Alamo Defender. Isaac Ryan came from Opelousas, Louisiana to settle in the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas, and would stay to fight in the Army of Texas. He would become known as the Alamo Hero from Lake Charles.

Pvt Isaac Ryan took part in the storming of Bexar in December of 1835 against an army commanded by Gen Martin Perfecto de Cos (Santa Ana's brother in law). The Texans had determined that their goal at that time was not independence, but the re-instatement of the Mexican Constitution of 1824. That would change in February. In the meantime, ferocious door to door street fighting took place in the city, with walls and doors being beaten down with sledge hammers to get to the defending Mexican forces. Ironically a number of the Mexican forces were also defending the Alamo, trapped in the fort by Texas rebels. On December 14th, after 2 months of being besieged, and realizing that his defense of the city was a lost cause, and after the demoralizing defeat at the Battle of Concepcion, Gen Cos withdrew from Bexar after capitulating to the Texas forces, and left Texas. He would return 10 weeks later to participate in the siege and storming of the Alamo.

Pvt Ryan would subsequently serve in the Alamo garrison as a rifleman in Captain Robert White's infantry company, the Bexar Guards. He would face Cos' troops again, and die in the Battle of the Alamo on March 6th during the final assault.

Six months later military honors would be formally rendered.

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ORDER No. 1
WAR DEPARTMENT
17 SEPT 1836

To Lieut Col Juan Seguin
Sir, The president has directed me to order you to proceed to Bexar de San Anto and take possession of that town of which post for the present you will be the Commandant...

John A. Wharton
Secretary of War
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It was at this time that Lt Col Seguin reported to Gen Albert Sydney Johnston, that he had taken representative quantities from each of the three funeral pyres on which the mortal remains of the Alamo Heroes were destroyed, placed in a coffer, with three volleys over them, by battalion, and with a military procession, "with musick and colors flying" interred the remains which would subsequently be found in the floor of San Fernando Church.

May they Rest In Peace