Drawn by the commander of engineers for Santa Anna's army, this is the official battle map of the Alamo fortifications. It shows a wide area around the Alamo, including the town and military presidio of San Antonio.

(Versión en Español)

Sánchez Navarro kept a private record in his ledgers detailing his observations both of the siege of Béxar in 1835 and the assault on the Alamo in 1836. In one ledger he drew this plan of the Alamo, identifying the fort's physical components and its defenses, with comments on their relative strengths.

(Versión en Español)

A century after the assault on the Alamo, José Juan Sánchez Navarro's memoirs of the Texas campaign were published in Mexico by one of his descendants.

(Versión en Español)

Peña Narrative contains his account of the death of William Barret Travis at the Alamo. His description, translated, reads as follows:

They had bolted and reinforced the doors, but in order to form trenches they had excavated some places inside that were now a hindrance to them. Not all of them took refuge, for some remained in the open, looking at us before firing, as if dumbfounded at our daring. Travis was seen to hesitate, but not about the death he would choose. He would take a few steps and stop, turning his proud face toward us to discharge his shots; he fought like a true soldier. Finally he died, but he died after having traded his life very dearly. None of his men died with greater heroism, and they all died. Travis behaved as a hero; one must do him justice, for with a handful of men without discipline, he resolved to face men used to war and much superior in numbers, without supplies, with scarce munitions, and against the will of his subordinates, He was a handsome blond, with a physique as robust as his spirit was strong.

(Versión en Español)

Peña's Narrative includes his account of the execution of David Crockett following the assault on the Alamo. The account, translated, reads as follows:

Some seven men had survived the general carnage and, under the protection of General Castrillón, they were brought before Santa Anna. Among them was one of great stature, well proportioned, with regular features, in whose face there was the imprint of adversity, but in whom one also noticed a degree of resignation and nobility that did him honor. He was the naturalist David Crockett, well known in North America for his unusual adventures, who had undertaken to explore the country and who, finding himself in Béjar at the very moment of surprise, had taken refuge in the Alamo, fearing that his status as a foreigner might not be respected. Santa Anna answered Castrillón's intervention in Crockett's behalf with a gesture of indignation and, addressing himself to the sappers, the troops closest to him, ordered his execution. The commanders and officers were outraged at this action and did not support the order, hoping that once the fury of the moment had blown over these men would be spared; but several officers who were around the president and who, perhaps, had not been present during the moment of danger, became noteworthy by an infamous deed, surpassing the soldiers in cruelty. They thrust themselves forward, in order to flatter their commander, and with swords in hand, fell upon these unfortunate, defenseless men just as a tiger leaps upon his prey. Though tortured before they were killed, these unfortunates died without complaining and without humiliating themselves before their torturers.

(Versión en Español)

This early Texas newspaper attempted to piece together the details of the Alamo drama from various sources. Its glowing praise of the fallen defenders gave voice to the first legends to arise from the battle.

(Versión en Español)

This 1849 daguerreotype of the façade of the Alamo chapel in San Antonio is the earliest datable photograph taken in Texas and the only extant photographic view of the Alamo made prior to its reconstruction in 1850. Governor and Mrs. Dolph Briscoe acquired this benchmark Texas photograph for the Center for American History in 1993.

(Versión en Español)