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My name is Enrique Esparza, and I am 8 years old.   My father, 

Gregorio Esparza is in the Texian army, and has been ordered to 

San Antonio.   It is February 23, 1836, and we have heard that 

General Santa Anna is on his way.   My father wanted to send us to 

San Felipe, where we might be safer, but Mr. Smith came over and 

told us that it was too late.   General Santa Anna was already here.  

My father decided to move us into the Alamo compound.   It took 

us all day, but we finally made it around sundown.   I could hear 

General Santa Anna's drums beating on Milam Square...

February 23, 1836

General Santa Anna's Calvary units have been spotted by the sentries 

of the garrison.   Colonel William B. Travis orders everyone to 

withdraw into the Alamo compound after he sends scouts to confirm 

that the Mexican army has arrived.   Mexican Colonel Juan Almonte 

requests a parley, where he orders the Texians to surrender or be "put to 

the sword."   Instead of asking his fellow Texians to surrender, Colonel Travis 

sends a volley of cannon fire from the 18-pounder cannon in answer to the Mexican 

army's request for surrender.

February 24, 1836

Both the Mexican and Texian armies were busy overnight.   The Mexican army 

placed two 8-pounders cannons and a howitzer 400 yards to the west of the 

Alamo fort.   This became known as the River Battery.   The Texians captured a 

Mexican soldier and 6 pack mules.

Later in the morning, General Santa Anna began to familiarize himself with the 

Alamo and surrounding area, while the Mexican army began to raid the local 

Texian stores, as well as begin bombardment of the Alamo.

The Alamo defenders discovered that the Alamo compound's well was not going 

to provide enough water, so they had to get water from the acequia and 

reservoir that was to the east of the compound, which created many 

skirmishes.   Jim Bowie, who was the commander of the garrison, became sick. 

Colonel Travis also wrote his very important letter, "To the people of Texas and 

all Americans in the world," and had defender Albert Martin carry the letter 

from the Alamo.

February 24, 1836

The first night we were in the compound, my father was one of 

a small group of soldiers that went out and captured a Mexican 

soldier.   That captured Mexican soldier interpreted the bugle 

calls of the Mexican army for the Alamo defenders.   During 

that day, the Mexicans started firing their cannons at the 

compound, and some of the people started complaining that 

there was not enough water.

February 25, 1836

General Castrillon led the Mexicans in an attack that came 

from the River Battery area and advanced the Mexican army to 

within 100 feet of the Alamo compound walls, after fighting for 

2 hours.  

Even thought the day started with summer-like temperatures, 

that night the temperature dropped into the 30's.   After dark, 

Colonel Travis sent Colonel Juan Seguin to find General 

Houston and ask him for help.

February 26, 1836

The well in the Alamo compound did not even come close to 

producing enough water to meet the demand of everyone 

inside the compound.   The temperature also dropped to near 

freezing, and food was on the minds of the Alamo defenders. A 

small group of Texian soldiers went outside the walls to gather 

food and water, and a skirmish erupted, which produced more 

Mexican casualties.

February 27, 1836

Some of the families we knew before were inside the compound with us.  

Some of them we didn't know, but we got to know them.   A Mrs. Cabury 

and her sister, a Mrs. Victoriana, and a family of several girls, Mrs. 

Dickson, Mrs. Juana Melton, a Mexican woman who had married an 

American, also a woman named Concepcion Losoya and her son, Juan, 

who was a little older than me. I remember seeing Mrs. Melton making 

circles on the ground with an umbrella, and I had never seen an 

umbrella before.   Somebody told us the Mexicans cut off the water 

supply.

February 27, 1836

The day also began cold, and with the Mexican army looting 

local merchants again because they had run out of supplies.  

They also sent soldiers to neighboring ranches to confiscate 

livestock and corn.   The Mexicans also cut off the acequia 

water supply to the Alamo compound, which basically 

eliminated the Alamo defenders major source of water.   The 

Texians kept firing on the Mexicans constantly as they tried to 

dig trenches closer to the Alamo compound.

February 28, 1836

The Mexican army receives word that 200 Texian soldiers from 

Goliad are on their way to help the Alamo defenders.   This 

information also becomes known inside the compound, and the 

mood improves inside the compound.   Davy Crockett even 

takes up a fiddle and challenged John MacGregor, a Scottish 

man that brought bagpipes, to a contest with their 

instruments.

February 28, 1836

Davy Crockett is a tall, slim man, with black whiskers.   The 

Mexicans call him Don Benito. The Americans said he is 

Crockett. He often comes to the fire and warms his hands and 

says a few words to us in the Spanish language. I also hear 

the names Bowie and Travis a lot, but I have never seen 

them.   We heard that help is coming from Goliad, and 

everyone is happy.   Don Benito plays his fiddle in a contest 

with a Scottish man with bagpipes.

February 29, 1836

A Mexican battalion and cavalry unit are ordered to intercept 

any Texians that may be coming from Goliad to help the 

Alamo defenders.   The Mexicans also propose a three-day 

armistice, or cease-fire. Many Tejanos leave the Alamo 

compound during the cease-fire. 

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