Date: January 7, 1998
From: John Bryant
According to Alamo legend and lore there were supposedly no deaths before the final assault on March 6th. Does recent research still hold this to be true? If not where were the bodies of these men buried in the compound?
John Bryant
I don't know that the question is so much one of Alamo Lore, but rather Travis' last letter out, in which he states that they have not had anyone killed yet. That is up to March 3rd. What happened between the 3rd and the morning of the 6th is still up in the air. Of course, there is the issue of what happened to those who died before the siege of either wounds recieved at the siege of Bexar or of illness. I would assume that these would have been buried either in or just outside the Campo Santo of Bejar.
People were beening buried in the Alamo up to the time of the occupation by General Cos. Plenty of documents to back that up. Some of these were inside the church proper, while others were either outside in the Valerocampo santo area (immediately in front of the chapel) or other locations in the Alamo.
Kevin R. Young
Subject: Stephen Hardin's "Texian Iliad
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998
From: Rick Tepker (TheTepkers@msn.com)
When I read Stephen Hardin's "Texian Iliad," I was surprised he was so critical of Sam Houston's conduct. It had been my impression that most of the criticism was partisan attack from his political enemies. But Hardin sounded to me like he gave some credit to claims that Houston was too hesitant to confront Santa Anna. I'd like to know your opinion.
Rick Tepker
I tend to agree with Steve Hardin. Much of what we have grown to believe about Houston is perpetuated from his legend and little of it is based on actual documentation or fact. May I suggest that you refer to the article in the "Archives" section published a couple of months ago that was also by Hardin, "San Jacinto--The Generalship of Sam Houston." Also refer to the "War Room" archive on that subject. It's there that Steve Hardin gave his closing thoughts on the subject, which I think says it all nicely.
Randell Tarín
Subject: James Butler Bonham
Date: January 11, 1998
From: Don Walker
I am extremely interested in learning about books or sources regarding James Butler Bonham. Any suggestions or help out there. Thanks
Don Walker
I don't know of any books written about James Bonham. Issue # 62 (Aug. 1988) of "The Alamo Journal" has an article, "James Butler Bonham" by Thomas Ricks Lindley. I don't have that issue so I can't tell you anything about it. I'm sure that Bill Chemerka would let you know whether he would recommend it or not. Back issues cost $5.00 each, with the check made out to "William R..Chemerka" and sent to William R.. Chemerka, c/o The Alamo Journal, 7 Heritage Drive, East Hanover, NJ 07936. It usually take 2-3 weeks for Bill to process the order.
Bob Durham, Books Editor
Subject: Name That Tune
Date: January 15, 1998
From: Don McEachern
I have read several references to a song that was apparently popular in Texas during the 10 years succeeding the fall of the Alamo, the days of the Republic. The title seems to be "Cry Vengeance for Texas, or God Speed the Right". Do you know the words to it or where it may be found?
Thanks
Don McEachern
I asked for help on this one from my friend Charlie M. Yates of the Texian Heritage Society. This is his reply.
When I got your message, I thought, "Oh, yea, I remember that one. This should be easy." Well, that was the kiss of death! Everyone I've talked to says it sounds very familiar, but no one can remember anything about it. I searched the Center for American History files, yesterday, and found tons of songs from that period, but none that fit the one in question.
John Jenkins even compiled a book of early Texas songs and it wasn't in there either. I searched the DRT music holdings on the net and nothing there. I suspect that it is one of three scenarios. 1) The song is a "modern" song, say published after 1900, and I've been looking in the wrong places or 2) it is a bastardization of a Civil War song ("God speed the right" sounds like something that would come out of that conflict) or 3) I, and some of my colleagues, are all suffering from mass delusions and the song simply doesn't exist. In my opinion, all three have equal possibilities of being correct.
God and Texas
CharlieThe Texian Heritage Society
http://www.netcom.com/~cmyates/
Subject: Hardin on Sam Houston
Date: January 16, 1998
From: Don A. McEachern
I just read the very interesting article on your website by Stephen L. Hardin regarding Sam Houston. Do you think that his assertion that Houston stated facts so as to promote his political career lends greater credence to Wallace O. Chariton's contention that he was doing just that when stating that he had ordered Bowie to proceed to the Alamo and blow it up. Is it the stand of the DRT that such an order was given (and not contigent upon the approval of Gov. Smith, which did not come)? On one visit to The Alamo, a young tour guide told our group that "Travis was a traitor because he failed to carry out the order to do so". I think that the use os the word "traitor" was unfortunate but, that aside, I can find no reference to Travis ever having receiving such and order unless it was from Bowie himself.
