List of Texian survivors of the Battle of the Alamo
When the Battle of the Alamo ended at approximately 6:30 a.m. on March 6, 1836, fewer than fifty of the almost 260
Santa Anna led an army to
The siege culminated in an early-morning assault by Mexican troops which left almost all of the defenders dead.[7][8] Some reports claimed that several Texians surrendered but were quickly executed on Santa Anna's orders.[8] Of the Texians who fought during the battle, only two survived: Travis's slave, Joe, was assumed by the Mexican soldiers to be a noncombatant,[9] and Brigido Guerrero, who had deserted from the Mexican Army several months before, convinced the Mexican soldiers that he had been taken prisoner by the Texians.[10] Alamo co-commander James Bowie's freedman, Sam, was also spared, although it is not known if he participated in the fighting.[9]
During the battle, most of the women and children had gathered in the
On March 7, Santa Anna interviewed each of the survivors individually.[15][16] He was impressed with Susanna Dickinson, the young widow of Alamo artillery captain Almaron Dickinson, and offered to adopt her infant daughter Angelina Dickinson and have the child educated in Mexico City. Susanna Dickinson refused the offer, which was not extended to Juana Navarro Alsbury for her son who was of similar age.[15]
Santa Anna ordered that the
When the small party of survivors arrived in Gonzales on March 13 they found Sam Houston, the commander of all Texian forces, waiting there with about 400 men.[18][19] After Dickinson and Joe related the details of the battle and the strength of Santa Anna's army, Houston advised all civilians to evacuate[18] and then ordered the army to retreat.[20] This was the beginning of the Runaway Scrape, in which much of the population of Texas, including the acting government, rushed to the East to escape the advancing Mexican Army.[21]
List of survivors
Name | Status in the Alamo | Birth–Death | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
James L. Allen | Soldier | 1815–1901 | Allen left the Alamo on March 5. He was the last courier to leave.[22] |
Horace Alsbury | Soldier | 1805–1847 | When Mexican troops arrived on February 23, Travis sent Alsbury as the first courier. His wife Juana was inside the fortress and later provided John Salmon Ford with her account of the battle.[23] |
Juana Navarro Alsbury | Civilian noncombatant | 1808–1888 | Alsbury entered the Alamo for protection at the invitation of her cousin-in-law James Bowie, after her husband, Horace Alsbury, was sent on a scouting mission for the Texian Army.[24][25][26] |
Jose Maria Arocha | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Simon Arreola | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Jesse B. Badgett | — | 1807–1858 | He and Samuel A. Maverick were elected February 5 to represent the garrison at the Convention of 1836 which convened March 1 at Washington-on-the-Brazos.[27] |
Andrew Barcena | Soldier | – | Also known as Andres Barcinas, he and Anselmo Bergara had been part of Seguín's company. They were the first witnesses of the Alamo's fall to arrive in Houston's camp at Gonzales on March 11. Houston denounced them as Mexican spies and had them arrested, but Barcena fought under Seguín at the Battle of San Jacinto.[28] |
Samuel G. Bastain | — | — | Bastain left February 29 as a courier to reiterate urgency to Gonzales reinforcements, whom he joined en route. On the return trip, they were unable to enter the Alamo.[29] |
John Walker Baylor, Jr. | Soldier | 1813–1836 | According to his family, Baylor left the Alamo as a courier, probably February 25. He died of complications from wounds suffered at the Battle of San Jacinto.[30][31] |
Anselmo Bergara | Soldier | 1778– | He and Andrew Barcena had been part of Seguín's company. Bergara And Barcena are said to have been sent to warn Houston of the impending Alamo's fall. Arrived in Houston's camp at Gonzales on March 11. Bergara later fought under Seguín as part of his cavalry troop.[32] |
