AN AUTOGRAPHED LETTER SIGNED "A.L. STA. ANNA," AS PRESIDENT OF MEXICO, ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA ANTONIO DE PADUA MARIA SEVERINO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA Y PEREZ DE LEBRON (1794-1876), PUEBLA, FEBRUARY 5, 1842, one page 8" x 10", Puebla  February 5, 1842, in Spanish on the Mexican president's printed letterhead. Santa Anna warmly addresses this letter in Spanish to his Financial Adviser L Dn Antonio de Haro y Tamariz, "My Dear Friend, In response to your good letters of the 30th of last month and the 1st of this month manifesting that having much cattle, it is not convenient for me to purchase what Don Luis Ruiz proposes to me. The only merit that you have is that I was moved to send him into retirement in rank as Lieutenant Colonel. I thank you for the affectionate expressions you may bestow upon me for said motive and repeat myself your profound friend at you service QBSN A.L.Sta. Anna." NOTE: Best known in the United States for leading the 1836 siege on the Alamo during the Texas Revolution (1835-1836) and Writing little about the Battle of the Alamo in his memoirs, Santa Anna claimed that William Barret Travis had 600 men and 18 cannons inside the garrison. Believing that Sam Houston was en route to San Antonio with 2,000 men and more cannons, Santa Anna decided to attack immediately. The assault on the Alamo began before dawn March 6, 1836. Ninety minutes later, all the defenders inside the old mission were dead. The only survivors inside were a few women and children and a black slave. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna commanded the Mexican Army against the United States in the Mexican War. Defeated at Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo and Puebla, he  lost his left leg defending Veracruz from the French in 1838. The leg was buried in September 1842 with full Military honors at the Santa Paula cemetery in Mexico City. Foes dug up the leg two years later and dragged it through the streets, shouting "death to the cripple," "kill the lame bastard" and "long live Congress." he was driven out of Mexico City by General Winfield Scott but was recalled and served as Provisional President in 1847. After serving four times as President of Mexico (1833-1836, 1839-1842, 1844-1845 and 1847), Santa Anna was sent into exile in 1848. He was recalled and served as President for the last time from 1853 to 1855. Driven out of Mexico by reform forces led by Benito Juarez, Santa Anna lived in exile from 1855 to 1874, returning to Mexico City to die in poverty and neglect at the age of 82. Although an opportunist, Santa Anna generally supported conservative forces within Mexican society, and especially the Catholic Church.