A question about the Alamo

[Omega124]

I read from one of my old textbooks that, during the War for Texas Independence, at the Alamo, Santa Anna's drummer played a song that meant that [Santa] was not going to take any prisoners. My questions are, is that true? If so, what song was it?

 

[Cynovolans]

It was rumored that Santa Anna ordered the drummers to play El Degüello , it supposedly meant "throat cutting" or take no prisoners.

 

[Omega124]

Ah. Thanks for telling me that.

 

[Dragonlord]

It was rumored that Santa Anna ordered the drummers to play El Degüello , it supposedly meant "throat cutting" or take no prisoners.

This. Though I don't think it was specifically the drummers.

See the western Rio Bravo (arguably the best Western ever) to hear the song played - though it's played mostly on a trumpet, I can't imagine it played solely on drums!

 

[Bugfatty300]

I'm pretty sure that today no one knows exactly what the tune was or what it sounded like originally. The Mexican army band themselves probably just played it from memory and didn't have scores.

Santa Anna was supposed to have had some kind of black flag raised which specifically meant he wasn't going to take prisoners and again no one knows what the flag had on it or what it looked like.

 

[Ataxerxes]

This. Though I don't think it was specifically the drummers.

See the western Rio Bravo (arguably the best Western ever) to hear the song played - though it's played mostly on a trumpet, I can't imagine it played solely on drums!

We may be showing our age, but you're right. That was one of the greatest westerns ever made.

 

[duckduckswan]

Santa Anna was supposed to have had some kind of black flag raised which specifically meant he wasn't going to take prisoners and again no one knows what the flag had on it or what it looked like.

Maybe a skull and crossbones?

 

[r16]

ı have always been fond of James Mitchener's Texas , ı think the flag was blood red and nothing else .

 

[Naskra]

Meanwhile, Fess Parker, aka Davy Crockett, has died.

 

[Dachs]

He hated being associated with that role, didn't he?