The Siege and Fall of the Alamo (1914), Part 2
Bodies of Texans are scattered about the [Alamo] building and enclosure in the rear.
1914 Synopsis of The Siege and Fall of the Alamo
Last month I told you about the lost 1914 films The Fall of the Alamo and The Siege and Fall of the Alamo, starring, apparently in both films, Ray Myers. Virtually nothing is known about the first film, but the second film, though no prints are available today, is well attested in both The San Antonio Light newspaper review and advertisements and the copyright resignation at the Library of Congress. Nevertheless, those documents don’t lay out the exactly plot of The Siege and Fall of the Alamo. Presumably, the central plot is just that—the siege and fall of the Alamo—but were other elements included? According to S. G. Christal’s synopsis there was more to the film than just the siege and fall of the Alamo, it also included the battle of San Jacinto.
What follows is Christal’s synopsis, a list of characters (without cast members’ name), and a nine-point scenario. You’ll notice Christal often referred to the Alamo’s chapel as “the building,” indicating not only that the film was centered around the mission church but also that the film took place in and around the chapel—the only Alamo film to be shot on location at the Alamo, and possibly inside the church.
The Siege and Fall of the Alamo: Story of the Heroism of Travis, Crockett, Bowie and Bonham and Their Garrison, and the Battle of San Jacinto, In Motion Pictures.
Synopsis
A picket guard reports to Colonel Travis, commander of the Bexar garrison, that the Mexican general, Almonte, with troops is approaching the town. Travis hurriedly sends the report of the picket to Colonels Crockett and Bowie and Bonham, who are in command of small details, stationed in different parts of the village. The details with their commanders march toward the Alamo mission building, all coming together in a street leading to the building. Several of the party, seeing some cattle grazing on the commons, leave the crowd and go out, herding the cattle in front of the marching men. Driving the cattle into the stockade, or enclosure, in the rear of the building, the men, about 147 strong, enter the mission and take up positions at the windows and doors of the building; all armed with rifles and knives or sabers[.]
The Mexican army under the command of Gen. Almonte, arrives and pitches camp near a stream, several hundred yards of the mission building. A Mexican courier from the Almonte army arrives at the Alamo building with a demand for surrender of the garrison; this demand is refused; the Mexican returns to his army, and a small part of Mexican soldiers made a charge on the building. They are repulsed. Almonte orders his men to place a cannon near the Alamo building; they make effort to carry into effect this order, but are driven away by shots from [the] building. Other attempts are made to place the cannon, but all fail. Mexicans abandon the ground and retire to the main army.
As night comes on the Mexicans in small parties make charges on the building but are repulsed by shots from the garrison of Texans. When daylight comes the Texans discover that the Mexicans have succeeded in placing the cannon on the disputed ground.
About ten o’clock in the morning, the garrison in the building hear cheering in the Mexican army. The Texans rush to their posts in the building, guns in hand, and, looking out toward the southwest, they see a marching army; cheering continues in the Mexican camp until army seen approaching arrives, then loud shouts are heard by the garrison; Santa Anna, commander-in-chief of the Mexican army, with reinforcements has arrived. A council of war is held in the Mexican army, officers attending; a courier is dispatched to the Alamo with demand for surrender; the courier returns, and a cannon shot is the answer of the Texans in the garrison. Charges are made by the Mexicans against the building; they are repulsed; they charge again, and are again repulsed; ladders are secured and Mexicans in front of army are ordered to scale walls of building; Mexicans fall from ladders; others take their place. Another attempt is made; Mexicans enter the building through window, shooting and hand-to-hand fighting takes place. Bowie, one of the commanders of the garrison, is shot by Mexicans as he lay upon a cot. Mexicans swarm through the building, shooting Texans. Crockett, with several men are fighting Mexicans in stockade; several Mexican fall; Crockett and his men fall. Bodies of Texans are scattered about the building and enclosure in the rear.
Mexicans, officers, come into the building, one, Santa Anna, expressing a desire to see the bodies of Travis, Crockett and Bowie, is directed by soldier to the bodies. Santa Anna smiles and walks out of building. Bodies are kicked by Mexican soldiers. Bodies are carried out and placed in carts and taken away from building, deposited on prairies and burned.
Mexican army, with Santa Anna at head march away.
