<P> In a series of battles, the Texian Army succeeded in forcing Mexican soldiers out of the settlement areas east of San Antonio, which were dominated by Americans . Under the leadership of Ben Milam, in the Battle of Bexar, December 1835, Texian forces captured San Antonio from forces commanded by General Martin Perfecto de Cos, Santa Anna's brother - in - law . In the spring of 1836, Santa Anna marched on San Antonio . A volunteer force under the command of James C. Neill occupied and fortified the deserted mission . </P> <P> Upon his departure, the joint command of William Barrett Travis and James Bowie were left in charge of defending the old mission . The Battle of the Alamo took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836 . The outnumbered Texian force was ultimately defeated, with all of the Alamo defenders killed . These men were seen as "martyrs" for the cause of Texas freedom and "Remember the Alamo" became a rallying cry in the Texian Army's eventual success at defeating Santa Anna's army . </P> <P> Juan Seguín, who organized the company of Tejano patriots, who fought for Texas independence, fought at the Battle of Concepción, Siege of Bexar, and the Battle of San Jacinto, and served as mayor of San Antonio . He was forced out of that office, due to threats on his life, by sectarian newcomers and political opponents in 1842, becoming the last Tejano mayor for nearly 150 years . </P> <P> In 1845, the United States finally decided to annex Texas and include it as a state in the Union . This led to the Mexican--American War . Though the US ultimately won, the war was devastating to San Antonio . By its end, the population of the city had been reduced by almost two - thirds, to 800 inhabitants . Bolstered by migrants and immigrants, by 1860 at the start of the Civil War, San Antonio had grown to a city of 15,000 people . </P>

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