3. James Jim Bowie. On February 23, the bells of San Fernando sounded the alarm of the approach of the Mexicans. The siege of the Alamo had begun.

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1 1. Juan Seguín As a teenager in Mexico, Juan Seguín had a strong interest in politics. His father helped to write the Mexican Constitution of Juan learned the importance of politics from watching his father. When Antonio López de Santa Anna repealed (canceled, got rid of) the Mexican Constitution of 1824, Seguín grew wary of him. Juan Seguín ended up becoming one of the most important political and military leaders during the Texas Revolution. His goal was to rid the area of Santa Anna s rule. In the years , Juan Seguín recruited and commanded troops for the Texan army. He was promoted by Stephen F. Austin in October of 1835 and was tasked with supplying the Texans troops with food and supplies. History remembers Juan Seguín the most due to his position during the Alamo. Although serving and helping at the Alamo during the thirteen day siege, he actually did not participate in the final battle. Because Seguín spoke Spanish, he was chosen to take a message from the Alamo stating that they would never surrender or retreat. Juan Seguín got the message through to the other soldiers on the Texan side. He then returned with men to reinforce the Alamo, but it had already fallen to Santa Anna s army. He supervised the burial of the ashes of the heroes of the Alamo.

2 2. William Travis William Travis grew up in Alabama and, at the age of nineteen, became a schoolteacher. He got married and started working as a lawyer. He wasn t making a lot of money, and in 1831 he fled to Texas because of the lure of cheap land. He left his wife and their young son behind. Travis missed out on the first battles of the Texas Revolution, but he was still a dedicated rebel and anxious to fight for Texas. In February, Travis was ordered to collect up to 100 men and reinforce the town of San Antonio. The defense of San Antonio centered on the Alamo, a fortress-like old mission in the center of town. Travis managed to round up about 40 men, paying them out of his own pocket, and he arrived at the Alamo on February 3, Santa Anna s army arrived in San Antonio in late February 1836, and Travis busied himself sending letters to anyone who could help. On February 24 th he wrote a letter titled To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World which brought attention and support for the Texas cause. In the letter he pleaded for any able-bodied man to come and fight for Texas. It was too late to help the men at the Alamo because, after being under siege for 13 days, it was overrun by the Mexican army. On March 6 th the Mexicans attacked at dawn. Travis was one of the first to fall, shot by an enemy rifleman. The Alamo was overrun within two hours, and all of its defenders were captured or killed. Travis showed himself to be a capable commander and brave soldier when it counted. He held the defenders together in the face of overwhelming odds and did what he could to defend the Alamo. Travis s greatness lies in the fact that he obviously knew what was going to happen, yet he remained and kept his men with him. Travis is considered a great hero in Texas, and many things in Texas are named for him, including Travis County.

3 3. James Jim Bowie James Bowie was an American frontiersman, slave trader, and soldier in the Texas Revolution. James Bowie was not born in Texas, but like many frontiersmen at the time, he became intrigued by the idea of Texas and moved west as soon as he could. Sam Houston, who was the commander of the Texan army, received word that Santa Anna was leading a large force to San Antonio. Bowie offered to lead volunteers to defend the Alamo from the expected attack. He arrived with 30 men, and they found a force of 104 men with a few weapons and a few cannons, but not many supplies. Houston knew that there were not enough men to hold the fort in an attack, and he had given Bowie authority to blow up the Alamo. Bowie decided he did not want to destroy the fortress and instead sent letters asking for reinforcements. On February 23, the bells of San Fernando sounded the alarm of the approach of the Mexicans. The siege of the Alamo had begun. Bowie became very ill sometime in late February. He was confined to bed, too sick to lead the troops. William Travis became the sole commander of the forces. According to legend, Travis drew a line in the sand and told the men to cross it if they would stay and fight. Bowie, too weak to walk, asked to be carried over the line. After two weeks of siege, the Mexicans attacked on the morning of March 6. The Alamo was overrun in less than two hours, and all of the defenders were captured or killed, including Bowie, who reportedly died in his bed, still feverish. Jim Bowie s lasting fame came about as a result of his presence at the fateful Battle of the Alamo. In life he was a con man and slave trader; in death he became a great hero, and today he is revered in Texas.

4 4. David Davy Crockett Davy Crockett grew up in Tennessee. Crockett's father taught him to shoot a rifle when he was just 8 years old. He loved hunting. When he turned 13, his father insisted that he enroll in school. After only a few days of attendance, Davy Crockett got in a fight with the class bully and was afraid to go back to school. Instead, he ran away from home and spent more than two years wandering the woods. As an adult, Crockett developed a reputation as a frontiersman that, while at times exaggerated, elevated him to folk legend status. People thought Crockett could do anything, and nothing could stop him. His nickname was King of the Wild Frontier. After Crockett lost the 1835 congressional election, he grew disillusioned with politics and decided to join the fight in the Texas War of Independence. Crockett arrived at the Alamo on February 8th. On February 23rd, to the surprise of the Texans in the Alamo, a Mexican army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna arrived and surrounded the Alamo. On March 6th, after 13 days of siege, the Mexican army attacked. It was just before dawn while many Texans were sleeping. Crockett paused briefly in the chapel to say a prayer. The Battle of the Alamo lasted almost 90 minutes, and all of the Texan soldiers were put to death including Davy Crockett.

5 Davy Crockett

6 William B. Travis

7 Jim Bowie

8 Juan Seguín