Bettie | Civilian noncombatant | – | Bettie was a black cook for the garrison. When Mexican troops entered the kitchens, Charlie grabbed a young Mexican officer and threatened to kill him unless the soldiers spared his life and Bettie's.[33] Thomas Ricks Lindley speculated that Bettie was a servant in the Veramendi home, where James Bowie, Juana Navarro Alsbury and Gertrudis Navarro lived.[4] |
Robert Brown | Soldier | ~1818– | Brown left as a courier after February 25.[31][34] |
Cesario Carmona | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
María de Jesús Castro also known as María de Jesús Esparza |
Civilian noncombatant | 1826–1899 | Castro was the stepdaughter of defender |
Charlie | Slave | – | When Mexican troops entered the kitchens, Charlie grabbed a young Mexican officer and threatened to kill him unless the soldiers spared his life and Bettie's.[33] |
Antonio Cruz y Arocha | Soldier | – | On February 25, Cruz accompanied Juan Seguin to gather reinforcements.[36][37] |
Matias Curvier | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Alexandro De La Garza | Soldier | – | He left as a courier.[38] |
Francis L. Desauque | Soldier | ?–1836 | Desaque left Bexar to obtain provisions for the garrison about February 22. He died in the Goliad massacre.[39] |
Angelina Dickinson | Civilian noncombatant | 1834–1869 | Dickinson was the daughter of defender Almaron Dickinson and his wife Susanna Dickinson. After the battle, Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna offered to adopt her, but Susanna Dickinson refused to give up her child.[15][40] |
Susanna Dickinson | Civilian noncombatant | 1814–1883 | Dickinson was the wife of defender |
Philip Dimmitt | Captain of a company of soldiers | 1801–1841 | Dimmitt left the Alamo on February 23 to gather reinforcements. He was captured by a Mexican raiding party in 1841 and committed suicide after being threatened with execution.[37][41] |
Lucio Enriques | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Ana Salazar Esparza | Civilian noncombatant | ?–1847 | Esparza was the wife of defender |
Enrique Esparza | Civilian noncombatant | 1828–1917 | Esparza was the son of defender Gregorio Esparza and Ana Salazar Esparza.[42] |
Francisco Esparza | Civilian noncombatant | 1833–1887 | Esparza was the son of defender Gregorio Esparza and Ana Salazar Esparza.[43] |
Manuel Esparza | Civilian noncombatant | 1830–1886 | Esparza was the son of defender Gregorio Esparza and Ana Salazar Esparza.[44] |
Manuel N. Flores | Soldier | 1799–1867 | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Salvador Flores | Soldier | 1806–1855 | Flores left with Seguín on February 25. During the Runaway Scrape, he led a part of Seguín's company in guarding fleeing families.[45] |
Petra Gonzales | Civilian noncombatant | – | Gonzales may have been an elderly relative of Ana Salazar Esparza.[46] |
Ignacio Gurrea | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Brigido Guerrero | Soldier | ~1810– | Guerrero had deserted the Mexican Army to join the Texians in December 1835. When he realized the Texians could not prevail at the Battle of the Alamo, he locked himself in a cell and convinced the Mexican Army that he was a prisoner of the Texians.[10][37][47] |
Pedro Herrera | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Benjamin Franklin Highsmith | Soldier | 1817–1905 | Left as a courier, probably just before the siege began. Although he attempted to return to the garrison on March 5, he was chased away by Mexican soldiers.[37][48] |
Joe | Slave of William B. Travis | 1813/1815– | When the battle commenced, Joe fought alongside Travis. After Travis's death, Joe hid in the chapel. Mexican soldiers assumed him to be a noncombatant.[37][49][50] |
John Johnson | Soldier | 1800 | Dispatched as courier February 23.[51] |
William Johnson | Soldier | — | [52] |
Byrd Lockhart | Soldier | 1782–1839 | On February 23, Lockhart and Andrew Jackson Sowell were scouting for provisions when the Mexican Army arrived. Fearing that they would be unable to re-enter the Alamo, they went to Gonzales.[53][54] |
