The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas, United States), killing all of the Texian (Texan) defenders. Santa Anna's cruelty during the battle inspired many Texians - both Texas settlers and adventurers from the United States - to join the Texian Army. Buoyed by a desire for revenge, the Texians defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, ending the revolution.

This is a drawing of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio. It was first printed in 1854 in Gleason's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion and was reprinted in Frank Thompson's 2005 "The Alamo", p 106.

The Fall of the Alamo (1903) by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk, depicts Davy Crockett wielding his rifle as a club against Mexican troops who have breached the walls of the mission.

You may be interested to watch the video below. It attempts to look at the truth behind what really happened at The Alamo.

Commenting on this production George Kearton, one of the United Kingdom’s foremost experts on toy and model soldiers, says,

"This is a very useful overview and introduction to the seige and battle at The Alamo.

It contains interesting speculation as to where Bowie fell including one location that I  had not heard of before now.

There is also some excellent artwork which is new to me.

Towards the end of the video we seem to be drawn into a modern day travelogue though San Antonio is  still worth a visit".

Synopsis

This book brings together, for the first-time ever, two separate but linked subjects; the abiding interest and enthusiasm for the study of the siege and battle of The Alamo in 1836 plus the worldwide hobby of collecting military miniatures.

The author has been an Alamo enthusiast since 1960 and, from the mid-1970’s, has been one of the UK’s leading collectors and dealers in miniature military figures. His previous book “The Collector’s Guide to Plastic Toy Soldiers” sold out completely on publication in 1987 and has just been re-issued in a revised edition. You can find more details of this re-issue here.

The latest book starts with an overview of the author’s interest in the Alamo which is shared by thousands of people world-wide. Following a background piece about the Texan Revolution which sets the subject in context, the book moves on to consider toy and model soldiers of the Alamo period and includes a useful guide to scales and sizes for newcomers to the collecting field.

Separate chapters are devoted to miniature figures for both sides in the conflict, both the Texan Defenders and members of the Mexican Army. Over 100 different makes of figure are detailed from small scale figures through to standard size toy and model soldiers; then on to larger scale precision models. Alamo figures have been produced by makers in many different countries and this book is the first to bring all the available information into one volume.

Other chapters cover Alamo artillery, uniforms, dioramas, war-games figures, board war-games and model Alamo building and accessories.

Outside the specific toy and model soldier categories the book also covers the four most recent Alamo films, “Alamo” music, over 100 books (fiction and non-fiction) about the Alamo and the Texas Revolution. It also revisits controversies and legends about the event.

The book is illustrated by colour photographs of Alamo figures and dioramas in the author’s personal collection. Over 100 such photographs are included and none have ever been published before now.

In conclusion, the book reflects on the subsequent history of The Alamo and of Mexican General Santa Anna and also includes details of the final survivors of the battle, some of whom lived into the 20th century. You can purchase a copy of 'The Alamo in Miniature' now.

It is available at Amazon.co.uk here, Amazon.com here and Amazon.es here. If you live outside of these areas a quick search on the relevant Amazon site for your country should find the book for you to buy.