The Fall of the Alamo ~ page 10

The little band proceeded silently in single file, towards the fort, but were soon to be saluted again, though not in so friendly a manner. Notwithstanding Smith had taken the precaution to despatch a messenger ahead, there seems to have been some misunderstanding as to the direction from which they should approach the walls, for the sentinel not being aware of their presence, fired upon them without hailing. The ball took effect in the foot of one of the men. The mistake was soon rectified, when all went in without further mishap.

This accession to the garrison, counting Smith and Bonham, increased its original strength to two hundred and six, but Captain Patton left the city, and Johnson and myself having gone with despatches, left the actual number now within the walls two hundred and three.

Most of these were wearied and worn by the constant duties of the fort, while the remainder suffered from the fatigue of several day’s travel. Their condition was not, indeed, the most desirable in which to sustain a siege against a force so greatly their superior in point of numbers.

Some have supposed that Travis and his men were greatly deficient in discipline and a knowledge of the arts of war. That they knew little of military tactics is quite true, but that they were proficient in the use of arms were as well unsaid, as no pioneer, frontiersman ever knew anything better than how to use his arms, his daily and nightly companions. That none knew better how to handle them than the Alamo men, their work during this siege, and on the 6th of March will forever attest. Some of them were fair artillerists.⁷

Having followed this noble band of patriots to Bexar, and seen them united in that almost hopeless struggle for the defense of this remote outpost as it then was, I will return to consider the movements of the enemy.

After the entrance of the cavalry into the city which was effected without resistance, some few minutes passed when a white flag was seen descending Commerce Street. Major Morris and Captain Martin were commissioned to meet it and confer with its bearers. This meeting took place on a small foot bridge which led from the Alamo to the city,crossing the river just above the one which now crosses on Commerce Street. An unconditional surrender was demanded in the name and by the authority of Colonel Almonte, which, being reported to Colonel Travis, was answered by a cannon shot from the walls of the Alamo at a group of the enemy which had halted on Main Plaza, at the entrance of Commerce Street.

This was the shot that was heard by Bonham, Smith, and myself, the gun which opened that desperate struggle, which said to the foe, "Your demand is insolent, we are not here to surrender nor to retreat, but to fight you, though you be a million, and, if need be, to die here, sword in hand."