Battle of the Alamo
American History Hit
History Hit
4.3 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 16 October 2023
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A 13 day siege. 90 minutes of fighting. An almost 200 year legacy and the most popular tourist site in the state of Texas.
The 1836 Battle of the Alamo has become a symbol of Texan pride and independence, and also a springboard for conversations about Texas' relationship with slavery.
To find out more about the battle, the site and what really happened to David Crockett, Don spoke with Kolby Lanham, Senior Researcher and Historian at the Alamo.
Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Siobhan Dale. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Commendancy of the Alamo, February 24th, 1836. To the people of Texas and all Americans in the world. |
| 0:13.3 | I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Ana. |
| 0:17.8 | I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. |
| 0:24.0 | The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion. |
| 0:27.0 | Otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword if the fort is taken. |
| 0:32.0 | I have answered the demand with a cannon shot. And our flag |
| 0:37.3 | still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. |
| 0:44.3 | I call on you in the name of liberty, of patriotism, and everything dear to the American |
| 0:49.3 | character to come to our aid. |
| 0:52.0 | The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to 3,000 or 4,000 in 4 or 5 days. |
| 0:59.1 | If this call is neglected, I'm determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier |
| 1:06.4 | who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country, victory or death. These are the written words of lieutenant colonel commanded |
| 1:17.2 | William Travis, one of the nearly 200 people besieged within the Alamo in present-day San Antonio, Texas. |
| 1:25.0 | It is day two of the fort's defense. |
| 1:28.0 | 11 more and the battle will be done. |
| 1:30.0 | All within the fort will have died, trapped and killed by a Mexican army, |
| 1:35.0 | determined to snuff out this flame in what will soon become a fiery struggle for Texan independence. Hello, glad to have you. I'm Don Wildman and this is American History Hit. |
| 1:57.6 | As big as Texas is, and boy is it big, and its history is rich rich and its football teams are great usually. |
| 2:06.1 | It's odd that one three-word adage about a single structure from a long time ago |
| 2:12.2 | so proudly epitomizes the spirit, determination, and identity of the Lone Star State. |
| 2:18.0 | Remember the Alamo. |
| 2:20.0 | This well-trod phrase refers to a terribly violent 13-day military standoff that happened in 1836 |
... |
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