The Mexican army attacked the Alamo just before 6:00 am on March 6. During the battle, Juana and her son and sister hid in one of the rooms along the west wall. Juana dressed her son as a girl "in the hope that Mexican troops would not harm him". As the battle approached their rooms, Gertrudis Navarro opened the door to signal that they meant no harm. When Mexican soldiers threatened them, a Texian defender charged into the room to defend them; he was quickly killed, as was a young Tejano who took refuge in the room. Soldiers rifled through Juana's trunk and confiscated most of its contents, including her clothing, coins, jewelry, and even "the watches that Travis and other officers had given her for safekeeping."