Fortress of San Antonio de Valero, commonly called the Alamo: it was abandoned by the Mexican troops for lack of resources after 55 days of forceful siege, December 13,1835; it was taken by assault, by the same [troops], March 6, 1836, and they destroyed it the 22nd of May of the same year.
B. Main gate; taken the day of the assault by Colonel Juan Morales, accompanied by José Miñon, of equal rank, with his Active Battalion of San Luis.
C. Ruined church, with cemetery; upon a platform that was built in the chancel of the church, a window battery of three canons was placed, being called Cos' small fort.
D. This was the weakest part of the fortress, since it was only defended by a low palisade and a log; at this place, some of the colonists attempted, in vain, to escape when they saw they were losing.
E. Upper barracks with its corridor and corral; by its construction and being next to the church, it constituted the biggest obstacle.
F. Barracks for the troops. This is where Colonel José María Romero assaulted and entered with the Jiménez and Matamoros battalions.
G. Two cannon battery. This is where Colonel Duque assaulted, and because of being wounded, General Castrillón continued the assault and entered the fortress with the Toluca and sapper battalions. On the platform of said battery, Travis, Commander of the Colonists, died as a soldier.
H. At this place, General Martín Perfecto de Cós, intended to assault with a column composed of light infantry and musketeers from Aldama and the Active [Battalion] of San Luis, but having lost many men, has made an oblique movement to the right and entered the plaza.
Y. Battlement provision rooms.
J. Circular trenches with pit and palisade.
K. Pit that defended the main gate.
L. Hospital. James Bowie died here.
M. Kitchens.
N. Barrier.
O. Well for supplying water.
P. Interior pits and banquettes.
Q. Site where 250 (sic) bodies of colonists were burned.
R. Levelling battery, constructed on the night of the 4th and put in place on the 5th of March. At this battery, the reserve column composed of the sapper battalion and the company of grenadiers from the other battalions was situated, on the orders of General Santa Anna.
S. Initial position of the first column of General Cós and direction of his march for the assault.
T. San Antonio River.
V. Battery established in Bexar since the 1st of March.
X. Wooden bridge.
2. Horse-shoe shaped ford for carts.
a. Island that facilitated crossing the river by means of two timbers.
b. Three dismantled iron canons, which were found in the interior of the Alamo.
See Also:
A Mexican View of the War in Texas
--the records of Colonel José Juan Sanchez-Navarro
Excavations
at the Alamo Shrine--fig.1, Mission San Antonio de Valero
Excavations
at the Alamo Shrine--fig.2, Battle of the Alamo
Excavations
at the Alamo Shrine--fig.3, Plan of Mission San Antonio de
Valero Church
Related Document:
Cos Capitulation. 11 December
1835.
Surrender terms signed by Generals Cos and Burleson at San Antonio. Translation.
