William Malone, an 18-year-old native Georgian, left home after getting drunk because he couldn't face the wrath of his father.
John Flanders, 36, had an argument with his father and left the family factory in Massachusetts.
David Cummings, 27, had delivered a box of rifles from Pennsylvania to Sam Houston the year before and decided to stay on.
These represent only a few of the disparate backgrounds of the Alamo defenders. Volunteers swarmed to Texas from all over the United States. The Texan dream of self-government and the generous promise of land grants were a lure for those desiring to begin a career or simply get a fresh start.
The motion picture "The Alamo," which opened in theaters today, depicts how in 1836 a group of hopelessly outnumbered men held together, and — even in defeat — sparked a diverse group of Texans to become a nation and, eventually, a state.
The revolution
Stephen Austin established an American colony in what is now Texas in 1821 (the year of Mexican independence from Spain). The initial group of 300 grew to more than 27,000 by 1836. The alarming growth of the Americans and differing views on slavery eventually led to revolt in 1835.
Davy Crockett
Born: 1786
Limestone, Tenn.
Noted frontiersman. War of 1812. Tennessee State Legislature and U.S. Congress.
Died: 1836 (Alamo)
James Bowie
Born: 1796
Louisiana
Land speculator, slave smuggler and frontiersman. Credited with the invention of the Bowie knife.
Died: 1836 (Alamo)
Sam Houston
Born: 1793
Virginia
Statesman and soldier. First president of Texas. Congressman, senator and governor (Tenn.).
Died: 1863
Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana
Born: 1794
Vera Cruz, Mexico
Soldier and statesman. President of Mexico. Involved in Texas Revolution and Mexican War. Lost leg during fighting with French, 1838.
Died: 1876
The siege
The main Mexican force is spotted from a San Antonio belfry on Feb. 23. With the enemy in sight, the community takes refuge in the Alamo.
Some 150 soldiers and 25 noncombatants face 4,000 seasoned Mexican troops. Intially, both William Travis and James Bowie sue for terms of surrender with Santa Ana. Both are willing to lay down their arms in exchange for their freedom. But Santa Ana demands unconditional surrender. Travis' answer is a volley from the Alamo's 18-pound cannon.
Full command is assumed by Travis on the second day of the siege after Bowie becomes bedridden with typhoid pneumonia. For 12 days, Texans endure constant bombardment. On the 13th day, Santa Ana decides to end the siege and mount a full assault. This goes against the judgment of his officers, who believe the defenders can be starved out.
On March 3, Travis sends out a last plea for help, along with a letter for his sweetheart and his son. The next day, Travis realizes the command is doomed and offers the defenders a choice of fighting to the last man or attempting an escape. All save one — Louis Rose, a soldier of fortune and veteran of the Napoleonic Wars — decide to fight. Rose escapes that evening.
The battle
March 5
10 p.m. — Artillery bombardment ends. Texans get much-needed sleep.
March 6
The Mexican military band plays "Fire and Death," as troops advance. (No quarter.)
 | Deseret News graphic The battleRequires Adobe Acrobat. |
1 a.m.— Mexican troops are issued 10 rounds of ammunition, ladders and picks.
5 a.m.— Amid shouts of "Viva Santa Ana" and bugles, the assault begins.
The first wave meets blistering fire and is stopped. Although some reach the wall, they are trapped at the base and are easy targets for the Texans.
Col. Travis is shot in the head while firing into Mexican troops at the base of the north wall.
Mexican troops surge forward, trampling and shooting comrades. Officers urge soldiers forward with the flat of their sabers.
The third wave breeches the north wall.
Aftermath
Almeron Dickerson is among a handful of women, children and slaves spared by Santa Ana. They are instructed to tell the Texans about the fate of rebels, such as the Alamo defenders.
3 p.m. — Santa Ana sends a company of dragoons out to gather wood. The wood is piled on the stacked corpses of Texans.
5 p.m.— The bodies are burned.
The defeat at the Alamo provides a do-or-die victory mentality that eventually pushes the Texans, under Sam Houston, to victory at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.
Deaths
Because bodies are disposed of so quickly, the death toll for both sides varies greatly.
Crockett controversy
The controversy as to whether Davy Crockett fell at the palisade, as was reported by Mrs. Dickerson and Sgt. Nunez, or whether he was one of seven Texans executed after the battle, continues to this day.
SOURCES: "The Texans," World Book Encyclopedia, thehistoryshop.com, Instar.com