Shortly after Texas declared it's independence from Mexico, the president General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna marched north from Mexico with 6,000 soldiers. He stopped to besiege the Alamo, an old fortress that was defended by 184 men, including Davy Crockett. James Bowie and Col. William B. Travis shared command of the Alamo. The Mexicans launched numurous frontal attacks of the old fort. They finally crossed the walls on the night of March 5th and killed the remaining defenders. Despite their victory, the Mexicans lost some 1,500 men in the siege.
