Name______________________________Homeroom________________ Date_______

Susannah Dickinson Primary Source Investigation Your Response:

Where & When was
this source written?
This newspaper article, published on March 24, 1836, was the first account of the siege. Historical
What else was
Susannah Dickinson, though never quoted directly, was the person who gave all of the Context going on at the
information for the article, as she was one of the only survivors. According to Todd time?
Hansen, editor of The Alamo Reader, this document “is probably the most influential Who was this
single account of the fall of the Alamo.” source meant for?
Who wrote this
source?
…as communicated to them by Mrs. Dickinson, who was in the “Alamo” during the siege Audience &
How does his/her
and assault. Author age, gender, job,
nationality, race,
At daybreak of the 6th…the enemy surrounded the fort with their infantry, with the religion, etc.,
cavalry forming a circle outside to prevent escape…the number consisted of at least impact this source?
What is the point of
4,000 against 140! General Santa Ana commanded in person, assisted by four generals view of the author?
and a formidable train of artillery. Our men had been previously much fatigued and Point of View What did this
harassed by nightwatching and incessant toils, having experienced for some days past, a person think/feel/
believe/know?
heavy bombardment and several real and feigned attacks. But, American valor and
Why was this
American love of liberty displayed themselves to the last…our men were determined to Purpose source created?
verify the words of the immortal Travis, “to make the victory worse to the enemy than a What does this
defeat.” They then poured in over the walls, ‘like sheep;’ the struggle, however, did not Y is this document help us
understand?
even there cease—unable for the crowd and [without time] to load their guns and rifles, important? What makes this an
our men made use of the but-ends of the latter and continued to fight and to resist, until important text?
life ebbed out through their numberless wounds and the enemy had conquered the fort, 1. What are some big hints that this was written by an American newspaper,
but not its brave, its matchless defenders: they perished, but they [did not give up]…total
and not a Mexican newspaper?
extermination succeeded, and the darkness of death occupied the memorable Alamo. We
envy not the feelings of the victors, for they must have been bitter…not proud ones. Who
would not rather be one of the Alamo heroes, than of the living of is merciless victors?...
2. What do they have to say about the people who died at the Alamo?
The end of David Crocket of Tennessee, the great hunter of the west, was as glorious as
his career through life had been useful…Col. Travis stood on the walls cheering his men,
exclaiming, ‘Hurra, my boys!’ till he received a second shot, and fell. 3. Do you think they quoted Susannah directly, or do you think they changed
her ideas a bit? Why or why not?
Travis’ negro was spared, because, as the enemy said, ‘his master had behaved like a
brave man’…Col. James Bowie, who had for several days been sick, was murdered in his
bed; his remains were mutilated.
4. What does this article tell the reader about Dickinson’s IDENTITY?
Mrs. Dickinson and her child, and a negro of Bowie’s, and as before said, Travis’s was
spared.

Our dead were denied the right of Christian burial; being stripped and thrown into a pile,
5. Complete the hashtag based on what you’ve learned about Dickinson
and burned.
through this article: #TexansAre______________________