Friday Follies Happy Hour 2013.03.08

Earlier this week -- March 6, to be exact -- was the 177th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo. It came at the end of a 13 day siege of the converted chapel and its badly outnumbered defenders. It took three attacks that fateful day, but Santa Anna's army eventually prevailed.

The enemy's victory was complete, yet his force was as sixteen to one, and his loss in slain nearly three times the entire number of the defenders. From the known character of Santa Anna, he doubtless rejoiced. Believing the war at an end, and Texas at his feet, he so announced it in his dispatches to his subordinates at home. And the authorities and people there believed it, and so congratulated him.

Those congratulations would prove to be premature. About six weeks later Santa Anna got his butt well and truly kicked by Sam Houston at the battle of San Jacinto - the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution that established the Republic of Texas.

One of my all-time favorite entertainers is Marty Robbins. One of my all-time favorite Marty Robbins songs is the Ballad of the Alamo. The guy could flat out write, sing, and pick. Just listen to the flamenco-style guitar work.