Thanks,
Don A. McEachern
I tend to agree with Hardin on this issue. I think that Houston was trying to cover his own bases when he started telling everyone that he had ordered the Alamo blown up. There was no such order, and the order everyone references actually says that he recommended the Alamo to be blown up. A recommendation is not an order!. Besides, Henry Smith overruled him.
Travis was never ordered to blow up anything. He was sent by Smith to reinforce J.C. Neill and assume the post cavalry operations. Neill and Bowie made the decision to hold San Antonio long before Travis even showed up. Fannin was planning to complete the repairs at La Bahía and then March to San Antonio by the first week in March. Of course, by then Santa Anna and Urrea showed up.
As to the Alamo tour guides: some people tend to be a little melodramatic. Some of the Alamo tour guides are at times. Both Bruce Winders, the site's historian, and Dorthey Black, the DRT hostess in charge of the guides, are making every effort to include the new material and make the "dramatic" a little more toned down.
Kevin R. Young
Subject: 18-pounder
Date: 23 Jan 1998
From: Jeffery Guillermo (Jeffg@aloha.net)
What happened to the 18-pounder [cannon]?
Jeffery Guillermo
The "18 pounder" is on the grounds of the Alamo at present. It was one of the cannon recovered when the foundation was excavated for the Gibbs Building at the northwest corner of the old Alamo compound (Houston and North AlamoStreets). They were thrown into the acequia at that location when the Mexican troops retreated after the battle of San Jacinto. That property was later acquired by Sam Maverick and became a portion of his early development, Alamo City, and was near the location of his home. Those wishing to see it will find it to be the largest of the cannon the groundsand is located outside the exit from the Long Barracks Museum. It was previously located outside the rear door of the Shrine at the acequia (fish pond).
Waynne Cox, Archeaologist
Subject: Fannin's value
Date: 24 Jan 1998
From: John Bryant (SHELTOWAY@aol.com)
We know Fannin was to go to Bexar and we know of Travis's repeated appeals to Fannin for help, and for his failure to reinforce the Alamo Fannin has been Characterized as a coward, incompetent, inept and basically villified in the annals of Texas history. In the opinion of yourself and Alamo historians would Fannin reinforcing Travis made a difference, or would it have just prolonged the seige or would it just have given Santa Anna more notches on his gun?
Thanks
John Bryant
[Reponse from Charles M. Yates, the director of our sister site, The Texian Heritage Society]
John,
I feel compelled to start this reply with the definition of an editorialist (which all of us, at some point, fall into). An Editorialist is "a person who walks the battlefield, after the fighting, bleeding and danger are over, and shoots the survivors".
Was Fannin incompetent? I don't believe he was. He held together over 300 dissentious, undisciplined, and ill trained men for several weeks while the provisional Texas government fell apart, re-formed and then vacillated its way across east Texas. If he was incompetent, there was plenty of incompetency to go around in Texas at the time. Was he a coward? I think not. He had shown himself to be an able fighter at the Battle of Concepción and he faced the Mexican firing squad with what I would consider courageous and valorous aplomb.
Was he inept? Perhaps, given the situation, he wasn't the best commander for the job, but nothing in his past performances indicated this. In my opinion his "fatal flaw" was that he was indecisive in a complex situation.
Let me put myself in his situation. I am in Goliad, behind the walls of a fortress in which I have a great deal of confidence. What few intelligence reports I receive are of questionable accuracy. I do know that Urrea has landed a force on the Texas coast and is headed toward Goliad. I do know that the Alamo is invested by several thousand Mexican soldiers. I have received orders from General Houston to withdraw from Goliad and link up with his forces in East Texas. I have very few wagons or carts with which to carry the artillery and food if I leave La Bahía.
