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N0KFQ > TODAY 09.12.16 15:22l 46 Lines 2080 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 15483_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Dec 9
Path: IW8PGT<IR2UBX<IZ3LSV<IK6ZDE<VE2PKT<N9PMO<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 161209/1315Z 15483@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ6.0.13
1835
The Texan Army captures San Antonio
Inspired by the spirited leadership of Benjamin Rush Milam, the
newly created Texan Army takes possession of the city of San
Antonio, an important victory for the Republic of Texas in its
war for independence from Mexico.
Milam was born in 1788 in Frankfort, Kentucky. He became a
citizen and soldier of Mexico in 1824, when newly independent
Mexico was still under a republican constitution. Like many
Americans who immigrated to the Mexican state of Texas, Milam
found that the government both welcomed and feared the growing
numbers of Americans, and treated them with uneven fairness. When
Milam heard in 1835 that Santa Ana had overthrown the Mexican
republic and established himself as dictator, Milam renounced his
Mexican citizenship and joined the rag-tag army of the newly
proclaimed independent Republic of Texas.
After helping the Texas Army capture the city of Goliad, Milam
went on a reconnaissance mission to the southwest but returned to
join the army for its planned attack on San Antonio-only to learn
that the generals were postponing the attack on San Antonio for
the winter. Aware that Santa Ana's forces were racing toward
Texas to suppress the rebellion, Milam worried that any
hesitation would spell the end of the revolution. Milam made an
impassioned call for volunteers, asking: "Who will go with old
Ben Milam into San Antonio?"
Inspired by Milam's bold challenge, three hundred men did
volunteer, and the Texas Army began its attack on San Antonio at
dawn on December 5. By December 9, the defending forces of the
Mexican army were badly beaten, and the commanding general
surrendered the city. Milam, however, was not there to witness
the results of his leadership-he was killed instantly by a sniper
bullet on December 7. If Milam had survived, he might well have
been among the doomed defenders of the Alamo that were wiped out
by Santa Ana's troops the following March.
73 - K.O., n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
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