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What did the red flag mean at the Alamo?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 23, 2026

All descriptions agree that a simple blood-red flag was flown from the San Fernando Church on February 23, 1836, to indicate Generalissimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's determination that no combatant in the Alamo would be shown quarter; some accounts also claim that as the flag was raised the Mexicans played the El ...

What flag flew over the Alamo?

The first person to do a serious academic study of the thirteen day siege and battle of the Alamo was Amelia Williams. She maintained that the standard flying over the walls of the Alamo in February-March 1836 was a modified Mexican tricolor flag of green, white, and red.

Who raised the red flag at the Alamo?

Bowie and Travis agreed to share the command of 150 men. Arriving at the Alamo on Feb. 23, Santa Anna left no doubt regarding his attitude toward the defenders. He hoisted a blood-red flag, the traditional Mexican symbol of no quarter, no surrender, no mercy.

What does the Come and Take It flag mean?

As a symbol of defiance, the Texans had fashioned a flag containing the phrase "come and take it" (Spanish: Ven y tómalo) along with a black star and an image of the cannon that they had received four years earlier from Mexican officials.

What is the black flag mean?

In general, black flags are used by enemy forces to signify that enemy combatants are going to be killed rather than taken prisoner—essentially, the opposite of the white flag used to represent surrender. This is also sometimes referred to as “give no quarter.”

36 related questions found

What is the only flag that can fly above the American flag?

The Flag Code said no other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the U.S. flag, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy.

What happened to the Alamo flag?

The only flag known to have survived the Battle of the Alamo has been found on display at a museum in Mexico. The only flag known to have survived the Battle of the Alamo has been found on display at a museum in Mexico, more than a decade after Mexican officials said they had lost it, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Why is 1824 on the Alamo flag?

The so-called "Alamo Flag" or "1824 flag" was created by replacing the Eagle in the center of the Mexican tricolor with the year "1824", referencing the 1824 Constitution of Mexico, in support of which Texas was fighting. This was the first flag approved for use by rebel forces by a Texan legislative body.

Who has the flag first Mexico or Italy?

Dear Male Giraffe Gabacho: What's now the Mexican tricolor is technically older than the Italian tricolore — although Italian kingdoms had used red-white-green color schemes in their flags since the late 18th century, modern-day Italy really didn't form until the Kingdom of Italy in the 1860s.

What is a red white and green flag with 1824 on it?

As a symbol for Texan independence and pride, the Alamo flag is a well-known relic immortalized through history and Hollywood. The flag draws on the Mexican Federal Flag with the tri-color green, white, and red fields. The eagle at the center of the Mexican flag is replaced with 1824.

Who made the Liberty or Death flag?

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. The Troutman Flag was designed by Joanna Troutman. Joanna designed the flag when she was 18 years old and living in Georgia. The flag was white silk, with a five pointed blue star on it, with the words "Liberty or Death" beneath the star.

What did the Alamo flag say?

According to David Crockett's journal entry for February 23, 1836, the Alamo defenders flew a national flag "composed of thirteen stripes, red and white alternately on a blue ground with a large white star of five points in the center, and between the points the letters `TEXAS. '" On the same day, Col. Juan N.

What did Travis's cannon ball shot symbolize?

What does Travis's response to Santa Anna's demand—shooting the cannon and leaving the Texan flag waving—symbolize? His actions symbolize a determination to stay and fight for Texan liberty.

What did the first Texas flag look like?

The first official national flag of Texas, adopted on December 10, 1836, was blue with a central yellow star. The republic's naval flag resembled the banner displayed by James Long in 1819, except that the canton was blue rather than red.

What side of the house do you hang an American flag?

The American flag can hang on either side of the porch unless there is a second flag (or multiple flags). If there are two or more flags hanging on the porch, the American flag should hang on the left side of the porch when viewed from the street.

Is it illegal to fly a foreign flag in the US?

The Flag Code requires that the US flag be flown on federal institutions, including public schools. It does not require you to fly the US flag and it does not forbid you from displaying a foreign flag.

Can flag be flown at night?

3.5 Wherever the Flag is flown, it should occupy the position of honour and be distinctly placed. conditions. The Flag may be flown on such a building at night also but this should be only on very special occasions.

What is William Travis date of birth?

Early Life. Travis was born on August 1, 1809, in South Carolina, and grew up in Alabama. At the age of 19, while working as a schoolteacher in Alabama, he married one of his students, 16-year-old Rosanna Cato.

Who swore that no Texan defenders would live at the Alamo?

How did Santa Anna hold true to his threat to put the defenders of the Alamo "to the sword"? He said he would give them no mercy and all texan defenders would be killed.

What did the cry Remember the Alamo reveal about Santa Anna's victory?

How did the cry of "Remember the Alamo!" show that Santa Anna was wrong about the effect of his victory? It showed the Texans were dedicated to winning independence. Why is the Alamo considered an important historical landmark of the Texan revolution?

What is on the Mexican flag?

vertically striped green-white-red national flag with a central coat of arms featuring an eagle, a cactus, and a serpent. The flag has a width-to-length ratio of 4 to 7.

Who won the battle of the Alamo?

On March 6, 1836, after 13 days of intermittent fighting, the Battle of the Alamo comes to a gruesome end, capping off a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution. Mexican forces were victorious in recapturing the fort, and nearly all of the roughly 200 Texan defenders—including frontiersman Davy Crockett—died.

What is Don't Tread on Me meaning?

The tread in Gadsden's defiant phrase, don't tread on me, means “to step, walk, or trample so as to press, crush, or injure something.” And so, with its tongue flicked, fangs out, and body coiled in defense, the rattlesnake (and motto) warns: “If you dare put your foot down on me, I will strike.”

What did the Texas flag look like in 1835?

In late 1835, Sarah R. Dodson made the first Texas “tri-color lone star” flag out of calico that consisted of red, white and blue squares with a single white star on the blue square. The flag was made in late 1835 for a company of volunteers at Harrisburg.