Prior to the massacre on March 6, 1836, the Texans, comprised of both Hispanic and Anglo, Texans, had successfully engaged Gen. Cos’ garrison in San Antonio in an attempt to remove the Mexican military from Texas. The rebellious Texans and Tejanos allowed Cos and his men to keep their arms with the agreement that they would leave Texas and not return. Santa Anna, upon learning of this defeat of his military, began a forced march to San Antonio with the goal of total extermination of the rebels.

Arriving in San Antonio February 23, 1836 his advance forces took over San Antonio as a result of the rebels determining that the whole city would be too difficult to defend and establishing a defensive posture in the Alamo. About 200 defenders holed up in the old mission. Under siege for 13 days, the rebels lost not a single man despite an almost constant bombardment by cannon.

On March 6, 1836 Santa Anna stormed the Alamo. The horror and atrocities began.

As is theorized by many who have deep interest in so called ghosts (for lack of a better word), the circumstances of death have a huge impact on a person’s spirit’s ability to peacefully move on to the afterlife. The circumstances of death for the Alamo defenders were extremely horrible.

Prior to the battle the defenders were actually expecting other rebels to come to their aid, But the morning of March 6, 1836 brought the heartbreaking realization that no help would be coming, The defenders felt they had been abandoned by their friends but were also determined to give their precious lives at a price Santa Anna could not afford to pay. It has been said that for every Texan that died that day, ten of Santa Anna’s men also died or sustained incapacitating injuries.

The Alamo defenders fought like wild men with a desperation never before seen in any battle. One must remember that in those days a man was bound by a sense of honor, devotion to God, country, family and friends. A concept not understood by most of today’s society of selfishness and egotism. A man lived and was judged by his sense of right and wrong. It was right to die for a belief and wrong to be a coward. A simple concept without complications.

Santa Anna’s men were given orders to kill them all. And they did. Only a handful of women and very young children were spared. Young boys as young as twelve were killed. The defenders who were able to escape the confines of the Alamo compound were chased down by Mexican cavalry and killed with lances.

Inside the Alamo compound the defenders were killed with gun, bayonet, and sword. Several were bayoneted and hoisted into the air. But the ones that could fought on. It is said that a group of five or six surrendered. I don’t believe they did. I believe they ran out of bullets, powder and had nothing left to fight with. They had to have been exhausted. I believe they were captured. They were brought before Santa Anna who became angry that his orders were not followed. He ordered them killed. They were. By zealous soldiers anxious to please. They were hacked to death with swords.

Dawn brought a silence punctuated by the smell of death. Santa Anna ordered the defenders bodies burned. Some were probably still alive when thrown onto one of three funeral pyres.

I have been to the Alamo many times and I feel the ghosts. Others have seen the ghosts. A man whose clothes are soaking wet who disappears. A monk in prayer. A crying baby. A young boy peering out a window. A white horse. A defender in buckskin who walks through walls. A wailing woman.

If you get a chance go to the Alamo, walk in the chapel. But please be quiet. Take off your hat. After all you are walking on sacred ground. Made sacred by sacrifice. If you are lucky you may hear or see something you can’t explain. If you see an older man dressed in buckskin, ask him his name. If he says Jesse, tell him his great, great, great grandson said , “Hi, granpa, I’m proud of you.”