Historic Site Location
Two pyres were located in this area, one on either side of the "Alameda." Today the site is marked by a marble plaque, placed there by the De Zavala Chapter Texas Landmark Association. Bridge Commerce Street & Losoya Street
Late on the afternoon of February 23, 1836, two parleys occurred on the wooden bridge that spanned the San Antonio River at this location. Green B. Jameson, representing Col. James Bowie, met with Col. Juan Almonte. Another messenger sent by Col. William B. Travis met with Col. José Batres. Santa Anna’s demand of unconditional surrender was refused and the siege began. Milam Cypress Tree Commerce Street, near intersection with Soledad Street
On the morning of December 7, 1835, a Mexican soldier perched in a cypress tree across the river fired into the courtyard of the Veramendi Palace, killing Col. Benjamin Rush Milam, one the commanders leading the Texan assault on Gen. Perfecto de Cos’ garrison during the Battle of Béxar. Although this incident was not a part of the Siege of the Alamo, it played an important role in events leading up to the 1836 battle. [Note: The best way to view the tree is to stand on the north side of Commerce Street, on the bridge near the intersection with Soledad Street. The tree, which has two trunks, is located near a tan colored multi-storied building.] Maverick House NE Corner at Commerce & Soledad Streets Samuel Maverick was an early American resident of Béxar. During the Battle of Béxar in December 1835, Maverick served as a guide for the Texans, leading them through its narrow street and locating key points. A member of the Alamo garrison, he was elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos and thus escaped death on the morning of March 6, 1836. He later brought his wife, Mary, to Texas and rented a house at this location in 1839. In 1840, an episode known as the "Council House Fight" occurred one block to the south near the corner of Soledad Street and Dolorosa Street. In 1842, Mexican troops under Gen. Adrian Woll entered the town, surprising and capturing Maverick and 55 other Texans who were gathered in San Antonio because district court was in session. These men became known as the "Perote Prisoners." Veramendi House Midway between Commerce & Houston Streets The Veramendi’s were one of early San Antonio de Béxar’s most influential families. The family’s patriarch, Fernando Veramendi (ca. 1743-1783), came to Béxar in the mid-1770s. A successful merchant, he built a large house on Soledad Street known to local residents as the "Veramendi Palace." His son, Juan Martín de Veramendi (1778-1833), served as Alcalde [mayor] of Béxar from 1824-1825; vice governor of Coahuila y Texas, 1830-1832; and governor of Coahuila y Texas, 1832-1833. His daughter married James Bowie in 1831. Bowie and his young bride lived with her parents at this house. The Veramendi Palace had another important link to Texas history. Texans occupied the building during the Siege of Béxar, a five-day-long battle that ended in the defeat of General Martín Perfecto de Cos and the expulsion of his Centralist garrison from Texas. Early on the morning of December 7, 1835, at the height of the battle for the town, Texan leader Benjamin Rush Milam was shot through the head as he emerged from the house and killed instantly.
The Veramendi Palace was torn down in 1910 as part of a plan to widen Soledad Street. Yturri House NE Corner at Commerce & Main Streets
Santa Anna and his officers occupied this home upon entering the town on the afternoon of February 23, 1836. It became Santa Ann’s headquarters. According to Col. Juan Almonte, on March 1, two shots fired by the Texans inside the Alamo struck near here. On the evening of March 4, Santa Anna held a council of war in which he announced his decision to take the Alamo by force. It is probable that is was here Santa Anna and his aide, Colonel Juan Almonte, sat drinking coffee during the earlier hours of March 6 while waiting for time designated for the attack to arrive. It was here, too, that Santa Anna interviewed the survivors of the battle on the afternoon following the battle. San Fernando Church SW Corner at Dolorosa & Main Streets
San Fernando Church, constructed from 1738-1755, was located on the civil or main plaza. It was here, on the afternoon of February 23, 1836, that Santa Anna ordered the flag of "no quarter" flown from its bell tower. Much of the original church, however, is gone. In 1868 the bell tower and nave were removed to make way for repairs and renovations. The church was re-consecrated in October 1873 and received the designation "cathedral" the following year. In 1936, remains thought by some to be those of the Alamo Heroes, were unearthed during repairs. In 1938, these were placed in a small marble casket and displayed near the entrance to the cathedral with a plaque inscribed "Here lie the remains of Travis, Crockett, Bowie, and other Alamo Heroes." Not all historians agree that these are their remains.
Musquiz House SW Corner at Dolorosa & Main Streets
Ramón Músquiz (ca. 1797-?) was a merchant and political figure of note in early San Antonio. He served as political chief of the Department of Texas from 1828-1834. Although he sided with the Federalist faction in the struggle over control of the state legislature of Coahuila y Texas, he remained loyal to the Mexican government and represented General Cos as one of the negotiators at the surrender of Béxar in December 1835. He was called upon by Santa Anna to help identify the bodies of Bowie, Crockett, Travis, and other Texans. He left San Antonio in May 1836 when the Mexican troops evacuated the town and resettled in Monclova. Campo Santo NW Corner at Houston & Santa Rosa Streets
Following the battle, Santa Anna ordered the bodies of Mexican soldiers killed in the attack transported to the Camp Santo, or town cemetery. The remains buried at the old Campo Santo were removed and re-interred in other public cemeteries outside town in the later part of the nineteenth century. Today, Milam Square and Santa Rosa Hospital cover the site of the old cemetery.
|
 |
