Digital History>eXplorations>The Alamo>Accounts Following the Battle>Juan Almonte

Juan N. Almonte (Mexican Colonel), September 7, 1836

. . . on the morning the Alamo was captured, between the hours of five and six o'clock, General Castrillon, who fell at the battle of St. Jacinto, entered the back room of the Alamo, and there found Crockett and five other Americans, who had defended it until defense was useless; they appeared very much agitated when the Mexican soldiers undertook to rush in after their General, but the humane General ordered his men to keep out, and, placing his hand on his breast, said "here is a hand and a heart to protect you; come with me to the General-in-Chief, and you shall be saved." Such redeeming traits, while they ennoble in our estimation this worthy officer, yet serve to show in a more heinous light the damning atrocities of the chief. The brave but unfortunate men were marched to the tent of Santa Anna. Colonel Crockett was in the rear, had his arms folded, and appeared bold as the lion as he passed my informant (Almonte.) Santa Anna's interpreter knew Colonel Crockett and said to my informant, the one behind is the famous Crockett. When brought in the presence of Santa Anna, Castrillon said to him, "Santa Anna the august, I deliver up to you six brave prisoners of war." Santa Anna replied, "who has given you orders to take prisoners, I do not want to see those men living - shoot them." As the monster uttered these words each officer turned his face the other way, and the hell hounds of the tyrant dispatched the six in his presence, and within six feet of his person. . . .