Donovan opens with superb sketches of the central figures. The result is the best narrative history of the Alamo since Walter Lord's 1961 classic, "A Time to Stand." BLOOD OF HEROES REVIEW HOW TOJames Donovan bills his "Blood of Heroes" as an account of "the sacrifice that forged a nation." He knows how to tell a story and has consulted all the historical records and up-to-date research. The Battle of the Alamo has been the subject of many books and several movies. Santa Anna was caught the next day, thus ending his effort to crush the rebellion and freeing Texas to become an independent nation-which it remained until 1845, when it was admitted to the union. The Battle of San Jacinto lasted just 18 minutes, and only a handful of Mexicans escaped death or capture. On April 21, 1836, the Texans surprised the Mexican army at ease in its afternoon siesta. Instead the sacrifice of the Alamo's defenders drew volunteers from all over to Sam Houston's new army. He assumed, moreover, that the brutal victory would convince the Texans that the rebellion was finished. Santa Anna thought the siege "but a small affair." History quickly proved him wrong. The Siege of the Alamo' (2004) by Howard David Johnson. Only about 20 women and children (and Travis's slave Joe) were spared. Every rebel was dead by 6:30 a.m., including some who had tried to surrender. Travis, only 26 years old, was an early casualty, shot in the forehead minutes after he had reached the north wall. The battle moved into the courtyard, then the barracks and finally the chapel. Though initially encountering stubborn resistance, the 1,500-strong Mexican assault force broke through the fort's walls before light the next morning. The only man who remained behind the line was Louis "Moses" Rose, who left the Alamo that evening, slipping past the Mexican sentries. He then drew his sword and traced a line in the dirt, asking those who would stay and die with him to step across it. Travis assembled the company and spoke candidly about their situation. They knew that an assault was imminent and that an adequate defense of the fort required 500 men. The defenders inside the Alamo could see the Mexicans constructing ladders for scaling the walls. He ordered an assault for March 6 at 5:30 a.m. Santa Anna, though, thought battle would be good for his soldiers' morale. With heavier siege artillery expected to arrive soon, most of Santa Anna's officers believed that the surrounded rebels, so badly outnumbered, would have no choice but to yield. Despite Travis's constant pleading by courier for reinforcements-including his famous letter "to the people of Texas & all Americans in the world"-only 32 more men arrived to aid the beleaguered defenders. Twelve days of bombardment weakened the fort's walls. 23, the Mexican troops laid siege to the Alamo.
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