Historical Methods Paper
Citations should be in Chicago/Tuarbian Style

STEP 1: Read the primary sources selected for this project.

• http://texascountryroads.com/texas/delapena.html

The other primary sources but they do not have links so you can read them on this document.

1

COMMANDANCY OF THE ALAMO, BEJAR: In the present confusion of the political authorities of the country, and in the absence of the commander-in-chief, I beg leave to communicate to you the situation of this garrison. You have doubtless already seen my official report of the action of the 25th ult. made on that day to General Sam Houston, together with the various communications heretofore sent by express. I shall, therefore, confine myself to what has transpired since that date.

From the 25th to the present date, the enemy have kept up a bombardment from two howitzers (one a five and a half inch, and the other an eight inch) and a heavy cannonade from two long nine-pounders, mounted on a battery on the opposite side of the river, at a distance of four hundred yards from our walls. During this period the enemy has been busily employed in encircling us with entrenchments on all sides, at the following distance, to wit — in Bexar, four hundred yards west; in Lavilleta, three hundred yards south; at the powder-house, one thousand yards east by south; on the ditch, eight hundred yards north. Notwithstanding all this, a company of thirty-two men from Gonzales, made their way into us on the morning of the 1st inst, at three o’clock, and Col. J.B. Bonham (a courier from Gonzales) got in this morning at eleven o’clock without molestation. I have so fortified this place, that the walls are generally proof against cannon-balls; and I shall continue to entrench on the inside, and strengthen the walls by throwing up dirt. At least two hundred shells have fallen inside our works without having injured a single man; indeed, we have been so fortunate as not to lose a man from any cause, and we have killed many of the enemy. The spirits of my men are still high, although they have had much to depress them. We have contended for ten days against an enemy whose numbers are variously estimated at from fifteen hundred to six thousand, with Gen. Ramirez Sesma and Col. Bartres, the aid-de-camp of Santa Anna, at their head. A report was circulated that Santa Anna himself was with the enemy, but I think it was false. A reinforcement of one thousand men is now entering Bexar from the west, and I think it more than probable that Santa Anna is now in town, from the rejoicing we hear. Col. Fannin is said to be on the march to this place with reinforcements; but I fear it is not true, as I have repeatedly sent to him for aid without receiving any. Col. Bonham, my special messenger, arrived at Labahia fourteen days ago, with a request for aid; and on the arrival of the enemy in Bexar ten days ago, I sent an express to Col. F. which arrived at Goliad on the next day, urging him to send us reinforcements — none have arrived. I look to the colonies alone for aid; unless it arrives soon, I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms. I will, however, do the best I can under the circumstances, and I feel confident that the determined valour and desperate courage, heretofore evinced by my men, will not fail them in the last struggle, and although

they may be sacrifieced to the vengeance of a Gothic enemy, the victory will cost the enemy so dear, that it will be worse for him than a defeat. I hope your honorable body will hasten on reinforcements, ammunition, and provisions to our aid, as soon as possible. We have provisions for twenty days for the men we have; our supply of ammunition is limited. At least five hundred pounds of cannon powder, and two hundred rounds of six, nine, twelve, and eighteen pound balls — ten kegs of rifle powder, and a supply of lead, should be sent to this place without delay, under a sufficient guard.

If these things are promptly sent, and large reinforcements are hastened to this frontier, this neighborhood will be the great and decisive battle ground. The power of Santa Anna is to be met here or in the colonies; we had better meet them here, than to suffer a war of desolation to rage our settlements. A blood-red banner waves from the church of Bexar, and in the camp above us, in token that the war is one of vengeance against rebels; they have declared us as such, and demanded that we should surrender at discretion or this garrison should be put to the sword. Their threats have had no influence on me or my men, but to make all fight with desperation, and that high-souled courage which characterizes the patriot, who is willing to die in defense of his country’s liberty and his own honour.

The citizens of this municipality are all our enemies except those who have joined us heretofore; we have but three Mexicans now in the fort; those who have not joined us in this extremity, should be declared public enemies, and their property should aid in paying the expenses of the war.

The bearer of this will give you your honorable body, a statement more in detail, should he escape through the enemy’s lines. God and Texas! —

Victory or Death!!

P.S. The enemy’s troops are still arriving, and the reinforcements will probably amount to two or three thousand.

2

Fellow citizens & compatriots — I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna
— I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man — The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken — I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls — I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch — The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country —

VICTORY OR DEATH

William Barret Travis Lt. Col. Comdt.
P.S. The Lord is on our side — When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn — We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves —

STEP 2: Read the secondary sources selected for this project.

– https://www.shsu.edu/his_rtc/2013_Summer/Los_Tejanos.pdf

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STEP 3: Write a three to four page paper that collectively addresses the questions asked in the prompt below. Your paper should follow the proper writing conventions for a formal essay and should include proper documentation of all sources

Instructions for paper details:
● The paper should consist of an introduction, body, and conclusion.
● The introduction should contain a well-defined thesis that makes a clear and precise historical argument.
● The body of the paper should include evidence that supports your thesis.
● The conclusion should summarize your thesis and supporting evidence.
● You should use both the primary and secondary sources to answer the questions posed.
● All sources used in the paper should be cited in endnotes (not footnotes), and listed in a bibliography at the end of a paper. If you are not sure how to do the endnote and bibliography for the sources. Just be sure to include the name of the article you used to cite and I can go back and fix them!!!!!!!!!!!
● All direct quotes will need a citation (endnote). With “direct quotes,” the endnote appears immediately after the quote.
● All paraphrased information should have an endnote, but this can be placed at the end of the paragraph. If more than one source is used to write the paragraph, you would include sources used in one endnote at the end of the paragraph.
● Please note, the paper should not simply be a list of the questions with short answers following them. The paper should have a thesis that allows you to address the questions within the body of the paper.

Paper should be formatted to the following guidelines:

• double-spaced
• 12 pt. font
• Times New Roman
• use endnote (not parenthetical citations or footnotes)
• bibliography should be placed after the note section.
• label note section and bibliography Prompt: The essay should answer these questions in an informational form.
  Who were the Texas Revolutionaries? What was Texas revolutionaries’ motivation for fighting against the Mexican government? Did the Texans fighting at the Alamo reflect the general sentiments of the majority of the revolutionaries? How did the events at the Alamo change the views and motives of the revolutionaries, who were stationed elsewhere during the rebellion (especially those who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto)? How did Mexican soldiers and Tejanos (Mexican Texans) view the revolution?

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