The the Howdy and welcome to a bonus episode of Wise About Texas, the Texas History Podcast. It's March 6th, 2016 and 180 years ago today, the Alamo

fell. This is the first year of Wise About Texas and today we're going to pay tribute to the Alamo defenders with a quick account of the battle.

In episode 10 I set the scene for the siege.

In episode 11 I talked about the siege and Travis's letters from the Alamo.

This morning we'll go back 180 years to March 6th, 1836 and get wise about Texas. Our last episode ended with Travis and defenders of the

alamo realizing that help was not on the way and watching Santa Ana prepare

for an assault. It's now midnight on Sunday, March 6th, 1836.

And one thing you have to keep in mind is how utterly dark it was.

If some of the listeners out there have ever been to South or West Texas way out in the country you

know how dark it can be in Texas. On midnight March 6th a northern had already

blown through so the air was clear and cold and it would have been a starry night but a dark night. The Mexican

army began taking up positions all around the Alamo. The Texans who were

awake may have heard movements but probably wouldn't have thought too much of it.

They definitely would not have been able to see.

It was also silent. The firing of artillery and guns had stopped the night before probably about 10 p.m

Just before dawn the Texas Sentinels discovered the Mexicans surrounding the fort and advancing on the walls

Unable to contain themselves the Mexican sildados began shouting Viva santa Anna and Viva

Mexico. Travis's man servant Joe roused the commander and the Texians ran to the fight.

As the Mexicans stormed the walls, the Texians opened up with the cannons and the rifles.

The first assault was broken, and so was the second.

But that was not to last as the Mexican soldiers got their ladders to the walls, and

Travis's servant Joe described the soldiers, quote, coming over the walls like sheep, close quote.

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