The Alamo Playing Cards

Fifty or more years ago playing cards often depicted a destination scene. This one depicts that of the Alamo, in San Antonio, Texas. The Texas war for independence from Mexico included the battle at the Alamo. This siege lasted from February 23 to March 6, 1836. After thirteen days of defiant resistance the 200 defenders in the Alamo were overwhelmed by a superior force of Mexican troops. This photograph depicts the Alamo on a stormy day early in the morning. Almost two hundred years ago at 5 AM on March 6, 1836 Mexican troops broke the silence of a very quiet morning. Rockets were fired and Mexican bands played the "deguello," (No Quarter.) It took an hour and a half and the battle was over. Within two months the war was won by Texas at San Jacinto (present day Houston, Texas) with a rallying cry of "Remember the Alamo."