 |
| The Chapel of The Presidio La Bahia |
Revolution was in the air. Texians (what non-native Texans were called in the old days), were beginning to further their resistance to the oppressive rule of the Mexican government and were calling for independence. Stephen F. Austin, finally released from his two year unfair imprisonment in Mexico was one of the key players in “securing the Declaration of War against Mexico” (The Alamo an Illustrated History). Santa Anna and his government were trying to stem the tide of immigrants to Texas by exerting their autocratic rule. Battle cries were erupting all over the Texas territory. Texian rebels soon overtook the garrisons in Goliad The Presidio La Bahia and San Antonio The Alamo sending the Mexican troops back over the border into Mexico. Upon securing the fort at Goliad, the rebels quickly wrote and signed the first Texas Declaration of Independence.
 |
| Exterior Of the Chapel |
 |
| The 1st Texas Declaration Of Independence was signed at the Altar of this Chapel |
The Texians knew they had not heard the end of the Mexican leader. Sam Houston, the former governor of Tennessee and Major General of the Texas Army knew that Texians best defense against the large force of the Mexican troops was best served in the piney woods of eastern Texas. Most Texians were experienced frontiersman who knew how to fight and to defend themselves in heavily wooded locations. These frontiersmen learned from the best…the American Indians whose warfare skills were emulated by the Americans during the French and Indian War and during the American Revolution. The Mexican military still adhered to the European-Style infantry with troops standing in a straight-lined military formation. Sam Houston tried to convince his fellow rebels to abandon the garrisons in San Antonio and Goliad and move the future battle site to a more defendable terrain.
Under Sam Houston’s command, Jim Bowie went to the Alamo at San Antonio to remove all artillery and discharge the men garrisoned at the makeshift fort. Upon his arrival, Jim Bowie became convinced that the Alamo was defendable. He wrote to Henry Smith the newly elected governor of Texas that Bowie and the Texas militia garrisoned there would rather die than give up the Alamo. In the letter he also requested more artillery and more man power. Reinforcements came in the form of William B. Travis, with a small group of men. Soon after, the legendary Davy Crockett arrived with volunteers to help fortify the Alamo.
Next: The Battle of the Alamo!!!
