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fandomhigh2007-06-13 02:19 pm
hera-rises.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2007-06-13 02:19 pm
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History in Action, Wednesday, 3rd Period
Students arrived today to find themselves standing just outside a structure of white stone, adobe and wood. Walls stretched to either side, one side stone held together with mortar, the other sharpened wood spikes. As their gazes traveled upward, they would have noted the ceiling on this particular part of the structure didn't exist. One door stood open, a silent invitation.
Filtering through the arched doorway of the old church, Professor Roslin was standing in the interior, just before the interior courtyard. Beyond her, random people scuttled back and forth, burdened with various items. They moved with purpose, as though preparing for an approaching storm. Despite their somber mood, Roslin offered a smile. "Good morning and welcome to the Alamo, on March 5, 1836. An historic battle will take place here in the next few hours, one that you may observe or take part in...your choice, of course.
"Up to this point, the territory you have been standing in has been part of Mexico, controlled by Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. American settlers, however, have been edging their way in. Just last year, in December, a local settler led a revolt against Mexican soldiers quartered in nearby San Antonio. The Mexican soldiers eventually surrendered the city; the Texans immediately began fortifying the Alamo for the battle they were sure would follow.
"On February 23, 1836, the arrival of Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the volunteers prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas.
"On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, a renowned knife fighter, and famous frontiers man Davy Crockett, a former congressman from Tennessee.[1]
"What you see now is what is left after those long days. There are injured, starving people in here; they need hope and they need help. Feel free to contribute in the manner you're best comfortable with.
"Sometime tomorrow morning, the Mexican troops will begin scaling the walls. Most of the people you see here tonight won't survive the day." She gave a slight smile. "Talk to them, hear their stories, and remember them."
With that, she stepped aside and allowed clear entry into the larger fort beyond. She then made her way to check on the Tennessee volunteers before moving on.
[OCD threadscoming are up! Tag me if you need anything. I'll be back and forth between boxes and the PC.
[1] Snipped from The Alamo website.]
Filtering through the arched doorway of the old church, Professor Roslin was standing in the interior, just before the interior courtyard. Beyond her, random people scuttled back and forth, burdened with various items. They moved with purpose, as though preparing for an approaching storm. Despite their somber mood, Roslin offered a smile. "Good morning and welcome to the Alamo, on March 5, 1836. An historic battle will take place here in the next few hours, one that you may observe or take part in...your choice, of course.
"Up to this point, the territory you have been standing in has been part of Mexico, controlled by Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. American settlers, however, have been edging their way in. Just last year, in December, a local settler led a revolt against Mexican soldiers quartered in nearby San Antonio. The Mexican soldiers eventually surrendered the city; the Texans immediately began fortifying the Alamo for the battle they were sure would follow.
"On February 23, 1836, the arrival of Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the volunteers prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas.
"On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, a renowned knife fighter, and famous frontiers man Davy Crockett, a former congressman from Tennessee.[1]
"What you see now is what is left after those long days. There are injured, starving people in here; they need hope and they need help. Feel free to contribute in the manner you're best comfortable with.
"Sometime tomorrow morning, the Mexican troops will begin scaling the walls. Most of the people you see here tonight won't survive the day." She gave a slight smile. "Talk to them, hear their stories, and remember them."
With that, she stepped aside and allowed clear entry into the larger fort beyond. She then made her way to check on the Tennessee volunteers before moving on.
[OCD threads
[1] Snipped from The Alamo website.]
Re: Fortifying the Walls