Thirteen Days

     Thirteen Days

Suzanne Marsh

23 February 1836

The bell in the steeple of San Fernando rang out the first warning of the Mexican Army's approach to San Antonio de Bexar. Susannah Dickinson heard the bells, then the galloping of a horse, he grabbed a small bundle from her and her child Angelina. Her husband Almeron rode up on a large black horse: “Hurry Sue, get on the Mexicans are here.” Susannah jumped on the back of the horse as Almeron kicked the horse into a gallop once again. The pleasant days in the Musquiz house were now gone. They rode quickly into the fortified Alamo, the adobe walls, Susannah jumped off the horse, fear filled her, as Almeron took her to a small room they would share for the duration of the siege. Ana Esparza strode over to Susannah, holding out her arms for Angelina, Susannah trembled in fear. The first night Ana fed Angelina hoping that Susannah would realize that her help was greatly needed; there were wounded from the battle of Bexar that required nursing care. Susannah and Angelina had a small room they shared with Almeron.

Dawn came early on the morning of February 24^th, 1836, a bitterly cold wind blew. Susannah could hear the shells dropping inside the Alamo, as she rose from her pallet with Angelina, who was crying with hunger. Ana Esparza saw Susannah and motioned her over to a fire where Ana was preparing corn mush for the children’s breakfast. Once Angelina and Esparza's children were fed, the men ate, and the day began.

Several men were running fevers Juana Alsbury began her nursing chores and was soon joined by Ana and Susannah. Enrique Esparza and his older sibling watched the younger children while the women cared for the ill. David Crockett remembered Susannah as washing his clothes at Musquiz's house, they spoke for a few moments before Crockett was called away.

Canons were being hoisted into place when Jim Bowie fell ill with a high fever. He took to his cot, weakened by what was possibly pneumonia. Juana Alsbury and her sister Gertrudis accompanied Bowie to settle him. They were cousins of Bowie’s dead wife Ursula, and were under Bowie’s protection during the siege of the Alamo. Jim Bowie worried that the ladies under his protection would not fare well if Santa Ana’s soldiers breached the walls of the old Adobe mission. He knew the defenses were weak; he despised Travis and trusted Crockett.

The days seemed to drag on for Susannah, between nursing the sick, preparing food for the men defending the Alamo, and caring for Angelina. She did not have time to feel fear, not while she was busy. Night brought her fear to the surface, as she thought about what would happen to her and Angelina if the Mexicans took the Alamo, what would happen if Almeron were killed fighting. She had a dream one night about Almeron being shot and killed not far from the room she occupied with him. Almeron heard her sobbing, comforting her as best he could. Almeron knew unless help arrived soon the men were doomed, at this time there were one hundred and forty-nine men against almost two thousand Mexican soldiers. Santa Ana wanted a complete surrender, Travis had sent a message with a roar of a canon, that they would not surrender. A red flag was hoisted, and its significance declared no quarter no mercy to the men inside the Alamo. Almeron could not bring himself to tell Susannah, instead he just held her.

The following morning David Crockett sought out Susannah, asking her if she could wash a few shirts for him. She smiled as he handed over his laundry, which she did and returned to him later that day. The playing of El Deguello was beginning to take its toll on the men and women inside the Alamo. David Crockett brought out his fiddle and challenged Second Sergeant John Mc Gregor to a contest, to see who could drown out the El Deguello better the fiddle or the bagpipes. Crockett played the fiddle making it sing and as Susannah noted: McGregor always won as far as noise was concerned, for he made strange and dreadful sounds with his queer instrument. Those contests continued throughout the siege keeping and boosting; the morale of the defenders.

6 Marsh 1836

The night of 5 March 1836 was quiet, Susannah felt restless so with Angelina in her arms, she took a walk. She stopped to speak to Colonel Travis, who was feeling melancholy; removed the ring his sweetheart had given him. He found a piece of leather and placed the ring around Angelina’s neck. Susannah could feel real fear mounting within her. Why would Travis give such a piece to Angelina unless he did not expect to survive? Sue had witnessed the drawing of the line in the sand, she knew that the men that stayed were in mortal danger, she also heard through the grapevine that Fanin was on his way with three hundred men. Perhaps Travis was just being cautious, at least she prayed that was the case.

The morning of 6 March was bitter cold, the men had slept outside as a precaution. The El Delguello had ceased, this could only mean that Santa Ana was ready to attack. Suddenly there was a commotion; a bugler could be heard, and men began to race to their posts. Almeron came to Susannah, taking her to a safer place, a small interior room inside the chapel of the Alamo. He hid here and their child there as he raced back to his station. Almeron, captain of the artillery, he was posted on top of the chapel along with James Butler Bonham and Gregori Esparza.

The canons began to fire, as the walls of the Alamo shook. Susannah hid herself and Angelina under some hay. Almeron ran toward the small interior room where Susannah clutched Angelina to her in fear. She stood as Almeron entered his voice screaming over the noise of the canon: “Great God Sue, the Mexicans are inside the walls, if they spare you save our child.” He kissed her quickly and returned to the heat of battle, it was the last time Sue saw Almeron. Her greatest fear had come true, Almeron died one of the last; to be bayonetted.

Santa Ana required a messenger to take a message to General Sam Houston, he chose Susannah because of her courage. She was taken to Santa Ana where Angelina sat playing on his lap. He offered to adopt Angelina raising her as his own child, sending her to the best schools. Susannah would not hear of that, so instead he gave her two silver dollars, a blanket, and a message for Sam Houston; either retreat or suffer the consequences. Susannah was found on foot leading a donkey with Angelina, she was very disoriented after all she had seen and heard during the Battle of the Alamo. She was taken by “Deaf” Smith to General Sam Houston where she handed him the message from Santa Ana. Throughout history she was known as the messenger of the Alamo, and her daughter Angelina was known as the “Babe of the Alamo.”