Remember the Alamo

[Rangerguru]

Remembering The Alamo
by Chuck Baldwin
March 10, 2009



March 6 marks the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo back in 1836. For more than 13 days, 186 brave and determined patriots withstood Santa Anna's seasoned army of over 4,000 troops. To a man, the defenders of that mission fort knew they would never leave those ramparts alive. They had several opportunities to leave and live. Yet, they chose to fight and die. How foolish they must look to this generation of spoiled Americans.

It is difficult to recall that stouthearted men such as Davy Crockett (a nationally known frontiersman and former Congressman), Will Travis (only 23 years old with a little baby at home), and Jim Bowie (a wealthy landowner with properties on both sides of the Rio Grande) really existed. These were real men with real dreams and real desires. Real blood flowed through their veins. They loved their families and enjoyed life as much as any of us. There was something different about them, however. They possessed a commitment to liberty that transcended personal safety and comfort.

Liberty is an easy word to say, but it is a hard word to live up to. Freedom has little to do with financial gain or personal pleasure. Accompanying Freedom is her constant and unattractive companion, Responsibility. Neither is she an only child. Patriotism and Morality are her sisters. They are inseparable; destroy one and all will die.

Early in the siege, Travis wrote these words to the people of Texas: "Fellow Citizens & Compatriots: I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. . . . The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword . . . I have answered the demand with a cannon shot & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. . . . VICTORY OR DEATH! P.S. The Lord is on our side. . . ."

As you read those words, remember that Travis and the others did not have the A.C.L.U., P.E.T.A., People for the un-American Way, and the National Education Association telling them how intolerant and narrow-minded their notions of honor and patriotism were. A hostile media did not constantly castigate them as a bunch of wild-eyed extremists. As school children, they were not taught that their forefathers were nothing more than racist jerks.

The brave men at the Alamo labored under the belief that America (and Texas) really was "the land of the free and the home of the brave." They believed God was on their side and that the freedom of future generations depended on their courage and resolve. They further believed their posterity would remember their sacrifice as an act of love and devotion. It all looks pale now.

By today's standards, the gallant men of the Alamo appear rather foolish. After all, they had no chance of winning--none. However, the call for pragmatism and practicality was never sounded. Instead, they answered the clarion call, "Victory or death!"

Please try to remember the heroes of the Alamo as you watch our gutless political and religious leaders surrender to compromise and political correctness. Try to recall the time in this country when ordinary men and women had the courage of their convictions and were willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom and independence.

One thing is certain: those courageous champions at the Alamo did not die for a political party or for some "lesser of two evils" mantra. They fought and died for a principle, and that principle was liberty and independence. So did the men at Lexington and Concord. That is our heritage.

Today, however, our national leaders are in the process of turning America over to the very forces that the Alamo defenders gave their lives resisting. On second thought, do they look foolish, or do we?

Beyond that, how much longer do we have before it will become necessary for freedom-loving States such as Texas (and maybe Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Vermont or South Carolina) to declare their independence one more time? An argument could be made that Washington, D.C., is considerably more brutish and tyrannical than old Santa Anna ever was. I'm not so sure that it isn't already time to again hoist the "Don't Tread On Me" flags, shout "Remember The Alamo," and renew the faith and courage of William Travis and Patrick Henry.

[Rock Island Ranger]

Biggest tactical error ever made by a Commander. If he had by-passed the Alamo, he would have likely won at San Jacinto and the less than 200 he faced in the Alamo really didnt add up to squat.
*He gave the enemy (Texans) something to fight about with the massacre.
* He lost well over 1,000 men trying to kill 186 men.
* His men became demoralized over it.
* He lost San Jacinto because of it.
* He lost Texas because of it.

But those guys who faced those odds...they rocked. Yep...they did.

[another damn texan]

A little late...but here's to them (ADT raises bourbon glass).

[Rangertab1]

Hear, Hear!

I don't forget the Battle of San Jacinto either, its my backyard.

[rgrokelley]

Biggest tactical error ever made by a Commander. If he had by-passed the Alamo, he would have likely won at San Jacinto and the less than 200 he faced in the Alamo really didnt add up to squat.
*He gave the enemy (Texans) something to fight about with the massacre.
* He lost well over 1,000 men trying to kill 186 men.
* His men became demoralized over it.
* He lost San Jacinto because of it.
* He lost Texas because of it.

But those guys who faced those odds...they rocked. Yep...they did.

A bigger strategic error first.

The Mexican constitution was almost a mirror image of our own. The freedoms experienced by Mexicans is what attracted US citizens to move to Texas, where there was cheap abundant land to boot.

Santa Ana had the loyalty of the Texicans, and then he decided that he wanted to wipe his butt with the Constitution. He decided to abolish the idea of states and make it one nation under Santa Ana. Needless to say the Texicans were not amused.

Next stupid move, showing no mercy at all. When he executed the hundreds of prisoners at Goliad, after they gave up, it showed the defenders of the Alamo that they needn't bother with surrendering. It wouldn't matter anyway.

Dumb moves all the way around. However Santa Ana was extremely popular, and campaigned for change.

[Invictus]

If anyone is interested, "Gates of the Alamo" is an excellent book on that time period, with the siege being the central part of the story.

[KW Driver]

yep, Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad

glad rgrokelly mentioned that one.

at the same time, Travis wasn't even supposed to be there. he took the Alamo, a defended, improved position, with an inferior force. Sam Houston ordered Travis repeatedly to abandon the Alamo and move his forces east. Travis stayed and died.

[Steadfast]

The Alamo was my first major battle engagement toy at age 4 or 5. I had all the great figures of my little green men. It was more than I could count in those days. I had walls that looked like wood but were made of tin (as I now look back) and a building that was the Mission. Also a few canon that were spring loaded and fired a tiny ball of cotton 10 to 14 inches.