Concepcion Losoya | Civilian noncombatant | – | Losoya was either the sister or mother of Juana Melton, wife of Alamo quartermaster Eliel Melton, and possibly the mother of defender Toribio Losoya.[4][26][33] |
Juan Losoya | Civilian noncombatant | Losoya was the son of Concepcion Losoya.[33] | |
Samuel Maverick | Soldier and delegate | 1803–1870 | Elected a delegate from the Alamo garrison on Feb. 1 to the March independence convention, left the Alamo garrison on March 2.[55] |
Juana Melton | Civilian noncombatant | Melton was the wife of Alamo quartermaster Eliel Melton, and either the sister or daughter of Concepcion Losoya.[4][33] | |
Antonio Menchaca | Soldier | 1800–1879 | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Gerald Navan | Soldier | — | Dispatched as courier March 3.[56] |
Gertrudis Navarro | Civilian noncombatant | 1816–1895 | Navarro was the sister of Juana Navarro Alsbury. She entered the Alamo for protection at the invitation of her cousin-in-law James Bowie.[25][57] |
Benjamin F. Nobles | Soldier | – | Nobles left the Alamo with Dimitt on February 23.[58] |
William Sanders Oury | Soldier | 1817–1887 | Oury left the Alamo as a courier on February 29.[59] |
Jose Sebastian de Jesus Pacheco[60] "Luciano"[61] | Soldier | 1819[60]–1898 | "Luciano" was recognized for his service as a veteran of the Texas Revolution on February 27, 1875, in his Republic pension claim.[62] An affidavit was signed by Juan Seguin on February 6, 1875, affirming that Luciano was indeed a member of Seguin's company and had entered the Alamo with Seguin himself and Jim Bowie. Luciano was sent by Seguin and William Travis to fetch a trunk from Seguin's rancho. Upon returning, he was unable to reenter the Alamo due to Mexican patrols.[63] Luciano was one of the final three surviving veterans of the Alamo when he died in Graytown, Texas, on August 25, 1898.[64][65] |
William Hester Patton | Captain of a company of soldiers | 1808– | Patton left the Alamo, likely as a courier.[66] |
Alijo Perez Jr. | Civilian noncombatant | 1835–1918 | Perez entered the Alamo with his mother, Juana Navarro Alsbury.[25][67] Perez was probably the last living survivor of the Alamo.[68] |
Eduardo Ramirez | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Ambrosio Rodriguez | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
Victoriana de Salina and three children | Civilian noncombatant | – | Three daughters accompanied her into the Alamo. Their names and ages are unknown.[33] |
Moses Rose | Soldier | 1780s [?]— 1850/1851[?] | Allowed to leave the Alamo March 5, 1836[69] |
Sam | Slave of James Bowie | – | Sam was spared because he was a slave.[47] Historian Walter Lord believed that Sam did not exist and that contemporaries actually meant Ben, a former slave who served as Mexican Colonel Juan Almonte's cook and later guided Susanna Dickinson from San Antonio.[70] Thomas Ricks Lindley speculated that Sam was actually a servant at the Veramendi home, where James Bowie, Juana Navarro Alsbury, and Gertrudis Navarro lived.[4] |
Trinidad Saucedo | Civilian noncombatant | 1809– | Saucedo may have accompanied Juana Navarro Alsbury into the Alamo. She left during a three-day armistice.[71] |
Juan Seguin |
Captain of a cavalry company | 1806–1890 | Seguin left on February 25 to recruit reinforcements. After encountering a Mexican patrol he pretended to be an officer in the Mexican Army. When he neared the soldiers he spurred his horse and used his knowledge of the terrain to escape.[71][72] |
Silvero | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
John William Smith | Scout | 1792–1845 | Smith first left the Alamo on February 23 with one of Travis's first pleas for help.[73] On March 1 he guided the 32 reinforcements from Gonzales into the Alamo,[74] and left again on March 3 with another message from Travis. He was returning to San Antonio with 25 reinforcements when the Alamo fell.[75][76] |
