Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Andrea Candelaria One of the Few Alamo Survivors
Milam History by Joy Graham
Rockdale Reporter - March 14, 2013
Does the name Candelaria sound familiar to you? One of three San Xavier Missions
located on Milam County Road 432 off FM 908 is named Mission Nuestra Senora de la
Candelaria.
Maybe it is just a coincidence but for me this Spanish surname drew me to find out more
about people named Candelaria.
Andrea Castonon Candelaria was the daughter of Antonio Castanon and Francisca Ramirez.
She was born at Presidio de Rio Grande, Mexico Dec. 1, 1785, and moved to San Antonio
in 1810. She watched 707 revolutionists, including her husband slaughtered by the
Mexican Army in 1831.
After her husband’s death she lived in a small hotel near the Alamo then joined the
Texans there.
General Sam Houston wrote her a letter February 20, 1836 asking her to care for James
Bowie, who was ill with pneumonia. That care lasted 12 days.
She honored his request as they were friends. She was sympathetic with Texas soldiers,
and she was friends with Bowie and to honor the memory of her husband, who lost his
life in the Mexican Revolution in 1831.
As Bowie lay ill David Crockett visited and he entertained him by playing his fiddle.
On Feb. 22, 1836, Santa Anna and troops appeared at the heights above the Alamo. Santa
Anna demanded immediate surrender. Travis who replaced Bowie replied with cannon shot
and the siege began.
The 180 men inside the Alamo retaliated with fire. Col. Travis was the fist man killed
as he fell on the southeast side of the Alamo which is now occupied by the Menger
Hotel.
Bowie could see it all and was able to kill several Mexicans with his gun. Andrea threw
herself in front of Bowie and received numerous bayonets in her body. One pierced her
on her chin, deflecting to Bowie’s heart killing him instantly.
All was silent as he 180 men lay dead inside the Alamo. Andrea Candelaria was admired
for principle and her dedication to Texas.
Alamo survivors were Andrea, Susannah Dickinson and her child, the adopted daughter of
Governor Veramendi and a Negro boy adopted by Col. Travis.
Milam County’s Dan Kubiak remembered Andrea In his book “Ten Tall Texans” published in
1967. Thanks Dan for this great legacy, for generations to come.
.
All credit for this article goes to
Joy Graham
and the
Rockdale Reporter
Joy Graham
and the
Rockdale Reporter