The Blood of Heroes: The 13-Day Struggle for the Alamo - and the Sacrifice That Forged a Nation

(Paperback)

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For almost two centuries, the last stand at the Alamo has been recognized as a defining moment in America's history. On February 23, 1836, a Mexican army thousands of soldiers strong attacked a makeshift garrison of about 200 Texas settlers-among them, Davy Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis-holed up in the abandoned mission on the outskirts of San Antonio. The Texans refused to surrender, and for almost two weeks, the immense force lay siege to the fort, bombarding its occupants with a constant barrage of artillery fire. Then, in the predawn hours of March 6, the Mexican troops unleashed a final devastating assault. What happened next would become legend.

In THE BLOOD OF HEROES, bestselling historian James Donovan, drawing upon fresh primary sources in American and Mexican archives, offers an authoritative and thrilling account of this epic battle. Beginning well before the siege, he tells the fascinating story of the settling of the Texas wilderness, the rise of the Mexican dictator Santa Anna, and the crucial roles played by pioneers such as Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin amidst the growing storm of despotism and discontent that led them to fight valiantly for independence.

A stirring tale of courage, redemption, and glory in the American West, THE BLOOD OF HEROES is a masterful work of scholarship and storytelling.

Reviews

An authoritative, moving retelling of an enduring episode of sacrifice and courage ...Donovan's thoroughly researched and agreeably told story focuses on the 13-day standoff, but he also supplies crucial context...Yes, the Alamo is remembered, but not without controversy. What really happened inside those battered walls Did Travis really draw a line in the sand, asking all who would stand with him to step across it Without breaking the flow of his compelling story, Donovan reliably separates fact from legend, persuasively assessing the evidence and artfully setting the scene. - Kirkus Reviews - Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

James Donovan is the author of the bestselling A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn-the Last Great Battle of the American West. He lives in Dallas, Texas.