USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -In December of 1835, a group of Texan volunteer soldiers had occupied the Alamo, a former Franciscan mission located near the present-day city of San Antonio. On February 23, a Mexican force numbering in the thousands and led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna began a siege of the fort.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Spanish army continued to press, killing many of the fleeing soldiers. Most of the remainder were captured and, in a portent of the future Texas War of Independence, were summarily executed. Fewer than 100 out of 1, 400 soldiers on the Republican side survived, and the Royalists lost only 55 men.

Detailed explanation-3: -Led across the plains south of the Medina River, the fatigued army faced Spanish troops on Aug. 18 and was soundly defeated. Fewer than 100 escaped; most were executed. The Spanish left the decimated Texans on the battlefield and proceeded to San Antonio to punish citizens who supported independence.

Detailed explanation-4: -The republican troops went south from San Antonio to meet Arredondo’s army, which had marched east from Laredo but ran out of water and was lured into a dense, sandy oak forest on the morning of the battle. Their defeat after a four-hour conflict put an end to the republic.