San Jacinto
An army of Texans is seen encamped in an open stretch of country, two men are seen riding away from the army, axes in hands. They return, waving hats; they shout, “Vince’s Bridge is Down.” Gen. Houston calls a counsel of war, officers attending; they disperse and the army is seen making preparations to march. They move forward, in broken ranks, shooting and firing guns they carry. Several of army fall; men continue to rush forward. Mexicans are seen firing and fleeing at the approach of the Texans. Mexicans scatter and several jump into stream, others hide in grass; some fall upon their knees with hands held up to Texans with guns pointed at Mexican [sic]. Mexicans are captured and marched to the tend of Gen. Houston, who is reclining on blanket spread upon the ground. Mexicans are corralled, and guard of men placed about them. Three Texans on horses come up with Mexican dressed in garb of private; as the party arrives at Houston’s tent Mexicans guarded by Texans, clap their hands and shout; Gen. Houston greets the prisoner, and they talk. Excited conversations take place between the Texas soldiers. Guard is placed about Santa Anna and assurances given by Houston that he will not be killed. Papers are signed by Houston and Santa Anna.
Cast
Colonel W. B. Travis, Commander of Bexar garrison, San Antonio.
Lt. Colonel David Crockett, second in command of garrison.
Lt. Colonel James Bowie, third in command of garrison.
Lt. Colonel [James B.] Bonham, fourth in command of garrison.
Mexican generals, Santa Anna, Almonte, Cos.
Mexican soldiers.
Texan soldiers.
Scenario
Bexar (San Antonio) garrison; small village, with Mexican huts, Alamo mission building.
Mexican army marching; Texans in garrison, about the streets, rushing here and there, very much excited; details of Texans seen coming together; cattle driven in front of marching men; men enter the Alamo mission building; cattle in stockade.
Mexican soldiers enters building with note; hands to Col. Travis, who shakes his head, and men about him cheer. All armed to go windows and peer out; shoot their rifles.
Col. Travis draws line in room on floor; men cross the line; Col. Bowie, sick on cot is moved across the line by three men.
Mexican soldiers shooting, some carrying ladders rush against walls of building, Alamo, fall back, rush again, and fall back. Ladders placed against wall. Mexicans enter building, shooting pistols and rifles. Man on the cot is shot.
Officers of Mexican army arrive; walk about bodies. Retire, and Mexican army carts carry bodies to prairie. Set afire with brush. Mexican general at head of army marches away.
Gen. Houston with army of Texans, camped on prairie; two men ride away from army with axes; return waving hats and shouting. Houston rides in front of army and makes a talk. Army, 750 strong, moves forward. Guns are fired, met Mexicans; Mexicans shoot, run, fall down and plead for lives.
Santa Anna is captured in high weeds by three Texas soldiers, made to [gallop (?)] begind [sic] one of the troopers and all return to Gen. Houston’s camp; Houston is reclining under tree as three troopers with prisoner come up. Mexican prisoners shout and wave their hands. Santa Anna dismounts with the troopers and is taken to Gen. Houston. They talk, papers are signed, and Santa Anna is waved aside by Houston.
Texas soldiers are feasting on captured supplies amid great rejoicing of soldiers.
Christal—or whoever wrote the screenplay for The Siege and Fall of the Alamo, assuming it was based on the synopsis and the scenario—knew the particulars of the Alamo battle, the disposable of the Texian bodies on funeral pyres, and the capture of Santa Anna. This level of historical accuracy leads me to believe the historical inaccuracy concerning the principle Texas characters in the list of cast was a creative choice for the sake of the story. Nevertheless, just to set the record straight, Travis did command the garrison at the Alamo but wasn’t a full colonel. He was a lieutenant colonel of the Legion of Cavalry in the Texian Army. Crockett had been elected as a colonel in the Tennessee Militia before he arrived in Texas, but served as a private at the Alamo and wasn’t part of the command structure at the mission-fort. Bowie was a colonel of the Texas militia and served as co-commandeer with Travis at the Alamo: Travis commanded the regular army and volunteer cavalry while Bowie commanded the volunteers. Bonham was a second lieutenant in the Texas cavalry, never a lieutenant colonel, and was never in the order of command. He primarily served as Travis’s emissary to Goliad, to persuade James Fannin to reinforce the Alamo.
S. G. Christal, “The Siege and Fall of the Alamo: Story of the Heroism of Travis, Crockett, Bowie and Bonham and Their Garrison, and the Battle of San Jacinto, In Motion Pictures” (1913), Library of Congress Motion Picture Copyright Descriptions Collection, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, reg. no. MU 51, class M, 1912–1917.
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