One of the most pivotal events in Texas history occurred between February 23rd and March 6, 1836. It was during this 13-day period President General Antonio López de Santa Anna’s Mexican army’s assault began against the Alamo Mission, located near San Antonio de Béxar, which is now San Antonio, Texas.
February 23, 1836, Susana Dickinson stood with her husband Almeron and their 15-month old daughter, Elizabeth Angelina on the wall of the Alamo. The young blacksmith pointed and told his wife the red flag they saw in the distance was a signal to proclaim Santa Anna wanted to scare people and tell them the Mexican Army would show no mercy. Unlike many of the other residents of the area who had fled from the coming battle, the Dickinsons moved into the mission with 150 others, turning the structure into a fort. As 22-year old Susana looked off into the distance, she felt a chill and wondered if it was due to the weather, or a clear and present danger about to befall them.
Born in middle Tennessee around 1814, Susana Wilkerson married Almaron Dickinson in Hardeman County, Tennessee and two years later moved to Texas, settling in the colony of empresario Green DeWitt. Angelina, their only child, was born in late 1834.
The Texas Revolution began in the fall of 1835 with the Battle of Gonzales – nicknamed Texas’ version of Lexington-Concord. Almaron signed on to assist a group of volunteers in securing San Antonio against the Mexican forces while Susana remained behind with their daughter. A few weeks later, her home was looted, so she moved to San Antonio with her husband. As Santa Anna’s army approached the town, the family moved into the Alamo.
On the morning of March 6th, the Mexican Army began their advance on the Alamo in the early hours. The vast quantity of Mexican troops far outnumbered the small band of Texan soldiers inside. During the battle, between five and seven Texans are thought to have surrendered, but they were promptly executed by the Mexican soldiers. Between 182 and 257 Texans are known to have died, but not before killing or injuring 400-600 Mexican troops.
Hers was the only American face in the room as she and Angelina huddled in the sacristy – a small room off the chapel – with other women and children. Susana did not see the final battle; however she heard the sounds of the booming cannons as Almeron called out the artillery orders, the shouts of the attackers and defenders and the moans of the wounded and dying. She had a brief glimpse of Almeron covered in powder stains who told her the Mexicans were inside the north wall of the mission, then instructed her to save their child if she was spared. A moment later, he was gone from her forever.
By 6:30 that morning, it was all over. The defenders lay dead and Mexican soldiers began to overrun the mission. The Alamo had fallen.
When the smoke cleared, Susana Dickinson was the sole adult Anglo survivor who was a witness to the Alamo massacre. As a Mexican soldier entered the room and noticed Susana’s white face, he raised his bayonet to her when an officer walked in and stopped him. The officer then asked if there was a ‘Señora Dickinson’ there. A few moments later, Susana raised her hand. The officer snapped at her and said for her to follow him.
Following the officer out of the room, Susana began a desperate visual search for her husband, to no avail. In the process, a stray bullet grazed her leg, but she did not feel it. As the doctor later bandaged her wound, she told him of the need to find her husband to see to it he had a decent burial. The doctor informed her it would be impossible because Santa Anna ordered all the bodies of the Texans to be burned rather than buried in an effort to bring shame upon the fallen soldiers.
Along with her small daughter, Susana was interviewed by General Santa Anna. The proud general with his $7,000 sword gave each wife and sweetheart of the Texans who had died $2 and a blanket. He walked from the room declaring, “I do not make war upon women and children! Neither do I make war on slaves. Humane rules govern my army!”
During her meeting with Santa Anna, Susana turned down the general’s ‘gift.’ He then offered to take Angelina to Mexico and educate her in the country’s finest schools. Seeing the general touch her daughter angered Susana, but she maintained her composure and refused that offer as well. He then said he would send mother and daughter together. This too she rejected, which began to anger the sanctimonious general.
Susana was then given a message to carry to General Sam Houston, describing to him what had happened to those who dared to oppose Santa Anna at the Alamo and the fact this too would be their fate because he was coming to destroy them.. An orderly of Colonel Almonte was sent with her to make sure she fulfilled the orders given to her by Santa Anna.
As Susana rode towards Gonzales with Ben leading the way, the weather was cold and wet. Sensing she was tired, Ben asked if she wanted to stop. Her memories of the fallen patriots at the Alamo and the compelling need to tell her story to Sam Houston caused Susana to press forward.
East of San Antonio, she found Texas army scouts Henry Karnes and Deaf Smith who took her to Houston’s headquarters in Gonzales. When she arrived, friends and neighbors who were gathered at Gonzales questioned her about the fate of their loved ones at the Alamo. A large outcry of wails was heard as those gathered learned the only men who survived were the ones Travis had sent out in search of help.
When Sam Houston addressed her, Susana was instructed to tell him the entire story, hard as it was for her to do so, because he needed to learn as many facts about the event as possible. She handed him Santa Anna’s letter and after reading it, the hot tempered general fought to control his rage:
Citizens! It became necessary to check and chastise a parcel of audacious adventurers. Return to your homes and dedicate yourselves to your domestic duties. Inhabitants of Texas! The good among you will have nothing to fear. Antonio López de Santa Anna
Houston then asked if the men who died were buried honorably, to which she replied they had been burned. Houston’s anger smoldered all the greater upon learning of this behavior. Knowing Santa Anna was on his way, Houston ordered the people of Gonzales to flee and burn the town to keep from making it available to Santa Anna’s troops.
Susana never saw General Houston again, but in late April, wonderful news reached her ears. General Houston pulled a surprise on Santa Anna which worked. Using tactics to convince the general he had Houston on the run, Houston was able to separate Santa Anna from the majority of his army. At San Jacinto on April 21st, Houston spotted an eagle in the sky and considered it a sign he should attack then. Literally catching Santa Anna napping under an oak tree, Houston opened up with cannon fire and led his troops up a hill and stormed the barricade built by the Mexican troops. Eighteen minutes later, it was all over. Expecting the same brutal treatment from the Texans which they had forced upon those at the Alamo, Mexican soldiers immediately threw down their guns and said, Me no Alamo – me no Alamo.
As exciting as the news was for Susana, he joy was momentarily dashed when she learned General Santa Anna managed to escape. Thankfully, he was captured the following day hiding in some tall grass. He was brought before Houston as an ‘average Joe,’ stating he was an Army private who had stolen some clothes from a slave’s cabin. The trick would have worked, had it not been for some Mexican prisoners who saw him and began to shout, “El Presidente! El Presidente!” What touched Susana’s heart most, however, was when learned that as Houston’s troops began the charge at San Jacinto, the cry went out, “Remember the Alamo!”
Following the death of Almaron, Susana married Joseph Hannig in 1857. The couple moved to Austin where Joseph established a successful furniture store and cabinet shop.
Susana died on October 7, 1883 and was buried in Austin. Following the Battle of San Jacinto, Susana never mentioned the Alamo again until her final years. Many forgot her name, but no one forgot her story.
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