If I go to the aid of the Alamo, I will have to disable most of the artillery so that it is useless to the Mexican troops advancing toward Goliad and burn the food we have stockpiled. It is highly likely that on the open plains outside of Béxar I will encounter, at least a portion of the "thousands" of Mexican soldiers surrounding Béxar, as Santa Anna is not going to simply let me march into the Alamo unopposed. This will allow the Mexicans to bring their cavalry to bear on my infantry to devastating effect. In addition, I will also leave myself open to a pincher movement by the Mexican forces coming up from the coast. The option to attempt a reinforcement of Travis would most certainly mean the devastation of my forces and the loss of La Bahía but it would also mean a hero's death in the eyes of the public. Perhaps some people see this as noble or heroic. I personally see it as no option at all.
The second option is to stay behind the walls of La Bahía and defend against the Mexican forces that are threatening the eastern route to the most populous part of Texas. La Bahía is snug, warm and defensible. I have food, ammunition, artillery and enough men to pose an adequate defense. It is a very tempting option, but still I have the problem of Houston's order to evacuate which, as a soldier, I feel compelled to obey. I also feel compelled to stay safe behind these walls with my artillery to aid in my defense.
The third option is to obey Houston's order and evacuate immediately. The problem with evacuating is that I still have troops in the field toward Refugio that I haven't heard from recently and I am hesitant to leave without some word of their status. If I do evacuate before knowing their condition I may be contributing to their destruction. If I wait too long, I may get caught on the plains between Goliad and the Guadalupe River and still be open to a devastating Mexican cavalry attack (which was indeed what happened).
I need more information. I need to know the disposition of troops around Béxar to determine if relief of the Alamo is feasible. I need to know the status of the Texian forces around Refugio. I need to know where Urrea's forces are so that I don't get caught in the open whichever direction I go. I need to know where General Houston is and the disposition of his forces.
The temptation to wait for more information is powerful. The desire to act is equally powerful. It is a trap that has ensnared many a field commander both before and after Fannin. I feel it is inaccurate and ill advised to brand Fannin a coward or an incompetent. I also feel it is perfectly accurate to describe him as indecisive in his actions at Goliad. Being indecisive at a given time or making a wrong decision does not make a person either a coward or an incompetent. As we walk across the battlefield, after the fray, we should remember that Fannin has had a great deal of company during and since that time.
Would Fannin's reinforcements been of use at the Alamo? Probably not. I don't believe they would have gotten within sight of the Alamo. While laying siege to Béxar, Santa Anna had heard rumors of Texian reinforcements from Goliad. He sent General Ramírez y Sesma out to reconnoiter, intercept and destroy them, if found. I believe that if Ramírez y Sesma had caught Fannin in the open, the result would have been exactly the same as the Battle of Coleto Creek. End result: Fannin's force captured and destroyed; the Alamo garrison razed; Houston left to deal with the Santanistas the best way he could.
Charles M. Yates, Director
Texian Heritage Society, Inc.
Subject: Great job!
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998
From: Jon Donley
I was helping my daughter research the Alamo for a school project today and came across your Alamo de Parras Web site. This is absolutely first class! As an amateur historian, I wanted to do something like this when I was manager of the Express-News' online service, but could not wrangle the hearts, minds or resources to focus on it. Obviously there's no reason for the E-N to bother now. Good job - congratulations!
Jonathan C. Donley - Editor
http://www.nolalive.com
http://www.loveneworleans.com
http://www.neworleans.net
Subject: First Black Texans West of the Colorado
Date: 1 Feb 1998
From: Wallace L. McKeehan
SHADE, ANISE, JACK. Listed only as ãEsclavosä in the household of James Kerr in the Lista de los Havitantes de la Colonia de DeWitt (Sons of DeWitt Colony), Shade and Anise were the first Black Texans west of the Colorado River, among the very first DeWitt Colonists as well as the first Black DeWitt Colonists. They arrived in 1825 with James Kerr (Sons of DeWitt Colony) and daughter in 1825 from Missouri. They were with him at the original settlement on Kerr's Creek near Gonzales (Sons of DeWitt Colony), survived the Indian attack that temporarily caused removal of the colonists to Old Station on the La Baca, and moved with Col. Kerr to his eventual homestead on the Lavaca River in current Jackson County. According to John Henry Brown in The Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas, Jack was the son of Shade and Anise, who were the parents of at least 4 more children and grandparents of numerous offspring, who became widely known and greatly esteemed for their fidelity and patriotism in every conflict.
If readers have any clues to the identity, adopted surnames and fate of this family and descendants, Sons of DeWitt Colony would like to hear from you.
Wallace L. McKeehan
Sons of DeWitt Colony Texas
