Date: June 14, 1998
From: Simon Haines tankie5890@aol.com
I have heard that in front of Crockett's position there was also possibly a abatis is this true?
Simon Haines tankie5890@aol.com
abatisn. A defensive obstacle formed by felled
trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy.
Yes. Take a good close look at the Sánchez-Navarro drawing and key. You will see it plainly.
Kevin R. Young
Subject: William Physick Zuber
Date: June 14, 1998
From: Blake Zuber (bczuber@juno.com)
I would like to see you add some information on William Physick Zuber, the historian who first told the story of Travis drawing the line in the sand.
Blake Zuber
William Physick Zuber gained notoriety when he published "An Escape from the Alamo" in the Texas Almanac in 1873. This related the now famous story of William Barrett Travis drawing the line in the dirt. For years historians found the story hard to accept. In fact, the story didn't even appear until Zuber's 1873 article.
According Zuber, Louis Rose staggered up to his father's cabin in
Grimes County a few days after the fall of the Alamo. They took him
in and he related the tale of the "line in the dirt" complete with
an embellished version of William B. Travis' speech.. Zuber later
admitted that he had made up much of the speech, but historians and
novelist of the day quickly appropriated his version of the story as historical
fact.
Pennybacker's History of Texas for Schools that was published in
1888 contained an even more embellished version of the story. This,
unfortunately became gospel to several generations of Texas schoolchildren.
However, by 1908 the Pennybacker school text dropped the story from its
pages because it lacked historical veracity.
Clarence Wharton's 1932 school text (considered a standard) ignored the story. Amelia Williams, long considered the final authority of the Alamo, dismissed the story as "the creation of a vivid imagination" in her 1931 doctoral dissertation. In later years, some of Ms. Williams research has been questioned.
Robert Bruce Blake, and later Walter Lord, later uncovered evidence that Moses Rose did indeed exist, but that the story of Travis probably suffered from the inevitable embellishment of retelling and from the imagination of William P. Zuber. Was the line drawn in the dirt? Probably not.
In fairness to the man, William P. Zuber was considered by many to be of respectable character and an able historian.
True or not, the symbolic power of the legend is just as strong.
There did come a time when those who where there had to make a decision
to stay or leave.
Historian, Robert Bruce Blake provided an entry to the New Handbook
of Texas but did not elaborate on the story.
Randell Tarín , Managing Editor
Alamo de Parras
Subject: Flag of San Felipe
Date: 12 Jun 1998
From: Graham Watson Watsongr@cadvision.com
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I note that the San Felipe flag has what looks like the British Union Jack in one corner. Can you direct me to a source that would explain this?
Thank you,
Graham watson
Citing The Sons of
The Dewitt Colony of Texas concerning Baker's
Flag of San Felipe.
According to the Telegraph and Texas Register, San Felipe, 5 Mar 1836"....the English Jack showing the origin of Anglo-Americans, thirteen stripes representing that most of the colonists in Texas are from the United States; the Star is Texas, the only state in Mexico retaining the least spark of the light of Liberty; tricolor is Mexican, showing that we once belonged to the confederacy; the whole flag is historic." It was dubbed the San Felipe flag and based on ideas expressed to Gail Borden Jr. by Stephen F. Austin in the enclosure to a letter from New Orleans of 18 Jan 1836:"I shall preach independence all over the US wherever I go--What do you think of the inclosed idea of a flag." The flag was presented to the company of volunteers commanded by Captain Moseley Baker (John P. Borden, 1st. Lt.) by Gail Borden Jr. in the name of "two ladies" from the area as they marched from San Felipe 29 Feb 1836 for Gonzales. Capt. Baker made a speech to his company in response to the presentation referring to the flag "this banner of independence." He said "first in your hands is placed the Texas flag; let you be the last to see it strike to the invading foe! Let no other feeling ever glow in your bosom than that expressed in the motto on your banner, 'Our Country's Rights or Death.'.....Let us all raise our hands to heaven and swear, 'The Texas flag shall wave triumphant or we will sleep in death!'" It was claimed to have been flown at San Jacinto by those in Sherman's division.
Subject: Re: San Felipe Flag
Date: 06/15/98
From: Charles M. Yates
"In the union position, the upper left hand comer, of the flag was the British "King's Colors." This design was created by King James I of England (1603-1625) when he combined the English St. George Cross with he Scottish Cross of St. Andrew. The British Union represented the bond of the Ai-nerican colonist to Enp,,Iand. The red and white stripes of the San Felipe flag represented the United States. Ironically, the combination of the elements of the union and the stripes are the design used by George Washington on January 1, 1776 and served essentially as the first national flag of the United States. The San Felipe flag's addition of the color green in conjuction with the red and white represented the tricolor of the Mexican Republic out of which Texas was carved. The color green is also the Mexican color of independence. The lone star represented the call for independence for Texas. In addition to the colors, the symbols and their arrangment, the words "Our Country's Rights or Death" completed the design of tile San Felipe flag."Charles M. Yates, DirectorSources cited: The New Handbook of Texas, The Romantic Flags of Texas (Cox) and the Texian Iliad (Hardin)
C. David Pomeroy, Jr to Charles M. Yates - September 1997 - digger@tgn.net
Texian Heritage Society
Subject: George Neggan
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 17:16:09 -0500
From: Don Skinner<skinner@ddminc.net>
I am a "transplanted" Texan who is working on a research project to identify individuals originally from South Carolina who participated [in the Texas Revolution]. I trace them to their origins [in the Dewitt Colony]. Do you have any biographical information on George Neggan, one of the Gonzales 37, who died at the Alamo?
Much appreciation for any help.
Don Skinner
He was not listed on the roster of the Gonzales Rangers, the majority of which were among the relief force. I note that you refer to the "Gonzales 37," from what source do you quote that number. Popular records usually quote the Gonzales Immortal 32. That number has been unequivocally modified over the years, as has the total number of Alamo defenders and their identity. The total number in the relief force has been complicated by confusion with Gonzales residents who were already in the Alamo when it fell under siege, those who were trapped outside, those who were on the Gonzales Ranger Muster Roll, and those who joined along the way. It is thought there were others who joined along the way that are unaccounted for. Be sure to let us know of your findings. On another note I am glad to see you are picking up on the contribution of South Carolinians to the development of Texas where R.T. Jaynes of Walhalla, SC left off. He wrote the book Thomas Jefferson Rusk in in 1944 in which he also made tribute to South Carolinians Maverick, Travis, Bonham, Ms. Mary Cleveland Rusk of the famous Cleveland family, Charles B. Stewart and George Washington Barnett. Some more radical S. Carolinians even hint at a claim on Lorenzo de Zavala because of his personal friendship with South Carolinians Rusk and Joel Roberts Poinsett (known for the Poinsettia which he brought back from Mexico), the controversial US minister to Mexico, 1825-1830 with great indirect impact on the fate of Texas. You will find odds and ends on all these characters on Sons of DeWitt Colony of Texas .
Wallace L. McKeehan, Consulting Editor
Alamo de Parras
