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To: Sir Gawain
There are a number of facts that most people don't know. The mission at the Alamo was virtually indefensible and part of this could be blamed on the Texicans who were trying to defend it. One wall had been seriously breached days by a cannon ball days before the actual assault; the defenders patched it by hammering boards together - with the ends sticking up and outward, essentially providing the Mexicans with a stepladder into the mission.

More important is the fact that Sam Houston had, days earlier, ordered the mission evacuated, the men there to join his own army further north; by defying his order the men of the Alamo were staging a sort of mutiny.

Although it is very common, north of the Rio Grande, to regard Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana as a deep dyed villain, but to Mexicans he is their George Washington. It was Santa Ana who played a vital role in ousting the Spanish and later Maximillan from Mexico. He was president, or generalissimo, of Mexico a number of times. In fact, it was Santa Anna who triggered the Texas War for Independence by abolishing slavery ... the defenders of the Alamo were defending the institution of slavery.

Despite the ugliness of the Siege of the Alamo, the US govt allowed Santa Ana to stay in the US in his two or three exiles between presidencies. One of his last US sojourns was on Staten Island, NY. He brought with him from Mexico a bitter root that he enjoyed chewing. He called it chickle ... his secretary, a man named Adams, used it to invent chewing gum.

22 posted on 09/26/2002 1:57:56 PM PDT by DonQ
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To: DonQ
Oh, that is most fascinating.

I look forward to seeing the new movie, when it's released in 2004.

www.alamothemovie.com
23 posted on 09/26/2002 2:06:52 PM PDT by TamiPie
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To: DonQ
"More important is the fact that Sam Houston had, days earlier, ordered the mission evacuated, the men there to join his own army further north; by defying his order the men of the Alamo were staging a sort of mutiny."

I was taught in High School Texas History that Col. Travis made the stand at the Alamo to buy Sam Houston's Army more time to assemble volunteers to face Santa Ana.

I'm left wondering about your motives in cheapening a great act of heroism by referring to it as "a sort of mutiny."

25 posted on 09/27/2002 5:34:17 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: DonQ
Small clarification: Chickle is the rubbery, gummy sap (not root) of a tree that grow in southern Mexico.
28 posted on 09/27/2002 6:46:30 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
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