February 28:

Santa Anna receives the news that Fannin is coming from Goliad with approximately 200 men.  By this time, Fannin has already decided to remain in Goliad.

A messenger arrives at Goliad with the news that Mexican forces under General Urrea have defeated Colonel Frank Johnson's forces at San Patricio, about 50 miles south of Goliad.  Most of the Texans there were killed, although Johnson and a few others escaped.

February 29:

A break in the weather as the norther ends.  Santa Anna decides he should deal with Fannin's forces before dealing with the Alamo.

The cold weather continues unabated.  Fannin calls a council with his officers.  They realize that they probably don't have enough food to keep their force fed during the march to San Antonio.  Also, if they did leave Goliad, it would leave the left flank of Texas exposed to attack from the Mexican Army.  They decide to return to Fort Defiance in Goliad.

Launcelot Smith reaches San Felipe with Travis' "Victory or Death" letter of February 24.

Travis sends James Bonham to Goliad with another plea to Fannin.

Santa Anna sends a messenger to Mexico City with the information that he has "taken San Antonio," but neglects to mention anything about the armed resistance still inside the Alamo.

The weather turns cold and nasty as a norther begins to blow through south Texas.  James Fannin departs Goliad for San Antonio, bringing reinforcements of 320 men as well as additional artillery.  Troubles begin very soon, with wagons breaking down and extra oxen being required to haul the artillery across the San Antonio River just outside of Goliad.  By late in the day everything has finally been brought across the river and they make camp.

A small group of Alamo defenders sneak out and burn La Villita--"the little village"--a collection of huts across the river from San Antonio and near the Alamo, which the Mexican soldiers had been using as cover.

James Bowie, having been in joint command of the Alamo defenders with Travis, now becomes so ill (with tuberculosis) that he turns sole command over to Travis.

Travis sends out another letter, addressed "To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World":

Fellow Citizens and Compatriots:

I am besieged with a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a considerable Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison is to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the wall. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets which is due his honor and that of his country.

VICTORY OR DEATH.

William Barret Travis, Lt. Col. commanding the Alamo

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna arrives in San Antonio commanding some 5,000 soldiers.

William Barrett Travis sends a messenger to the town of Gonzales with a plea for help:  "To any of the inhabitants of Texas. 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."

Another messenger is sent to James Fannin in Goliad with the message:  "We have removed all our men into the Alamo, where we will make such resistance as is due to our honour, and that of the country, until we can get assistance from you, which we expect you to forward immediately. In this extremity, we hope you will send us all the men you can spare promptly. We have one hundred and forty-six men, who are determined never to retreat. We have but little provisions, but enough to serve us till you and your men arrive. We deem it unnecessary to repeat to a brave officer, who knows his duty, that we call on him for assistance."

Santa Anna flies the red flag of "no quarter" from the San Fernando cathedral, where it can be easily seen by those inside the Alamo.  Travis fires the defenders' 18-pound cannon as an answer.

Mattexian asked about the header graphic.

What is quite odd is that when I first went looking for this online, I had a hard time finding a decent version that I could work with.  I actually had to enlarge it to use for the header, which is why it looks a little blurry.  I couldn't find a big, high-res version.  But I Googled it again just now and immediately found a very nice high-res version here courtesy of the Texas State Library.

The name of it is "Dawn at the Alamo," and it was painted in 1905 by Henry McArdle.  He created several portrayals of notable events in Texas history.

I think I'll have to re-do the header now that I have a better graphic to start with.

The current header is on honor of this time of the year, which was a critical time in Texas history.

In 1824 Mexico enacted a constitution establishing a representative republic style of government similar to that of the United States.  Congress was made up of a Chamber of Deputies, which consisted of 1 member for every 80,000 Mexican residents; and a Senate, consisting of two senators for each Mexican state.  Also established by this constitution was an 11-member Supreme Court, and an executive office in which the President and Vice President would be elected to four-year terms by the individual state congresses.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna had risen through the ranks of the Mexican military, opportunistically switching loyalties as it suited him.  After siding with Augustin de Iturbide, the Emperor of Mexico, in 1821, he was rewarded with the rank of General.  By 1823 he was siding against the Emperor in the plan to overthrow him and make Mexico a republic.  The overthrow was successful; the republic was not.

Santa Anna was elected President in 1833, replacing assassinated Vicente Guerrero.  In 1835 a new "constitution" was drafted, essentially a set of documents declaring martial law, abolishing states rights, and giving Santa Anna himself dictatorial power.

Armed rebellions broke out throughout Mexico.  Several Mexican states attempted to secede.  Yucatan seceded to form the Republic of Yucatan.  Coahuila (the southern portion of the state of Coahuila y Tejas), Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas joined together to form the Republic of the Rio Grande.  The rebellions in the these states were quashed and the errant states were forced to once again become part of Mexico.

Having put down the rebellions closer to home, Santa Anna and his forces began heading north to Texas.  On February 16, 1836, they crossed the Rio Grande.

to be continued...