Thirteen Days of Glory

On March 6, 1836, The Alamo fell to Santa Ana's troops, marking a turning point in Texas' war for Independence from Mexico. For thirteen days, a ragtag group of men held the Mexican general in one place, allowing the Tejano army the chance to gather strength, and giving them the rallying cry of "Remember the Alamo".

Ballad of the Alamo
(written by P.F. Webster & D. Tiomkin)

In the Southern part of Texas, in the town of San Antone
Is a fortress all in ruin that the weeds have overgrown
You may look in vain for crosses and you'll never see a one
But sometimes between the setting and the rising of the sun
You can hear a ghostly bugle as the men go marching by
You can hear them as they answer to that roll call in the sky
Colonel Travis, Davy Crockett and a hundred eighty more
Captain Dickinson, Jim Bowie, present and accounted for

Back in 1836 Houston said to Travis
Get some volunteers and go, fortify the Alamo
Well the men came from Texas and from old Tennessee
And they joined up with Travis just to fight for the right to be free.
Indian scouts with squirrel guns, men with muzzle loaders
Stood together heel and toe to defend the Alamo
"You may ne'er see your loved ones" Travis told them that day
"Those who want to can leave now, those who fight to the death let 'em stay."

In the sand he drew a line with his army saber
Out of a hundred eighty five not a soldier crossed the line

With his banners a dancin' in the dawn's golden light
Santa Ana came prancin' on a horse that was black as the night
Sent an officer to tell Travis to surrender
Travis answered with a shell and the rousing rebel yell
Santa Ana turned scarlet, "Play Deguello!" he roared
"I will show them no quarter, everyone will be put to the sword!"

One hundred and eighty five holding back five thousand
Five days, six days, eight days, ten, Travis held and held again
Then he sent for replacements for his wounded and lame
But the troops that were coming, never came, never came, never came

Twice he charged and blew recall on the fatal third time
Santa Ana breached the wall and he killed them one and all
Now the bugles are silent and there's rust on each sword
And the small band of soldiers lie asleep in the arms of the Lord

In the Southern part of Texas, near the town of San Antone
Like a statue on his pinto rides a cowboy all alone
And he sees the cattle grazin' where a century before
Santa Ana's guns were blazin' and the cannons used to roar
And his eyes turn sort of misty and his heart begins to glow
And he takes his hat off slowly to the men of Alamo
To the thirteen days of glory at the seige of Alamo