Colonel Paul’s Corner – The Second Battle of the Alamo

In September 1835, General Martin Perfecto de Cos and 500 Mexican troops arrived in the Mexican province of Texas. Gen Cos had been ordered to Texas by his brother-in-law, Mexican President and General of the Army, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. His orders stated he was to “end resistance in Coahuila and Texas”. The immigrants in Texas, mostly Americans, were refusing to pay duties and increasingly objecting to harsh Mexican rule. One point of contention was slavery, which had been outlawed in Mexico since 1829.

Gen Cos established his headquarters at San Antonio. In September, 1835 Gen Cos and his soldiers were attacked by Texas forces. They retreated to an old mission called the Alamo near San Antonio. The Alamo took its name from the many Cottonwood trees in the San Antonio area. Alamo being the Spanish word for Cottonwood tree. On 11 December, Gen Cos surrendered his forces. He was given “parole” for his forces to return to Mexico with the promise that he would not fight against Texas. He was required to leave behind a large quantity of muskets, ammo, food stocks, and 19 cannon. His men were only allowed their personal weapons. The Texans thought the war was over.

Gen Cos broke his promise and returned to San Antonio with his brother-in-law, Gen Santa Anna, and more than 2000 Mexican soldiers in February 1836. A Texas force of 200 fortified the Alamo and held out for 13 days before being overrun on 6 March. The final assault lasted 90 minutes and resulted in 400 Mexicans dead. All inside the Alamo died except for fifteen women, children, and slaves. Travis, Bowie, and Crockett were dead. Many of the heroic defenders were foreigners. At least seven were Irish, and one was a German. A number of Texas-born Mexicans were among the dead. Letters written home by Mexican soldiers said that Davy Crockett and a few others were taken alive and later executed on orders from Santa Anna. Santa Anna referred to them as pirates and traitors.

Gen Cos had pleaded with Santa Anna to delay the final assault for a few days as heavy cannon capable of reducing the Alamo to rubble were en route. The aristocratic and arrogant Santa Anna had little regard for his peasant soldiers, often referring to them as “chickens”. He wanted a heroic charge for the glory of it.

On 21 April, six weeks after the battle at the Alamo, a force of Texans commanded by Sam Houston attacked Santa Anna and his troops at San Jacinto. In a battle lasting only 18 minutes, the Texans killed over 600 Mexican soldiers while losing only nine of their own. Santa Anna and Cos were captured. Santa Anna had disguised himself as a common soldier. Texas was now free. A Texas legislature had already issued a “Declaration of Independence” on 2 March, declaring Texas to be a “free and independent republic”. Texas joined the United States as the 28th state in 1845. In joining the Union, the Republic of Texas was allowed one unique provision. The state of Texas is allowed to divide into five states. However, that would require the approval of the U.S. Congress and the Texas Legislature.

Santa Anna died in poverty in Mexico City in 1876. Gen Cos fought in the Mexican/American War (1846-1848). Sam Houston served twice as President of the Republic of Texas. He opposed secession from the Union before the Civil War and was removed from office when he refused to sign an oath to the Confederacy. He predicted the South would lose a long and ruinous war.

By Paul Warrick: February 10, 2026 - Great Falls, Mt