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Colonel James Clinton Neill was placed in command of the Alamo, and he immediately set to improving the defenses; however, both himself and his superior, General [[Sam Houston]], knew that it was only a matter of time before Centralist troops arrived in force.  On January 17, 1836 Houston informed provisional governor Henry Smith that an abandonment of the Alamo was necessary.  "I have ordered the fortifications in the town of Bexar to be demolished," he wrote, "and, if you should think well of it, I will remove all the cannon and other munitions of war to Gonzales and Copano, blow up the Alamo and abandon the place, as it will be impossible to keep up the Station with volunteers, the sooner I can be authorized the better it will be for the country."  Regular soldiers stationed within Bexar were few - about thirty men - and there were a slightly larger number of volunteers.  Smith decided against abandoning the Alamo.

Colonel James Clinton Neill was placed in command of the Alamo, and he immediately set to improving the defenses; however, both himself and his superior, General [[Sam Houston]], knew that it was only a matter of time before Centralist troops arrived in force.  On January 17, 1836 Houston informed provisional governor Henry Smith that an abandonment of the Alamo was necessary.  "I have ordered the fortifications in the town of Bexar to be demolished," he wrote, "and, if you should think well of it, I will remove all the cannon and other munitions of war to Gonzales and Copano, blow up the Alamo and abandon the place, as it will be impossible to keep up the Station with volunteers, the sooner I can be authorized the better it will be for the country."  Regular soldiers stationed within Bexar were few - about thirty men - and there were a slightly larger number of volunteers.  Smith decided against abandoning the Alamo.

On the same day Houston wrote his message another group of volunteers arrived under the command of Colonel [[James Bowie]], a proven fighter whose favorite weapon was a massive knife which bears his name.  Neill soon convinced Bowie to stay, convincing him that the Alamo was the only defensive fortification along the camino real between Santa Anna's forces and the Anlgo settlements to the north.  Bowie's letter to Smith describing the nature of the defences and his resolve to never surrender the fort may have played a role in turning down Houston's request; nevertheless the governor managed to send additional troops and provisions.

On the same day Houston wrote his message another group of volunteers arrived under the command of Colonel [[Jim Bowie | James Bowie]], a proven fighter whose favorite weapon was a massive knife which bears his name.  Neill soon convinced Bowie to stay, convincing him that the Alamo was the only defensive fortification along the camino real between Santa Anna's forces and the Anlgo settlements to the north.  Bowie's letter to Smith describing the nature of the defences and his resolve to never surrender the fort may have played a role in turning down Houston's request; nevertheless the governor managed to send additional troops and provisions.

On February 3, a unit of cavalry arrived in Bexar under orders from Smith and reported to Neill; its commander was Lt. Colonel [[William B. Travis]], who was made second-in-command; he would himself be in command - albeit temporarily - when Neill left on an emergency furlough on February 14.  Despite being sent to Bexar against his wishes, Travis was soon committed to the Alamo, calling it "the key to Texas".  During this time other volunteers trickled in, some from Goliad, others from Gonzales, and one large group from [[Tennessee]] under a one-time United States Congressman and frontiersman who was a legend in his own lifetime, [[Davy Crockett]].  The number of fighting men swelled to 189.

On February 3, a unit of cavalry arrived in Bexar under orders from Smith and reported to Neill; its commander was Lt. Colonel [[William B. Travis]], who was made second-in-command; he would himself be in command - albeit temporarily - when Neill left on an emergency furlough on February 14.  Despite being sent to Bexar against his wishes, Travis was soon committed to the Alamo, calling it "the key to Texas".  During this time other volunteers trickled in, some from Goliad, others from Gonzales, and one large group from [[Tennessee]] under a one-time United States Congressman and frontiersman who was a legend in his own lifetime, [[Davy Crockett]].  The number of fighting men swelled to 189.