"The enemy in large force is in sight. We want men and provisions. Send them to us. We have 150 men and are determined to defend the Alamo to the last. Give us assistance." William Barrett Travis Lt. Col. Comdt.
That night, Santa Anna sent General Ventura Mora's cavalry to encircle to the North and East corners of the Alamo to prevent the arrival of reinforcements. On February 24, Travis dispatched Albert Martin to Gonzales with a second letter for Andrew Ponton: Ponton received the first letter on February 24. He mobilized George Kimble, commander of the Texian Militia Gonzales Ranging Company, who mustered his unit and waited for Fannin; who also received the first letter on February 24. On February 26, Fannin departed Goliad for the Alamo with 320 men, 4 cannon, and several supply wagons. After repeated disasters, Fannin abandoned the mission and returned to Goliad. On February 27, Kimble departed with his unit for the Alamo. Ponton received the second letter on February 27 and dispatched it to Governor Henry Smith in San Felipe. Smith informed colonists: Travis dispatched his final letter to the President David G. Burnet on March 3:
History
On February 29, 1836, the "Immortal 32" led by George Kimbell arrived at the Alamo. At 3:00 am on March 1, under the cover of night, they slipped through Santa Anna's lines and entered the fort. They are the only relief force to arrive before the final assault. On March 5, James Allen is the last Texian to leave the Alamo with a final dispatch from William Travis and various letters from the Alamo Defenders. A letter written by one of the thirty-two, Isaac Millsaps, details events inside the Alamo on the night before the final assault; its authenticity is disputed: On March 6, the final assault of the siege, the Battle of the Alamo, commenced at 5:30 am. By 6:30 am, all 213 defenders, including the "Immortal 32", had been killed. Their bodies were stacked and burned.
Other individual Texians who answered Travis' letter and died at the Alamo: Daniel Bourne, 26; George Brown, 35; Jerry C. Day, 20; Andrew Duvalt, 32; John Harris, 23; William J. Lightfoot, 25; Marcus L. Sewell, 31; Amos Pollard, 33
Etymology
The origin of Immortal 32 is disputed. It was likely coined and came into popular use after the release of The Immortal Alamo in 1911.
Legacy
Centennial Monument
The Gonzales Memorial Museum was dedicated in 1936 for the Texas Centennial. Among its exhibits is The Immortal 32 Centennial Monument, a tall tapered shaft of pink Texas granite with a bronze sculpture by Raoul Josset. The sculpture depicts an allegorical figure supporting the Alamo above his head. Two flagpoles flank the sculpture. It is located at the end of the 104' reflection pool.
On March 6, 2018, a commemoration of Immortal Albert Martin was established by Representatives John J. Lombardi, Raymond A. Hull, Antonio Giarrusso, Marvin L. Abney, and Arthur J. Corvese in House Resolution #7942 and authorized by the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
