XPost: soc.history.war.misc   
   From: firstinitiallastname@texas.net   
      
   dunric@yahoo.com wrote:   
   > ...was essentially Mexico vs. Mexico?   
   >   
   > I know that many of the Alamo defenders (who totaled 183 men, plus some   
   > slaves) were Tejano. And some were New Orleans Greys, while others were   
   > from various states across the United States.   
   >   
   > But...Texas in those days was a part of Mexico. Therefore, the Battle   
   > of the Alamo (February 23 to March 6, 1836) was, by definition, a civil   
   > war.   
   >   
   > Correct?   
      
   Well, there were likely something like 250 men inside The Alamo. There's   
   an ongoing project to identify those who don't appear on the traditional   
   roster.   
      
   "Civil war" might be fair but would be simplistic. As with most   
   political actions, it's difficult to know what was in the minds of all   
   the important movers. It is clear that it runs from sincere outrage over   
   the ursurpation of the consitution to desire for independence to vague   
   notions held by those who came from the old southern states "to fight   
   for my rights." Reading the various writings from the Mexican government   
   side at the time doesn't help clarify it much. Like many events on   
   frontiers, I suspect the answers change week to week and month to month,   
   the thing taking on a like of its own, beyond the goals of individuals.   
      
   If you view it as a "civil war", neither side won. They just fought it   
   into something else.   
   --   
                          Gerald Clough   
       "Nothing has any value, unless you know you can give it up."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)