Santa Anna to McArdle, March 16, 1874
Letter Explaining Why the Alamo Defenders Had to Be Killed

Page 1

Page 1 | Page 2 |  Back to "The Battle of the Alamo"

SPANISH

Mexico Marzo 19 del 1874

Mr. H.A. McArdle
Independencia
Tejas

Muy sur mio:

Sa[tisf]acienda a su fa
vorecida fha 4 de Enero te dire: que respecto de
la toma o restauracion de la fortaleza del Alamo
en Abril de 1,836,pues hay que anadir a lo que
se dijo entonces en los partes oficiales, y a lo que
es de notoriedad. Sin embargo, por satisfacer
a los deseos de Ud anadire que aquel hecho de
armas fue sangriente porque el Gefe Travis
que mandaba las fuerzas del Alamo no quiso
entrar en acomodamiento algun y sus contesta
ciones eran insultantes, se hizo preciso asultar la
fortaleza antes de que fuera auxiliada por
Samuel Houston que caminaba en su asisto
con fuerzas respetables. La obstinacion de
Travis y sus soldados dio lugar a la muer
te de todos ellos, pues ninguno quiso rendirese.
La lucha duro mas de dos horas desde que los
soldados Mexicanos pesaron aquellos muros
escalandolos con resolucion.

Mexico March 19, 1874 Mr. H.A. McArdle Independence, Texas Dear Sir: In
response to your favor of the 4th of January, I have to say that in regard to
the restitution or restoration of the fortress of the Alamo, in April 1836 there
is but little I can add to what was said in my official dispatches, and what was
notorious. Notwithstanding, for your satisfaction, I will add that, that conflict
of arms was bloody, because the chief Travis, who commanded the forces of
the Alamo, would not enter into any capitulation, and his responses were
insulting, which made it imperative to assault the fort before it could be
reinforced by Samuel Houston who was marching to its succor with
respectable forces. The obstinancy of Travis and his soldiers was the cause of
the death of the whole of them, for not one would surrender. The struggle
lasted more than two hours, and until the ramparts were resolutely scaled by
Mexican soldiers.