Launcelot Smither | Soldier | 1800–1842 | Left on February 23, possibly as an official courier. He was later killed by members of Mexican General Adrián Woll's force.[77] |
Andrew Jackson Sowell | Soldier | 1815–1883 | On February 23, Sowell and Boyd Lockhart were scouting for provisions when the Mexican Army arrived. Fearing that they would be unable to re-enter the Alamo, they went to Gonzales.[78][79] |
John Sutherland, Jr. | Soldier | 1792–1867 | Historians disagree on whether Sutherland was ever present at the Alamo. If he was, he left as a courier on February 23.[76][80] |
Henry Warnell | Soldier | 1812–1836 | Historians disagree on whether Warnell was at the Alamo. The historians who place Warnell in the Alamo believe Warnell either escaped during the battle on March 6 or that he left as a courier. Warnell died in Port Lavaca, Texas of wounds incurred either during the final battle or during his escape as a courier.[33][81] |
Vicente Zepeda | Soldier | — | Juan Seguin's volunteers.[Note 1] |
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Some Tejanos were part of the Bexar military garrison, but others were part of Seguin's volunteer scout company and were in the Alamo on or before Feb 23. Enrique Esparza, who was inside the fortress as the son of defender Gregorio Esparza, later recalled that Santa Anna offered a three-day amnesty to all Tejano defenders. According to Esparza, Tejanos discussed the matter with Bowie who advised them to take the amnesty. It is believed most of the Tejanos left when Seguin did, either as couriers or because of the amnesty. Poyo (1996), p. 53, 58 Efficient in the Cause (Stephen L. Harden); Lindley (2003), pp. 94, 134
Footnotes
- ^ Lord, A Time to Stand, p. 166.
- ^ Todish et al., landing on the coast of the Republic or invading its territory by land, armed, and with the intent of attacking our country, will be deemed pirates" and subject to i
- ^ Edmondson, The Alamo Story, p. 303.
- ^ a b c d e Lindley (2003), p. 94.
- ^ Lord, A Time to Stand, p. 95.
- ^ Edmondson, The Alamo Story, pp. 302, 312, 345.
- ISBN 978-1-55622-691-5.
- ^ a b Edmondson, The Alamo Story, p. 373.
- ^ a b c Nofi, The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, p. 123.
- ^ a b Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 55–56.
- ^ Edmondson, The Alamo Story, p. 371.
- ^ a b Edmondson, The Alamo Story, p. 372.
- ^ Todish et al., The Alamo Sourcebook, p. 54.
- ^ Lord, A Time to Stand, p. 165.
- ^ a b c d e f g Todish et al., The Alamo Sourcebook, p. 55.
- ^ Edmondson, The Alamo Story, p. 376.
- ^ Edmondson The Alamo Story, p. 377.
- ^ a b Todish et al., The Alamo Sourcebook, p. 67.
- ^ Nofi, The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, p. 139.
- ^ Lord, The Alamo, p. 182.
- ^ Todish et al., The Alamo Sourcebook, p. 68.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 1.
- ^ Matovina (1995), pp. 45–48; Lindley (2003), p. 87.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 5–6.
- ^ a b c Hopewell, James Bowie: Texas Fighting Man, p. 119.
- ^ a b c d Todish et al., The Alamo Sourcebook, p. 91.
- ^ Kemp, L. W. (2010-06-12). "Jesse B. Badgett". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
- ^ Moore (2004), pp. 45–46, 451
- ^ Lindley (2003), p. 131
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 12.
- ^ a b Todish et al., The Alamo Sourcebook, p. 88.
- ^ Moore (2004), pp. 45–46, 163, 171
- ^ a b c d e f g Edmondson, The Alamo Story, p. 407.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 20–21.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 47.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p 29.
- ^ a b c d e Todish et al., The Alamo Sourcebook, p. 89.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 33.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 34.
- ^ a b Nofi, The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, p. 127.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 44–45.
- ^ a b Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 43.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 44.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 46.
