When Jameson wrote that letter on January 18, he counted one hundred fourteen defenders including the sick and wounded from Bexar, “which leaves us about 80 efficient men.” The arrival of Bowie’s men brought the number only to one hundred ten effectives. Despite Jameson’s optimism, as Bowie surveyed the Alamo he realized that the vast size of the three-acre compound was the fort’s greatest weakness. There scarcely were enough men to adequately staff all the artillery. That le