Inside the Alamo

With this rousing cry, Sam Houston led his ragtag Texan rebels against the much larger Mexican army. It was 1836, and the destiny of Texas, and eventually of the vast territory stretching west to the Pacific Ocean, lay in the hands of Houston and his men.

To strengthen their resolve, the rebels remembered what had happened at the Alamo a few weeks earlier. There a small group of valiant defenders—famous men like Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, along with ordinary citizen-soldiers—had refused to wave the white flag of surrender. Their heroic stand against tyranny inspired people across America and made the Alamo synonymous with the ultimate American sacrifice—life for liberty.

The Alamo has been remembered ever since, though many myths have become part of the story. Jim Murphy's inside look separates fact from fiction as often as possible. He vividly captures all the drama of those tense days of siege and the final chaotic battle. He clearly describes the history of the conflict and offers profiles of the major participants. Sidebars highlight intriguing facts about life for those on both sides of the battle. Quotes from survivors, and from letters and diaries, reveal what they were thinking. Heavily illustrated with paintings, sketches, maps, and photographs, this riveting chronicle is history at its exciting best.