Thursday, February 24, 2011

Remember the Alamo (a recipe)

Below you will find a brief story of the Alamo, beginning with this day in History (Feb 24, 1836).

So, to commemorate these brave souls…join me in raising a glass tonight.  If you are looking for suggestions, how about an Alamo-

100_0993Alamo

This is a recipe for Alamo, with Wild Turkey® 101 bourbon whiskey, tequila, 151 proof rum, Tabasco® sauce and black peppers.

How to Make a Alamo

Build ingredients with 1 - 2 ice cubes in a highball glass, and serve.

Serve in Highball Glass

Ingredients:

Ingredient    Quantity   Suggested Brand or Flavor

151 Rum       1.5 oz          Barcardi 151
Tequila         1.5 oz          100 Proof Tequila
Bourbon        1.5 oz          Wild Turkey

Pepper          Dash
Hot Sauce     .5 oz            Tabasco

This Day in History – 2 February 1836

On this day in 1836, in San Antonio, Texas, Colonel William Travis issues a call for help on behalf of the Texan troops defending the Alamo, an old Spanish mission and fortress under attack by the Mexican army.

A native of Alabama, Travis moved to the Mexican state of Texas in 1831. He soon became a leader of the growing movement to overthrow the Mexican government and establish an independent Texan republic. When the Texas revolution began in 1835, Travis became a lieutenant-colonel in the revolutionary army and was given command of troops in the recently captured city of San Antonio de Bexar (now San Antonio). On February 23, 1836, a large Mexican force commanded by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana arrived suddenly in San Antonio. Travis and his troops took shelter in the Alamo, where they were soon joined by a volunteer force led by Colonel James Bowie.

Though Santa Ana's 5,000 troops heavily outnumbered the several hundred Texans, Travis and his men determined not to give up. On February 24, they answered Santa Ana's call for surrender with a bold shot from the Alamo's cannon. Furious, the Mexican general ordered his forces to launch a siege. Travis immediately recognized his disadvantage and sent out several messages via couriers asking for reinforcements. Addressing one of the pleas to "The People of Texas and All Americans in the World," Travis signed off with the now-famous phrase "Victory or Death."

Only 32 men from the nearby town of Gonzales responded to Travis' call for help, and beginning at 5:30 a.m. on March 6, Mexican forces stormed the Alamo through a gap in the fort's outer wall, killing Travis, Bowie and 190 of their men. Despite the loss of the fort, the Texan troops managed to inflict huge losses on their enemy, killing at least 600 of Santa Ana's men.

The brave defense of the Alamo became a powerful symbol for the Texas revolution, helping the rebels turn the tide in their favor. At the crucial Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 910 Texan soldiers commanded by Sam Houston defeated Santa Ana's army of 1,250 men, spurred on by cries of "Remember the Alamo!" The next day, after Texan forces captured Santa Ana himself, the general issued orders for all Mexican troops to pull back behind the Rio Grande River. On May 14, 1836, Texas officially became an independent republic.

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3 comments:

  1. The Alamo and the war were a cluster----, whether you just know the rah-rah stuff or read about actual US history/policy at the time.

    But bravery is bravery and should be recognized.

    And listing Bowie and Crockett as masons is a big plus.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Many of the men involved in Texas independance were Freemasons, including Sam Houston and Santa Anna.

    Here is a article about Santa Anna's capture - http://www.mastermason.com/hempstead749/sanjac.htm

    General Santa Anna was discovered crouching in the tall grass along a small hollow. He was first sighted by Jim Sylvester who suddenly rode upon the fugitive. The General had on a corporal's uniform and was barefooted. Sylvester signaled his men who were scattered as far as four or five hundred yards away. They came dashing up flourishing their guns and Santa Anna became excited. At that moment that he gave the Masonic sign of distress. Sylvester and Robinson were both Masons and understood the signs, which undoubtedly was the reason the general was not killed on the spot.

    ReplyDelete
  3. And here is another regarding Santa Anna's Apron-
    http://www.houstonmasoniclibrary.org/exhibit1.html

    ReplyDelete

 
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