Defenders

Heroes Who Died Fighting for Freedom

Detail of Alamo muster roll dated January 1836, from the Alamo Collection. — Original Alamo muster roll, dated January 1836. This hugely important document, which is part of the Phil Collins Texana Collection, contains the name of every man in the Alamo garrison before Col. Neil's departure from the Alamo in February of 1836.

Many know the famous names of James Bowie, William B. Travis, and David Crockett as men who died defending the Alamo, but there were about 200 others there during the Battle. These men came from a variety of backgrounds and places, but all came together to fight for Texas liberty. Who were they?

A muster roll of the final day of the battle does not exist, and therefore historians reconstruct the list of Defenders from available information. The current list is based on many primary and secondary sources. These include muster roles from the Alamo prior to the Battle, newspaper reports, first-hand accounts of people who were at the Alamo before and during the Battle, land grant claims by descendants of the Alamo Defenders, and other historical evidence.

Each of the Defenders has his own story and reasons for being at the Alamo. Some were native San Antonians of Mexican heritage who were defending their home. Some were recent immigrants from the United States, or even from Europe, and had joined the cause to defend Texas liberty. Explore their histories here.

Historical Research at the Alamo

The stories of each of these men is vital to understanding the Battle of the Alamo. Alamo historians and curators continue their research to ensure that all men who died at the Alamo are honored. As new research comes to light, this list and the history of each Defender might change.

Test your knowledge with our Defender's Crossword Puzzle.

Defining the Defenders

Defenders of the Alamo are defined as those who fought and died during the final battle on March 6, 1836. There are many people who were at the Alamo prior to that day who are not part of the Defenders list, including couriers sent out during the siege to inform the rest of Texas and the world of what was happening at the Alamo. Many of these men bravely fought in other battles of the Texas Revolution and should be honored as heroes, but they are not considered part of the list of Alamo Defenders.