The Man from the Alamo

I agree with Sam Houston.

We have to fight for our rights.

- I disagree.

We've gotten along as a free state

under the Mexican Republic for years.

You've overlooked one thing, Jim.

Although the Spanish gave us

the right of colonization in 1821,

when Santa Anna seized control

we ceased to be a free state.

We can either fight or face a military

government. - General Houston!

Gentlemen, I'll get to the point.

I have to recruit an army to defend

Texas as an independent republic.

Many of you already know

how difficult such an undertaking is.

And the others of you soon will.

If victory is to be ours,

we must have every able-bodied man

in Texas under arms.

In the absence of any fighting, Sam,

people don't see any danger here.

Men are reluctant

to leave their families and farms.

That is why

I called you gentlemen together.

I have just been told that Santa Anna

has occupied San Antonio.

Colonel Travis and less than 200 men

have retreated to the Alamo

to prepare for its defense.

At this moment, that is the only

military force between

the Mexican army and the Sabine river.

And those men need help!

How do you feel, Jim? - I'd feel

better to be out there on that wall.

Never get any shootin' done in here.

- Oon't be too sure of that.

There's a lot of them left out there.

Some of them may even pay you a visit.

Just bring 'em in.

Me and Mr. Bowie are ready.

We won't have to bring them in, Sam.

They intend to come in on their own.

Any word from Houston?

- Not yet.

You figure the messenger got through?

- I hope so.

Sam's a good man,

he'll send some boys down to help us.

He better send them pretty quick.

Oon't fret, Bill. You can always run

if things get too tough.

You aren't planning on leaving, Jim?

No, I guess not.

Oon't figure I could run very good.

I don't run good either, Jim.

Colonel Travis!

Colonel Travis!

- Yes?

There's a Mexican out there with

a white flag. Wants to talk to you.

What did he say, Colonel?

- He said if we don't walk out now

with our hands in the air,

we won't walk out at all.

What are you gonna tell him, sir?

- Is this cannon loaded? - Yes, sir.

This is driving me crazy.

First they blow the place apart,

then you have to sit around for hours

and there ain't a sound.

- You think they're out of bullets?

Stick your head up and find out.

- I ain't that curious.

I ain't had no sleep in four days.

How's a man supposed to stand it?

If you're tired of it,

open the gate and walk out.

Biggest mistake I made

was when I walked in.

You had all the way from Tennessee...

If I'd had 5 more miles,

I'd probably have changed my mind.

I don't understand that. What are you

guys from Tennessee doing down here?

No war in Tennessee.

- You could've found one nearer home.

I considered starting one,

but Oavy Crockett said you Texans need

some help, so I came here to fight.

Still don't know what I'm fighting

for. What're you fighting for?

I got a ranch up at Oxbow,

with a wife and kids.

There's 4 or 5 more of us got a ranch

there, too. Right, Stroud? - Yeah.

Ooes that answer your question?

Got a family of my own in Tennessee.

Wish mine was there instead of here.

- Yeah? Where's Oxbow?

Up north of here. - There ain't no

Mexicans up that-a-way, is there?

None that I know of.

- So what you got to worry about?

Not the Mexicans.

Santa Anna's giving land to Texans

so they'll fight on his side.

You don't think

anybody's gonna fight for him?

I know one already. Got a lot of

follower's, too. Name's Jess Wade.

Well, here we go again!

Hold it! It's one of our boys!

Came right through the Mexican line.

It's one of our boys!

Open those gates!

I'm Colonel Crockett. What is it?

Message from General Houston.

Where's the commanding officer?

Lieutenant! What's going on up north?

Same thing as here.

They're raiding up around Oxbow.

You heard that, didn't you?

- Yeah! - Come on, let's go.

Stroud! Kaye!

Come with me, I wanna talk to you.

Bill!

Lt. Lamar, sir. From General Houston.

How soon will the troops be here?

- There are no troops.

The General's recruiting an army

to defend Texas. It may be days...

Why'd Sam waste his time

sending a message like this?

He wants you to hold the Alamo.

How can we hold a whole army back?

- I don't know, sir.

The longer you hold out, the better

his chances against Santa Anna's army.

Oave, muster the men.

Just the 5 of us

got families up in Oxbow.

If one of us don't take care of them,

nobody else will.

One man here

won't make any difference,

but one man up there could take

our wives and kids into safety.

How's he going to get out?

- The messenger got in, didn't he?

Who's it gonna be? - If you fellas

all agree, we could draw lots for it.

I got a handful of beans,

and one of them's black.

Whoever draws the black bean goes.

You want to start, Johnny?

Why not?

A dispatch from General Houston.

"March 2nd, 1836. Today, Texas was

declared an independent republic."

That's fine, Colonel,

but are we getting reinforcements?

We haven't slept in a week.

- No. General Houston has no army.

He's recruiting one as fast as he can.

So if Santa Anna can be held here

for a few days longer,

it can mean the difference

between life and death for Texas.

We all know General Santa Anna

is going to give no quarter.

I'm staying here, but anyone else

who wants, may withdraw.

Those who volunteer

to stay with me, step forward.

Would you help me out, Sam?

Anyone up there want to go?

Mr. Stroud, I assume

you have your reasons.

I'll see that you get your horse

in a moment.

Men, this is the dispatch

I'm sending to General Houston:

"I am besieged by a thousand or more

Mexicans under General Santa Anna.

I have sustained

a continual bombardment and cannonade.

The enemy have demanded

a surrender at discretion.

Otherwise, the garrison is to be put

to the sword, if the fort is taken.

The enemy gets reinforcements daily

and will increase to 3,000 or 4,000

in four or five days.

I have answered the summons with

cannon shot, and the flag is flying.

I am determined to hold out as long as

possible and die like a soldier,

who never forgets what is due

his own honor and that of his country.

I shall never surrender or retreat.

Victory or death."

Lieutenant,

see that the General gets our message.

Sir, with your permission I'd like

to stay here in that man's place.

Why not use him as a messenger?

No, you brought Houston's message.

You're going to return with ours.

Get Mr. Stroud a horse.

Back to your posts.

Mapes!

Never thought I'd live to see

Johnny Stroud turn yellow.

Who says he has?

- He's runnin' out, ain't he?

Ever figure it might take more nerve

to leave than to stay?

Worst that can happen to you is

they say you died a hero.

He'll be a coward for the rest

of his life. - So why's he leaving?

We drew lots for it.

Johnny always was unlucky.

Carlos!

- Seor! Seor Stroud!

I not know it was you.

I thought they come back.

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