- ^ de la Teja (1991), pp. 18, 135, 182; Lindley (2003), pp. 94, 112; Moore (2004), p. 60
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 54.
- ^ a b Nofi, The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, p. 126.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 60.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 64–65.
- ^ Edmondson, The Alamo Story, p. 369.
- ^ Lindley (2003), pp. 88, 109, 321; Lord (1961), p. 96.
- ^ Groneman (1990), p. 67.
- ^ Lindley (2003), p. 90.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 72–73.
- ^ Marks, Paula Mitchell (2010-06-15). "Samuel Augustus Maverick". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ Chariton (1990), p. 180
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 83.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 85.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 87.
- ^ a b Entry no. 537. June 11, 1819. Baptized as Jose Sebastian de Jesus Pacheco, the son of Don Albino Pacheco and Doña Encarnacion Pulido. "The Baptismals of San Fernando church", by John Ogden Leal, beginning in 1731 and ending in 1855. Records of this parish church are among the Archives of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in the San Fernando Cathedral. Also, issued in 2 vols.
- ISBN 0-911317-33-3, 978-0911317336.
- ^ Texas State Archives and Library Commission, Republic Claims, Reel #262, 165-178
- ^ Texas State Archives and Library Commission, Republic Claims reel #262, 167-168
- ^ The Records of Our Lady of Guadalupe church burial register, Graytown, Texas.
- ^ Lindley (2003), p. 90
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 89.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 90.
- ^ Groneman, Bill (2010-06-09), Alamo Noncombatants, Handbook of Texas, retrieved June 19, 2015
- ^ Historians are at odds if he was part of the Alamo Garrison. However he was a witness to relatives land claims of fallen Alamo defenders. See Walter Lord "A Time To Stand"
- ^ Lord, A Time to Stand, p. 208.
- ^ a b Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 97.
- ^ Nofi, The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, pp. 85–86.
- ^ Nofi, The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, p. 78.
- ^ Myers, The Alamo, p. 202.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 101–102.
- ^ a b Todish et al., The Alamo Sourcebook, p. 90.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 104–105.
- ^ Lindley (2003), p. 87.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 105.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, pp. 107–108.
- ^ Groneman, Alamo Defenders, p. 119.
References
- Chariton, Wallace O. (1992). Exploring the Alamo Legends. Plano: Republic of Texas Press. ISBN 1-55622-255-6.
- Edmondson, J. R. (2000). The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts. Plano: Republic of Texas Press. ISBN 1-55622-678-0.
- Groneman, Bill (1990). Alamo Defenders: A Genealogy, the People and Their Words. Austin: Eakin Press. ISBN 978-0-89015-757-2.
- Groneman, Bill (1996). Eyewitness to the Alamo. Plano]: Republic of Texas Press. ISBN 1-55622-502-4.
- Hopewell, Clifford (1994). James Bowie Texas Fighting Man: A Biography. Austin: Eakin Press. ISBN 0-89015-881-9.
- Lindley, Thomas Ricks (2003). Alamo Traces: New Evidence and New Conclusions. Lanham, MD: Republic of Texas Press. ISBN 1-55622-983-6.
- ISBN 0-8032-7902-7.
- Matovina, Timothy M. (1995). The Alamo Remembered: Tejano Accounts and Perspectives. Austin: ISBN 978-0-292-75186-6.
- Moore, Stephen L. (2004). Eighteen Minutes: The Battle of San Jacinto and the Texas Independence Campaign. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-58907-009-7.
- Myers, John Myers (1948). The Alamo. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-5779-1.
- ISBN 0-938289-10-1.
- Poyo, Gerald Eugene (1996). Tejano Journey, 1770–1850. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-76570-2.
- Scott, Robert (2000). After the Alamo. Plano: Republic of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-55622-691-5.
- Todish, Timothy J.; Todish, Terry; Spring, Ted (1998). Alamo Sourcebook, 1836: A Comprehensive Guide to the Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution. Austin: Eakin Press. ISBN 978-1-57168-152-2.
See also