The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-08
MISCELLANY.
INCIDENTS OF THE TEXAN WAR.

From the San Luis Advocate, Nor. lS.
ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF THE ALAMO.
He who against two valiant foes
Contendeth till he die
Doth mightier seem that he whose shou.
Makes twenty cravens hy."--oLp BALLAD.
A departure from historical truth may be
somewhat palliated when intended TO cover dis
grace but even then the policy is bad; for such
deviations, if touching matters Of importance,
are in general eventually exposed There is,
however, no excuse for such misrepresentation
when the truth would reflect sufficient hon DR. on
those interested, and leave no trait of improba-
bility in the events narrated.
The defence of the Alamo by Travis and his
band, told without touch OF extra coloring, ex-
hibits an instance Of heroism almost unequalled I;
and any attempt to heighten its effect BY embel-
lshment would be injurious to the memory Of
those martyrs; since the truth is liable TO be
doubted il it appears linked with fiction.
The assault of the Alamo, too, by Santa Anna
fete OF arms which the Mexicans have perform
ed in Texas, or perhap elsewhere; and to deny
il would not only be lack Of candor towards
them, but injustice towards the defenders, whom
Il required not only superior but determined
force to crush. Hence there is little need, on
either side, of the puerile exaggeraion so lavish
ly used by both, as will endeavorip show.
In Santa Annals official report, made imme-
diately after the action, he states that the garr-
son consisted of over 600 men, that he made
the assault with 400 troops; and that after a
desperate conflict, in which he owns the rebels
fought with great determination, the fortress
was carried and the Texans killed to a man all
which he accomplished with loss of only 60
killed and 300 wounded.
AS this statement was not believed in his own
country, there is little need Of making formal
refutation of il here but il would be well to ex-
anime certain accounts Of the same affair which
are current in Texas, and have appeared in
print
A sample Of these was lately published in the
Texas Sentinel, under the head Of "Remnis
cences of the Alamo.n The writer seems to
have taken the most extravagant form Of rumor
for sufficient authority without examining its
credibility or seeking corroborative information ;
a method which may answer for filling up ga
Zette, but will not serve in gathering the mate
rails of history. He asserts that the force which
took the Alamo amounted to 10000 men that,
after repeated assaults had been repealed with
great slaughter, the final attack was made stimuli
taneonsly against the four sides of the fortress
by as many divisions each of which had another
in its rear TO prevent its flight that this attack
lasted necessarily for three days, when the for
tress was carried at the point Of the bayonet with
the loss Of 1000 men, just ten times the number
of the defenders.
In all this the only assertion which does not
show glaring exaggeration to any one acquaint-
ed with the details of the action and campaign is
the strength of the garrison, whose effective force
is acknowledged by both sides to have been $50
or 100. AS the other statements can be refuted
by the enemy, and perhaps some day will be, if
recorded by US as historical facts, it would be
wise as well as just to refute them ourselves
From the best information which have OBJ
49,. IL ILL e. IL IL A.
invaded Texas amounted to about $500 men,
OF these all but about 1000 moved by the upper
route upon Bexar; but not quite half of that por-
ton had arrived there when the Alamo was Ia
ken. There are probably authentic proofs exist
ing in Texas Of the total Of the invading force,
Of the number employed in that assault, and of
the loss there incurred for the archives Of the
chief command and of several regiments were
probably taken at San Jacinto; and il is to be
hoped they have been preserved. The reports
therein contained might be depended on, as they
were made for the commanders use, and cor
rectness was indispensable. There are other
facts known, however, from which something
near the truth on those subjects may be inferred.
The whole of the upper division halted week
at Saltillo; and several intelligent Americans
then there, who had opportunities Of observing,
estimated its force to be about $500; which does
not disagree with the reports Of some of the mill
tary made both before and after the campaign
The lower division moved from Matamoras up
on Goliad and at the former place was able to
ascertain about the amount of it, which did not
exceed 1000 men, This would make the whole
number to he $500.
To calculate from other data, the number of
troops who retreated from Texas was, according
TO Filezols report, about 4, 100; which may be
relied on, for, had the statement been too low,
it would have been contradicted by Urea and
others, who denied the necessity of the retreat.
The number agrees, too, with observations made
after the arrival of the same force at Matamoras.
Add to this 4,400 killed and taken at San ia
cinto, and 1000, an ample allowance for their
losses at the Alamo, the Coleta and elsewhere,
as also by desertion and sickness, and il will
give the same estimated number of the whole,
$500.
An estimate with similar result may be made
from the number of regiments. have never
known these corps in Mexico, taking several to-
gether, to average over 500 men for though
their nominal complement is 1000, they are sell
dom full. Some of those which saw belonging
10 Santa Annals Army of Operations before
the invasion, numbered less than 400, and such
as returned without being exposed to much loss
were of nearly the same force as several others,
however, had been larger at the outset believe
500 to have been fair average Of their strength.
The corps which composed that army were the
cavalry regiments of Cuautla, Dolores, and Tam
pico, and the infantry of Yucatan, San Luis,
Matamoras, Jimenez, Los Zapadores, Toluca,
Guadaaxara, Queretara, Tres Villas, Morelos,
Guerrero, and La Primera Activa, in all fifteen.
Counting these at 500 each will give the same
total as the other estimates, $500.
have been thus particular to show the true
probable force of the invader, not only from a re-
gard for the verify of historical statements, but
in opposition TO the propensity so common IN
'EpyaS n m pnpmu'c sfrpnpfh which
has caused credence to be given TO many false
alarm.
The hrst-named regiment of cavalry and the
st-named Of infantry moved from Matamoras