The battle of the Alamo is often said to have had no survivors: that is, no adult male Anglo-Texan present on March 6, 1836, survived the attack. However, numerous other members of the garrison did escape death. At least a dozen soldiers survived the siege as couriers.

According to William P. Zuber's second-hand account, Louis "Moses" Rose survived by fleeing when Travis offered a choice of escape or death, but this story can not be substantiated. Travis' slave Joe also survived, perhaps because the Mexicans opposed slavery. Susanna Dickinson and her daughter, Angelina — the only Anglo-Texan females in the fort — survived despite rumors of the child's death in an attempted escape. Several Tejano women and children were likewise spared: Mrs. Horace (Juana) Alsbury and baby (adopted sister of Ursula Bowie) her sister Gertrudis Navarro (adopted sister of Ursula Bowie) Mrs. Gregorio Esparza and one son Enrique Esparza (12 yr) with three other unnamed children. Also surviving were Trinidad Saucedo who left before the final assault and Petra Gonzales. One man, Brigido Guerrero survived when he convinced Mexican officers he had been held prisoner.