to be sure, the Alamo was overrun, we did lose that battle.
Sam Houston was camped 20 miles away with 2,000 battle hardened troops and a serious cannon corps among them. Lt. Travis and Col. Bowie sneak out of the Alamo late at night, ride to Houston's camp and tell him the Alamo is lost and there is no hurry to head that way. The night before Santa Ana launches his main attack.
Even that doesn't do 0bama's treachery justice.
I’m just using it as shorthand for a garrison facing being overrun.