<P> Several months previously , Texians had driven all Mexican troops out of Mexican Texas . About 100 Texians were then garrisoned at the Alamo . The Texian force grew slightly with the arrival of reinforcements led by eventual Alamo co-commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis . On February 23 , approximately 1,500 Mexicans marched into San Antonio de Béxar as the first step in a campaign to retake Texas . For the next 10 days , the two armies engaged in several skirmishes with minimal casualties . Aware that his garrison could not withstand an attack by such a large force , Travis wrote multiple letters pleading for more men and supplies , but the Texians were reinforced by fewer than 100 men . </P>
who was in charge of the texas army at the alamo
James Bowie William B. Travis