The largest caliber and perhaps heaviest cannon in the Alamo in 1836 was not the famous 18-pounder. This gun was especially designed to fire large round stones instead of the usual iron cannon balls. It was termed a pedrero in Spanish. It was acquired in 1817 from a grounded ship in Matagorda Bay, left by privateers from Galveston who were aiding in the Mexican rebellion against Spain. It was taken to San Antonio and remained there until it was mounted and used by the Mexican soldiers in the Siege of Bexar. The next year it was effectively used by Texans in the initial stages of the Battle of the Alamo. After over fifty years of being buried it was moved to San Pedro park and placed on public display for four months, then destroyed by pranksters in a Christmas celebration. Read the fascinating story of this Alamo cannon.
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