Alamo

a'la-mo, a fort at San Antonio, Texas. It was originally a mission house of the Franciscan fathers, built about 1722. An open, oblong space of two and one-half acres, containing the buildings of the mission, was inclosed by a wall eight feet high and thirty-three inches in thickness. The outer wall, being of adobe, has fallen; but the inner buildings still stand and they bear appropriate inscriptions. The Alamo is noted in the war of Texan independence. Santa Anna, with an army variously estimated at from 1,500 to 4,000 Mexicans, besieged a band of 140 Texans, among whom were Colonels David Crockett and James Bowie. The Texans held the fort for two weeks. When finally taken by assault, March 6, 1836, only six men remained alive. They were immediately butchered by order of Santa Anna. During the remainder of the war, "Remember the Alamo!" became the Texan warcry. See Texas; Santa Anna; Crockett; Bowie