Page 58 - All About History 55 - 2017 UK

Greatest Battles

Mexican Phase 1
Army of Phase 2
Operations Phase 3

TROOPS 6,000
CANNONS 21
01 Stretch the defences
Santa Anna’s plan to attack the Alamo
with 1,700 men in the pre-dawn darkness on
6 March calls for four columns to advance
simultaneously against the compound. The 01
columns charge the centre of the north and
east walls, as well as the northeastern and
10
southeastern corners.

07
Stalled
02 attack
At 5.30am, Mexican assault
ANTONIO LÓPEZ DE troops charge into the teeth
SANTA ANNA of heavy fire from the Texians
on the north wall. Although
LEADER equipped with 28 scaling ladders,
A shrewd politician and bold they fail to gain the parapet. The
Mexicans seek protection directly
commander steeped in the
beneath the wall and exchange
Napoleonic tradition who excelled at
fire with the defenders as they
administrative planning and logistics.
mull over their next move.
Strengths Knew the value of a
rapid march and surprise.
Weakness Used terror as a
weapon to intimidate the enemy. Cannon 03
03blasts 04
American cannoneers on
raised platforms fire at 02
close range into the tight
ranks of the attackers.
Some of the gun crews
use langrage — scrap iron
that functioned like a
canister round — killing
PERMANENTES and maiming a dozen or
more men at a time.
(REGULARS)
KEY UNIT
They possessed an esprit de corps
that was an essential quality for
assault troops.
Strengths Line troops of various
types, including light troops,
grenadiers and sappers.
Weakness Lacked skill and
proficiency with their rifles.

INDIA PATTERN
ENFIELD MUSKET

KEY WEAPON
The .75 calibre Brown Bess had
good range and accuracy for a 04 Reinforcements to the rescue
smoothbore musket. Although all four attacks falter in the face of the
Strengths A robust, durable defenders’ well-aimed fire, Santa Anna commits his reserves in 05 Bring your axe
firearm that could perform well in an all-out effort to breach the north wall. General Juan Amador, General Martín de Cos’ men
leader of the reinforcements, climbs over the wall with some of fan out along the lightly defended west
harsh environments.
his men, one of whom opens a door in the north wall. Mexican wall, where they use axes to smash
Weakness The Mexicans used
troops pour into the compound, forcing the Texians to abandon their way through doors and windows
low-quality gunpowder that
the walls and retreat to final stands in the church and barracks. to gain entry into the compound.
compromised the gun’s performance.
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