The Liberator was a weekly abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison in Boston, Massachusetts. On April 16, 1836 it carried this report on the fall of the Alamo.
Important from Texas
We learn by the passengers of the schooner Comanche, 8 days from Texas, that the War has assumed a serious character. On the 25th Feb. the Texian Garrison in Bexar of 150 men commanded by Lt. Col. B. Travis, was attacked by the advance division of Gen. Santa Anna’s army, consisting of 2000 men, who were repulsed with the loss of many killed, between 500 and 800 men, without the loss of one man of the Texians. About the same time, Col. Johnson, with a party of 70 men, while reconnoitering the westward of San Patrico, was surrounded in the night by a large body of Mexican Troops. In the morning the demand of a surrender was made by the Mexican Commander unconditionally, which was refused; but offer of surrender was made as prisoners of war, which was acceded to by the Mexicans— but no sooner had the Texians marched out of their quarters and stacked their arms, a general fire was opened upon them by the whole Mexican force— the Texians attempted to escape, but only three of them succeeded; one of whom was Col. Johnson.
Between the 25th Feb. and 2d March the Mexicans were employed in forming entrenchments around the Alamo, and bombarding the place; on the 2d March, Col. Travis wrote that 200 shells had been thrown into the Alamo without injuring a man— on the 1st March the Garrison of Alamo received a reinforcement of 32 Texians from Gonzales, having forced their way through the enemy’s lines, making the number in the Alamo consisting of 182 men.
Church of the Alamo
On the 6th of March, about midnight, the Alamo was assaulted by the whole force of the Mexican army, commanded by San. Anna in person. The battle was desperate until daylight, when only seven men belonging to the Texian Garrison were found alive, who cried for quarters, but were told that there was no mercy for them— they then continued fighting until the whole were butchered. One woman, Mrs. Dickinson, and a negro of Col. Travis, were the only persons whose lives were spared. We regret to say that Col. David Crocket and companion, Mr. Berton and Col. Bonhan, of S.C. were among the number slain— Gen. Bowie was murdered in his bed, sick and helpless. Gen. Cos on entering the Fort ordered the servant of Col. Travis to point out the body of his master; he did so, when Cos drew his sword and mangled the face and limbs with the malignant feeling of a Comanche savage. The bodies of the slain were thrown into a mass in the centre of the Alamo and burned— the loss of the Mexicans in storming the place was not less than 1000 killed and mortally wounded, and as many wounded, making with their loss, in the first assault, between 2 and 3000 men.
The flag used by the Mexicans was a blood-red one, in place of the constitutional one. Immediately after the capture, Gen. Santa Anna sent Mrs. Dickinson and the servant to General Houston’s camp, accompanied by a Mexican with a flag, who was bearer of a note from Santa Anna, offering the Texians peace and general amnesty, if they would lay down their arms and submit to his government. Gen. Houston’s reply was, True sir, you have succeeded in killing some of our brave men, but the Texians are not yet conquered. The effect of the fall of Bexar throughout Texas was electrical. Every man who could use the rifle and was in a condition to take field, marched forthwith to the seat of war. It is believed that not less than 4000 riflemen were on their way to the army when the Comanche sailed, determined to wreak their revenge on the Mexicans.
Gen. Houston had burnt Gonzales, and fallen back on the Collorado with about 1000 men. Col. Fanning was in the Fort at Goliad, a very strong position, well supplied with munitions and provision, with four or five hundred men.
The general determination of the people of Texas is, to abandon all their occupations and pursuits of peace, and continue in arms until every Mexican east of the Rio del Norte shall be exterminated.
Battle of the Alamo by Percy Moran
Source
Publication: The Liberator
Date: April 16, 1836
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
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