Thirteen Days Of Glory - Day Eleven

March 4

Mexican troops send shots into the north and west walls of the Alamo. Enemy entrenchments are all around the mission. (Source)

The enemy continued to fire on the Alamo throughout the 4th, but few shots were returned from the fort, owing to low supplies of ammunition. In the afternoon, Santa Anna called a council of war, to advise on the question of assaulting the place. After much discussion, (his commanders) "were of opinion that the Alamo should be assaulted after the arrival of the two twelve-pounders expected on the 7th. (Note: 12-pound cannon would have been able to destroy the Alamo's walls; the cannon on hand were too light to significantly damage them, although they were capable of sending plunging shot inside the walls.)

Santa Anna, however, over-ruled his subordinates. "There would have been little glory in a bloodless victory, and glory is what Santa Anna craved above all else." He decided on an imminent attack, and made his preparations accordingly. His troops then in San Antonio exceeded four thousand in number, and were well-rested. The Texans, on the other hand, were worn down by incessant bombardment and labor within their walls.