of these possible scenarios and likely occurances, as well as documented reports and the architectural and structural state of the Alamo, I believe it is fair to say that any surviving Alamo defenders may have very well surrendered in the church, were they were temporarily held in either the sacristy or the monks' burial chamber pending an inquiry to Santa Anna. They were then moved to the alcove between the church and the southern wall of the Long Barrack after Santa Anna gave the order to have them executed. And finally, they were brought out one-by-one and placed in front of the facade of the church and executed.
I'm not sure if this thought in its entirety has been suggested before, but I know parts of it have. That said, we all know of the several possible ways the battle may have ended. Some of us believe that virtually all the participating combatants died fighting. Some of us cling to the possibility that some of the defenders fled for their lives by breaking out of the compound. Others support theories that a small band of defenders were captured and executed. We may never know what really happened during those intense last few moments of the battle, but after learning of the different ideas of a few Alamo scholars, I've realized something interesting. This is also the result of having spoken with Mark Lemon about the state of the Alamo compound in 1836 and having examined it as it stands now.
Some scholars have alluded to the possibility that some defenders may have either been captured or taken prisoner after having surrendered. It has been said that such prisoners were executed shortly after their capture. Documents such as those of de la Pena and accounts from other Mexican officers support such a scenario. But when and where could such an occurence have taken place? Alcalde Francisco Ruiz states: "Toward the west and in a small fort opposite the city, we found the body of Colonel Crockett...and we may infer that he either commanded that point or was stationed there as a sharpshooter." While I'm not trying to take a side on whether or not Crockett was among those allegedly executed, this statement is relevant because Crockett is traditionally accepted to have commanded the graveyard area between the church, the Long Barrack, the low wall, the kitchen, the South wall, and the palisade. Such an enclosure, with the inclusion of a palisade reminiscent of a traditional fort, can easily be thought of as a fort unto itself. This is especially true when taken in the context of the large space immediately west of the graveyard area enclosed by much larger walls. Such a large space could be thought of by a non-combatant surveying the carnage as a secondary combat location. If so, Ruiz may have thought that the Alamo defenders were primarily concentrated in certain areas that he percieved as small forts.
While many argue the validity of Susannah Dickinson's ever-evolving remarks on the Alamo battle, it must be pointed out that she referred to having seen Crockett's body "lying dead and mutilated between the church and the two story barrack building." If so, this likely corroborates the small fort that Ruiz documented as the graveyard-palisade area.
Some of the fiercest of fighting of the battle is said to have taken place in the Long Barrack. I believe that any soldiers falling back during inevitable defeat would likely have retreated nearer good cover. For those who had familes in the sacristy of the church, they most likely would have tried to fall back towards that area. If any defenders who had families retreated to the church, it is likely that at least a few defenders without families followed suit. When Mexican troops entered the church, and perhaps after a brief skirmish, I feel it is likely that at least some of the defenders inside decided to stop fighting in the best interests of their families in the sacristy. Eventually, those defenders without family in the sacristy who were not killed probably went along after having seen their fellow combatants seek a possible alternative to death. Mexican soldiers, after having realized that some defenders had families near them in the sacristy, may have become confused and undecided as to how to handle the situation. They may have ultimately put down their arms while holding the occupants of the church at bay while seeking out a solution to their newfound dilemma. After an inquiry was sent to General Santa Anna by Castrillon and perhaps other officers, it was ordered that the remaining defenders be executed.
Some historians have alluded to the possibility that the defenders were held either in the sacristy or in the monks' burial chamber pending orders from Santa Anna. This may be so. At some point, however, they must have been brought out and executed. Some scholars, such as Gary Foreman, have suggested the possibility of the defenders being executed in the alcove between the church and the south wall of the Long Barrack. Everyone has undoubtedly seen the large concentration of likely musket shots under the lower, western facing window of the facade of the church.
One of the things that makes this collection of possible musket shots on the Alamo facade interesting to me is that they're about chest to shoulder-height. In 1836, the ground was considerably lower than it is today. This would make these shots leveled at about the head. There are roughly twenty visible musket ball holes in this concentrated area, with a few sporadically spread around the same area. If this is any indication to the number of defenders executed at this spot, I believe the number was probably fairly small. That or the firing squad consisted of only a few soldiers.
If an army is electing to execute prisoners, and is interested in ensuring that their prisoners attempt no escape, they will most likely hold them in a confined area. My discussions with Mark Lemon have made me aware that there was no doorway in the alcove between the church and the Long Barrack's southern wall. Mark also pointed out to me that there was probably not a doorway that lead into the convento courtyard from the graveyard area during the time of the battle. If this is the case, then holding the Alamo prisoners in the alcove awaiting execution was probably the best place they could have been held at in the Alamo.
Taking into account all of these possible scenarios and likely occurances, as well as documented reports and the architectural and structural state of the Alamo, I believe it is fair to say that any surviving Alamo defenders may have very well surrendered in the church, were they were temporarily held in either the sacristy or the monks' burial chamber pending an inquiry to Santa Anna. They were then moved to the alcove between the church and the southern wall of the Long Barrack after Santa Anna gave the order to have them executed. And finally, they were brought out one-by-one and placed in front of the facade of the church and executed.