Page "Davy Crockett" Paragraph 26

Crockett arrived at the Alamo on February 8.

On February 23, to the surprise of the men garrisoned in the Alamo, a Mexican army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna arrived.

The Mexican soldiers immediately initiated a siege.

Santa Anna ordered his artillery to keep up a near-constant bombardment.

The guns were moved closer to the Alamo each day, increasing their effectiveness.

On February 25, 200 – 300 Mexican soldiers crossed the San Antonio River and took cover in abandoned shacks approximately to from the Alamo walls .< ref name = todish42and43 >< Todish et al.

( 1998 ), pp. 42 – 3 .</ ref > The soldiers intended to use the huts as cover to establish another artillery position, although many Texians assumed that they actually were launching an assault on the fort.

Several men volunteered to burn the huts.

To provide cover, the Alamo cannons fired grapeshot at the Mexican soldiers, and Crockett and his men fired rifles, while other defenders reloaded extra weapons for them to use in maintaining a steady fire.

Within 90 minutes, the battle was over, and the Mexican soldiers retreated.

Inside the Alamo, the stores of powder and shot were limited.

On February 26, Travis ordered the artillery to stop returning fire so as to conserve precious ammunition.

Crockett and his men were encouraged to keep shooting, as they were unusually effective.