In the late afternoon of February 23, 1836, José María ‘Gregorio’ Esparza, a tejano soldier in the Plácido Benavides’ company, brought his wife, Ana Salazar Esparza, his step-daughter, María de Jesús Castro Esparza, his oldest son, Enrique, and two younger sons, Francisco and Manuel, to the Alamo for protection. Enrique was eight-years-old at the time of the siege. Sixty-six years later, as the only remaining living survivor of the Alamo, Enrique’s recollections were told for the first time in the San Antonio Light after being interviewed by Adina de Zavala, granddaughter of the first vice-president of the Republic of Texas, Lorenzo de Zavala. (Illustration -Mack White - Austin, Texas)Enrique spent most of his time during the thirteen day siege in the church with his mother and siblings. One of Enrique’s recollections involved a young Anglo boy, about his age, that awoke during the storming of the church. As the boy rose to his feet, he gathered a blanket around his shoulders and was immediately shot and killed by advancing Mexican soldiers.
Enrique’s father, Gregorio, was killed during the battle. His uncle, Francisco, fought on the Centralist side. In the battle’s aftermath, Francisco obtained permission from Santa Anna to bury Gregorio’s body in the local cemetery, San Fernando Campo Santo. Gregorio was the only defender at the Alamo to avoid cremation in the funeral pyres that burned on either side of the Alameda.
Later, Enrique, Francisco, and Manuel moved to Atascosa County to farm and ranch on the land grant given the family for Gregorio’s service to the Republic. The brothers were responsible for the construction of the church in San Augustine, Texas.
Mike Kearby's Texas copyright 2010
