21. Bowie and Travis resolved the divided command of the Alamo
On February 13, 1836, James Bowie and William Travis agreed to a joint command, with the regulars at the post under control of Travis. The volunteers, including David Crockett, were under the command of James Bowie. The joint command was unworkable from the start. Crockett was forced to act as a go-between for the two men, though the level of hostility was never as high as has been depicted as part of the Alamo legend. On February 23 scouts informed the Texans at San Antonio of the approach of Santa Anna’s army, expected to arrive within hours. A dispatch was sent to Fannin at Goliad, asking for reinforcements. When the advance units of the Mexican Army arrived, Bowie asked for a parley, without consulting Travis.
The Mexicans offered no terms beyond a demand for surrender. Bowie refused, and the Texas troops in San Antonio withdrew into the Alamo mission. On February 24, Bowie collapsed. The nature of his illness has long been disputed. It has been called pneumonia, advanced bronchitis, typhoid, and other ailments, but was most likely the advanced stage of tuberculosis. Confined to his cot, Bowie was not actively involved for the rest of the siege, other than to die in the final assault on March 6, 1836. He did instruct his men to follow the orders issued by Travis, and was occasionally carried outside of his room when the weather allowed, but he weakened steadily, and may well have been dying before the Mexicans carried the fort.