The Alamo was the site of a decisive battle in the fight for Texas' independence from Mexico. In the early 1800s, Texas was part of Mexico. The United States annexed Texas in 1845, leading to war with Mexico. The U.S. Army was made up primarily of frontiersmen and some of the most colorful characters in our history in San Antonio, and like the armies before them, they occupied the Alamo. The Last Battle of the Alamo is one of the most famous battles fought on American soil. For many Americans and most Texans, the Battle of the Alamo was a symbol of patriotic sacrifice. History The Alamo originally served as the church of Mission San Antonio de Valero, founded in 1718. The church served as focal point for converting local Indians to Christianity. Several armies throughout its history have occupied the mission. The last military garrison to call Mission San Antonio home were the 200 defenders of the Alamo who would fall to the Mexican army in a massacre. The Alamo was militarily vital because it blocked one of two entrances to Texas from Mexico. James Clinton Neill, the original commander of the Alamo, was placed in command of the mostly volunteer garrison defending the Alamo. James Clinton Neill had previous artillery experience and had a regular military commission, making him the best choice for command. A major problem facing the Alamo was its lack of supplies and reinforcements. These would eventually cause the Alamo to fall into the hands of Santa Anna and the Mexican army. Due to his lack of supplies and reinforcements, Neill wrote to General Sam Houston stating: "Unless we are reinforced and brought in supplies, we must become easy prey to the enemy, in case of attack." . »1 In December 1835, General Sam H...... middle of paper......made with a few hundred soldiers. This is still a problem in the modern military, we too often place our units in bad places and the results are usually terrible. The third lesson from the Battle of the Alamo is to never leave behind equipment that can help the enemy. The defenders of the Alamo failed to disable the cannons within their perimeter and they were used against them with devastating effect. The final lesson we can learn from the Battle of the Alamo is that the world is always on the lookout. Even before the advent of the Internet, news of atrocities would spread. In the case of the Alamo, General Santa Anna's atrocities became a rallying cry for Texas and ultimately led to General Santa Anna's defeat and Texas' independence from Mexico. The men of the Alamo had perished but, as one historian put it, "their spirits were only beginning to live and inspire »..”10