This Day in Texas History - 22 February

[ELB]

San Antonio - According to William C. Davis in Three Roads to the Alamo, his triple biography of Travis, Crockett, and Bowie, by this date in 1836 Travis had not received any reports of the Mexican army's advance for about 48 hours. Some of Juan Seguin's followers had reported that General Ramirez y Sesma was advancing and not far away, but Travis had received many conflicting reports and wasn't sure which was correct. He called a council of officers to consider them, and their opinions were split as well.

Since he had no current reports of imminent attack, he and the other commanders authorized a fandango be held on Soledad Street the evening of 22 February to celebrate George Washington's birthday, and a large celebration ensued.

The next day though, he noticed an unusual number of the town's tejano inhabitants hitching up their wagons and departing with their families, as if they knew something he did not...