Why The Alamo Is Haunted
Written By: BubbaEarl III
 
There is a place in San Antonio, Texas known by everyone as a symbol of
man's desire for freedom. One of the world's most recognized buildings.
The Alamo. But there is another side of the Alamo not so well known. The
Alamo is possessed by ghosts. 
 
To understand why the Alamo is haunted one needs to know a little of
Texas history. Texas, in 1836, was in a struggle for independence from
the dictatorial iron hand of Santa Anna, the president of Mexico. 
 
Santa Anna was determined to squelch the struggle by a policy of death,
with no quarter, to the rebels whom he referred to as pirates. Santa
Anna had already stopped all immigrants from the United States from
entering Texas. 
 
Prior to the massacre on March 6, 1836, the Texans, comprised of both
Hispanic and Anglo, Texans, had successfully engaged Gen. Cos' garrison
in San Antonio in an attempt to remove the Mexican military from Texas.
The rebellious Texans and Tejanos allowed Cos and his men to keep their
arms with the agreement that they would leave Texas and not return.
Santa Anna, upon learning of this defeat of his military, began a forced
march to San Antonio with the goal of total extermination of the
rebels. 
 
Arriving in San Antonio February 23, 1836 his advance forces took over
San Antonio as a result of the rebels determining that the whole city
would be too difficult to defend and establishing a defensive posture in
the Alamo. About 200 defenders holed up in the old mission. Under siege
for 13 days, the rebels lost not a single man despite an almost constant
bombardment by cannon. 
 
On March 6, 1836 Santa Anna stormed the Alamo. The horror and atrocities
began. 
 
As is theorized by many who have deep interest in so called ghosts (for
lack of a better word), the circumstances of death have a huge impact on
a person's spirit's ability to peacefully move on to the afterlife. The
circumstances of death for the Alamo defenders were extremely
horrible. 
 
Prior to the battle the defenders were actually expecting other rebels
to come to their aid, But the morning of March 6, 1836 brought the
heartbreaking realization that no help would be coming, The defenders
felt they had been abandoned by their friends but were also determined
to give their precious lives at a price Santa Anna could not afford to
pay. It has been said that for every Texan that died that day, ten of
Santa Anna's men also died or sustained incapacitating injuries. 
 
The Alamo defenders fought like wild men with a desperation never before
seen in any battle. One must remember that in those days a man was bound
by a sense of honor, devotion to God, country, family and friends. A
concept not understood by most of today's society of selfishness and
egotism. A man lived and was judged by his sense of right and wrong. It
was right to die for a belief and wrong to be a coward. A simple concept
without complications. 
 
Santa Anna's men were given orders to kill them all. And they did. Only
a handful of women and very young children were spared. Young boys as
young as twelve were killed. The defenders who were able to escape the
confines of the Alamo compound were chased down by Mexican cavalry and
killed with lances. 
 
Inside the Alamo compound the defenders were killed with gun, bayonet,
and sword. Several were bayoneted and hoisted into the air. But the ones
that could fought on. It is said that a group of five or six
surrendered. I don't believe they did. I believe they ran out of
bullets, powder and had nothing left to fight with. They had to have
been exhausted. I believe they were captured. They were brought before
Santa Anna who became angry that his orders were not followed. He
ordered them killed. They were. By zealous soldiers anxious to please.
They were hacked to death with swords. 
 
Dawn brought a silence punctuated by the smell of death. Santa Anna
ordered the defenders bodies burned. Some were probably still alive when
thrown onto one of three funeral pyres. 
 
I have been to the Alamo many times and I feel the ghosts. Others have
seen the ghosts. A man whose clothes are soaking wet who disappears. A
monk in prayer. A crying baby. A young boy peering out a window. A white
horse. A defender in buckskin who walks through walls. A wailing
woman. 
 
If you get a chance go to the Alamo, walk in the chapel. But please be
quiet. Take off your hat. After all you are walking on sacred ground.
Made sacred by sacrifice. If you are lucky you may hear or see something
you can't explain. If you see an older man dressed in buckskin, ask him
his name. If he says Jesse, tell him his great, great, great grandson
said , "Hi, granpa, I'm proud of you."