Ulstermen the first and last to fall at the Battle of the Alamo

Meanwhile within the besieged walls the defenders commanded by Lieutenant Major William Barret "Buck" Travis who like more than 80 percent of the defenders was of Ulster-Scots heritage knew the final attack was imminent from the movements of the Mexican Army. They had resisted the attacks of the battle hardened troops of Santa Anna for twelve long days and nights. All were now exhausted due to the constant attacks and working night and day to rebuild the defences at the Adobe block built mission after each attack.

Despite knowing they would face certain death as Santa Anna had ordered the Deguello played which is commonly known as the “cut throat” song and the red death to traitor’s flag raised they had decided to fight and die. It is interesting to note that soldiers on both sides born in different parts of Europe would fight and die at the Alamo.

Some of the famous Ulster-Scot defenders included Tennessee frontiersman and politician Davy Crockett although he preferred the name David with family links to Castlederg and frontiersman James Bowie (inventor of the Bowie knife) with family ties to Aughnacloy, both in County Tyrone.

Not only were so many of the defenders in the Alamo of Ulster-Scots heritage but around a dozen were actually born in Ulster, with County Londonderry and County Tyrone being very prominent.

Many Ulster-Scots were attracted to fight at the Alamo as part of a chance for a new beginning in life with the bonus of very attractive offers of free land. The cause to help shape a new independent Texas, free from the repressive rule of Santa Anna also appealed to the ideals of freedom and liberty so deeply rooted in the hearts of Ulster-Scots. Few initially believed that by taking part in the Texas Revolution it would actually cost them their lives, but by the end of the siege they would freely give their lives for Texas.

On the thirteenth day of the siege, just before dawn on Sunday 6th March, 1836 the planned four pronged attack would begin as the Mexican forces crept quietly to the walls of the Alamo, however this was spotted by the defenders and the alarm was quickly raised.

The first recorded casualty of the battle was Sergeant William B. Ward who was born at Limavady in County Londonderry in 1806. He came to Texas travelling through New Orleans and was killed by bayonet while manning an artillery position on the walls in the first few minutes of the battle.

Another of the defenders born in Ulster was Lieutenant Robert McKinney who was born in County Tyrone, possibly the Derg Valley in 1809. He arrived in the USA on the ship Delaware at New Orleans, Louisiana and from New Orleans he quickly moved onto Tennessee. Lieutenant McKinney would while badly injured continued to fight until bayoneted to death at the height of the battle. He had only left Ulster the year before.

James Bowie would also be bayoneted to death on his sick bed during the last few minutes of the battle.

The last recorded death during the battle was that of Major Robert Evans and what a story there is to tell about his final few minutes of life. Robert Evans was born in the city of Londonderry in 1800 and emigrated to the USA.Arriving in New York in 1827 on board the “Atlantic.” He travelled to Texas from New York through New Orleans. His occupation was given as a soldier so he would have previous served with the British Army like some of the other locally born defenders.

Major Robert Evans gave his life in one of most brave acts of self-sacrifice in the true spirt of the fighting Ulster-Scots. He was the Master of Ordnance at the Alamo and so was responsible for the security, storage and issuing of guns, cannons, ammunition and gunpowder. While observing all was lost he planned a final act of explosive fiery resistance to blow up the power magazine and deprive Santa Anna’s Mexican Army of the valuable powder reserves and kill as many Mexican soldiers as possible in doing so. Although gravely injured he dragged himself to the magazine door with a burning torch in hand intending to strike one last blow for the cause of Texas independence by giving his life. Major Robert Evans died just before he could complete that final act as he was shot in the back by Mexican soldiers.

David Crockett, would be killed in disputed circumstances either during the battle or after as some reports claim he was knocked unconscious and became a prisoner. Going on to state that after the battle he was taken before Santa Anna and as Crockett would not beg Santa Anna for mercy to spare his life he was then executed.

The Battle of the Alamo would last 90 minutes and afterwards all of the bodies of the brave defenders would be unceremoniously thrown on piles and burnt in funeral pyres by the victorious Mexican army later that day.

The defenders numbering around 200 by a blood sacrifice for the freedom of Texas at the Alamo would extract a very heavy price on the army of Santa Anna estimated to be from at least 600 to as high as 1,500 of his elite troops killed during the 13 days of the siege and battle. Importantly it would buy very precious time for the Texas Army to be ready to take on and defeat Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto fought on the 21st April, 1836 that took just 18 minutes. Santa Anna who was taken prisoner the following day signed over Texas to end the Texas Revolution and finally gain independence for the Lone Star State of Texas.

190 years after the siege of the Alamo from the 23rd February, 1836 to the 6th March, 1836 that ended in the Battle of the Alamo it is still remembered in many different ways in Texas including on the reverse side of the great seal of Texas with the motto "REMEMBER THE ALAMO" at the top and "TEXAS ONE AND INDIVISIBLE" at the bottom.

As Ulster-Scots we should rightly and with great pride also remember the Alamo. The crucial role of the Ulster-Scot defenders and that in particular the first and last defenders to die in the historic battle of the Alamo were Ulstermen. The Alamo is another example of legendry Ulster-Scot defiance in the face of certain death. It’s a story so worthy of better recondition not just here in Northern Ireland but across the world.

Stevan Patterson, Castlederg, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom