Every day during the siege, the defenders of the Alamo looked for Fannin and his men but they never arrived. Fannin had decided that the logistics of reaching the Alamo in time were impossible and, in any event, his 300 or so men would not make a difference against the Mexican army and its 2,000 soldiers.

The failure of reinforcements to arrive at the Alamo during the 1836 siege was due to a combination of logistical breakdowns, political infighting, and the overwhelming speed of the Mexican Army. Colonel William B. Travis sent several desperate pleas for help, most famously his "To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World" letter. However, the provisional Texas government was in a state of chaos, with leaders arguing over command and strategy rather than organizing a cohesive relief force. Colonel James Fannin, who was stationed at Goliad with over 400 men, actually attempted to march toward San Antonio, but his relief column was plagued by broken wagons, stray oxen, and a lack of supplies, forcing him to turn back after traveling only a few miles. Furthermore, the Mexican Army under General Santa Anna had moved much faster than the Texians anticipated, effectively surrounding the mission and making any small-scale rescue attempt a suicide mission. While a small group of 32 men from Gonzales (the "Immortal 32") managed to sneak through the lines and enter the Alamo, the larger army being gathered by Sam Houston was not yet trained or equipped for battle. By the time Houston was ready to move, the Alamo had already fallen, leading to his tactical retreat and the eventual victory at San Jacinto.