Susanna Dickinson was born in Tennessee in 1814. Nobody really knows much about her childhood except that she got married at age fifteen to Almeron Dickinson When she was twenty-one Susanna had a baby girl named Elizabeth Angelina Dickinson, or just Angelina. At age twenty-two she moved to Texas with Almeron and Angelina who then was fifteen months old. Soon Almeron had to move to San Antonio. Later Susanna and Angelina moved to San Antonio. There the family lived in a house for about two months. Only a week later everybody in San Antonio either had to move into the Alamo or move out of San Antonio.

Late that next day March 6th,the Mexicans attacked the Alamo. All the women and children hid in the chapel. When Susanna last saw Almeron, she was running to chapel. His last words were, "they're here, hide yourselves." Then he ran out. After the battle Santa Anna called all the women, children, and slaves. He offered each two dollars and a blanket, but Susanna refused, so Santa Anna asked if he could give Angelina an education. Still Susanna refused. Since she refused both things Santa Anna offered, he sent her to deliver a message to General Sam Houston, which read, "Citizens, it became necessary to check and chastise a parcel of audacious adventures…Bexarians! Return to your homes and dedicate yourselves to your domestic duties… Inhabitants of Texas! The good among you will have nothing to fear." -Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. When she got there everybody asked questions about loved ones. All Susanna told them was that everybody died except women, children, and slaves. Everybody moaned and cried. Sam Houston asked if she was strong enough to tell him everything that happened. She agreed and told him.

Later the next day all of Gonzales burned the city down and retreated. About a week later they went to a sneak battle with the Mexicans. They caught many soldiers, but Santa Anna got away. The next day a tired looking Mexican got caught. He said he had retreated at battle, but all the Mexican prisoners said. "That's Santa Anna. So Santa Anna was caught.

After the battle Susanna got remarried three times, the fifth time was a stable marriage to Joseph Hannig. Susanna died on October 7, 1883. Hannig was buried next to her in 1890. The Alamo might have been forgotten had it not been for Susanna Dickinson.