Page 56 - All About History 55 - 2017 UK

Greatest Battles

The legend of Davy Crockett Blasting the doors
Frontiersman David ‘Davy’ Crockett led the 12-man The church, which was located in the
Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, a group of backwoodsmen southeast quadrant, was the strongest
charged with defending a low section of the outer wall building in the three-acre compound. To
near the church. Whether Crockett was killed in the gain entry, the Mexicans turned a captured
church or captured and executed immediately afterwards 18-pounder cannon on the mission and
on Santa Anna’s orders remains disputed. Crockett went blasted open its thick double doors.
on to become an American folk hero.

Alamo’s makeover
The Alamo’s garrison improved
its defences in the months before
Santa Anna’s army arrived by
mounting artillery on the ramparts
and constructing infantry obstacles
outside the walls, such as sharpened
tree branches known as abatis.

Death struggle
Soldiers on both sides fought hand-to-hand inside
the compound, barracks and church once the
Mexicans had breached the perimeter. They used
clubbed muskets, pistols, hatchets and long knives
to defend themselves against the attackers.

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