ALAMO, Mla-MO. THE. A Franciscan mis sion, built within the present San Antonio, Texas (q.v.), about and occasionally used after 1793 as a fort. It consisted of a church, an inclosed convent yard about 100 feet square, a convent and buiiding, and a plaza cover ing about two and one-half acres. and protected by a wall S feet high and 33 inches thick. In 1836, during the war for Texan independence, a remarkable conflict occurred here between a small company of Texans and Americans, includ ing Colonel David Crockett and Colonel James Bowie, who held the fort under Colonel W. B. Travis, and some ,Ilexicans who attacked it un der Santa Anna (q.v.). After a bombardment lasting almost continuously from February 23 to March 6, a small breach was made in the walls. and early on the morning of the 6th the Mex icans assaulted in force. They were twice driven back with great loss, hut scaled the parapet in the third attempt and a desperate hand-to-hand conflict ensued, in which the Texans, though al ready greatly weakened by privations and fa tigue. fought with the utmost valor until only
five of their number remained alive. These were captured and, on Santa Anna's order, were killed in cold blood. Three women, two chil dren, and a negro boy alone survived out of a garrison which. including a reenforeement of thirty-two men that arrived en March 1, had numbered about 180. The Mexican loss was probably as large as 500. though Santa Anna. in his untrustworthy report, gave it as 70 killed and 300 wounded. "Remember the Alamo!" be came a war-cry of the Texans, who finally de feated and captured Santa Anna at San Jacinto (q.v.). In allusion to the heroism shown by the small garrison, Alamo has been called "the Ther mopylme of America." Consult: J. L. Ford, Ori gin and Fall of the Alamo (San Antonio, 1896) : A. M. Williams, Sam Houston and the War of In dependence in Texas (Boston. I893) : and Cor ners. Nan ,tntonio de Bexar (San Antonio, 1890).