Date: 01/13/99
From: David Mackey
I am currently working on a simulation of "The Alamo" and have been picking up whatever books I could on the subject.
The few I have found so far (either in my personal library or other libraries) are Thirteen Days To Glory By Lon Tinkle, Duel of Eagles By Jeff Long, and A Time To Stand By Walter Lord. During my research, which I have done for personal enjoyment over the years, I have formed certain opinions which may be wrong concerning the Alamo, but seemed to be reinforced by all of the above books and most Alamo movies except the book by Jeff Long. Jeff Long seems to portray the Alamo Defenders as prostitutes, money-grubbers, thieves, murderers, and etc. Portraying all the "high officers" (Sam Houston, James Bowie, William Travis) except for David Crockett as a kind of scum. From his book, and if I had only read his book I would have gotten an impression that! William B. Travis was the kind of man who slept with a different woman every night. Now, I post this question to you: Is Jeff Long writing a revisionist history or is this the true history of the Alamo?
Respectfully Yours,
David Mackey
New York
David,
First off, let me say the men of the Alamo were just that, men with the same wants, dreams, desires and failings that all men everywhere have. Travis did consider himself a ladies man and yes he did have quite a few conquests during certain periods of his life even going so far as to keep track of them in his journal.
Bowie was involved in many shady land deals and slave trading and Crockett had been pretty much of a failure as a politician and in his personal life. Unfortunately many historians or writers seem to find great delight in tearing down heroes and icons and dwelling only on the negative aspects of their lives and that is Jeff Long's forte.
My personal opinion of his book is best kept to myself but if you want to know what I think of it go to Amazon.com book reviews and find my review of the book. You seem to have started off with a couple of pretty good books in "13 Days to Glory" and "A Time to Stand" but much has been discovered and researched since those two books were published.
A very good book on the Alamo is "Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution" by Dr. Stephen Hardin. If your interested in the "Holy Trinity" of the Alamo (Bowie, Travis and Crockett) get a copy of "Three Roads to the Alamo: The lives and fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie and William Barrett Travis" by William C. Davis. Also check out the bookstore on Alamo de Parras.
John Bryant
Jeff Long is a friend of mine, and I was happy to assist him when [he was] doing his work. I found his final product very negative. Jeff believes that he can judge 19th century people by his standards, and knowing Jeff, one understands that he is very liberal, very devoted to human rights, the environment and nature. Of course, that does not excuse his very liberal interpretation of history. Duel of Eagles was not the book it could have been. Texian Iliad and Three Roads to the Alamo were.
Kevin R. Young
"...impression that! William B. Travis was the kind of man who slept with a different woman every night....""...Travis did consider himself a ladies' man and yes he did have quite a few conquests during certain periods of his life even going so far as to keep track of them in his journal...."
At least there is no evidence that Col. Travis took advantage
of his Anahuac office interns and then tried to cover (albeit his diary
was presumably privileged until long after). Regarding his bold diary
entries, is there any separate evidence, from partners, their friends,
associates or families, that this "Bravo," who only got off one shot before
taking a Centralista sharpshooter's hit to the forehead in a rush to the
wall, was a "ladies' man" in more than his own mind?
W.L. McKeehan
Subject: Susanna Dickinson
Date: 01/14/99
From: Sarah Massey
Does anyone know the whereabouts or address of C. Richard King who wrote Susanna Dickinson, Messenger of the Alamo in 1976?
Sarah Massey
San Antonio, Texas
Subject: How Many Mexicans?
Date: 01/14/99
From: David Mackey
text in brackets added for clairity
I'm still working on that [game] simulationand I was hoping some of you here could help me.
The number of the Mexican [troops] and the number of artillery seem to be in question, and I have never been able to find a real estimate.
I need to know an estimated number of Mexicans there (I know around 1/10 of them died along the way) at the Alamo at the time of the siege, how many were coming, what artillery was at the siege and also what was coming.
Also, [does] anyone know [how many] reinforcements [were] on their way to the Alamo? [What were the] chances of Fannin's men getting through had the Alamo held out? How long would it have taken the reinforcements to arrive from their various locations?
Respectfully Yours,
David Mackey
New York
Subject: Crockett at
the West Wall
Date: 01/17/99
From:Simon Haines
I read with interest that there is a possibility that Crockett was found at the west wall area, I've never been easy with the fact he was found at the palisade with his men, as it seemed funny that they were:
1. overrun before getting to safety andNow why would Crockett have been there unless he was already dead or wounded??
2. that they hadn't withdrawn into the Long Barracks or chapel.
So, my thinking is [that] Crockett saw the Mexicans slipping around the 18-pounder area and realizing the palisade area was relatively safe, took himself (plus others maybe) over to that area, however by then it was too late. Mexicans at the North, South and West were coming in [and] rather than run across the plaza, he stayed where he was and ...well, the rest, as they say, is history. Also to the chap doing the simulation if he means war game... if he wants to email me I too have a 6 by 4 model of the Alamo at a scale of 1 for 1.
Simon Haines
Manchester England
Subject: "The Blood of Noble Men"
Date: 01/ 21/99
From: Dorothy Reed-Black BlackAlamo@aol.com
[Letter to author, Alan Huffines]
Alan,
Congratulations on completion of your long-awaited book. I know that it will be a must have for all Alamo historians. Gary's art work coupled with your excellent knowledge of military weapons and strategy will undoubtedly result in a fine book.
We owe so much to a handful of dedicated Texas historians like you. Through your eyes we are able to step back in time to garner a vision of history.
Yours Sincerely,
Dorothy Reed-Black
Subject: Captured Texian Flags
Date: 01/23/99
From: W.L. McKeehan
In his diary, Gen. José Urrea refers to"--Nine pieces of artillery, three flags, more than a thousand rifles, many good pistols, guns, daggers, lots of ammunition, several wagons, and about 400 prisoners--" received at the capitulation of Col. Fannin and troops at La Batalla del Encinal del Perdido at Coleto Creek in March 1836.
Any ideas on what three flags these were? There is high probability that one was the blood red flag/guidon of the Alabama Red Rovers under Shackelford. The Troutman flag was carried by the Georgia Battalion into Texas, but possibly destroyed in the evacuation of Fort Defiance. Is it possible that remains of these banners are still hidden away somewhere in Mexico similar to the New Orleans Grey's banner from the Alamo?
W.L. McKeehan
Bellaire, TX
See Also: The Flags of the Republic
Subject: Quartermaster Melton
Date: 01/30/99
From: Simon Haines
Walter Lord states that Melton was the first to leave during the fighting
by going from the palisade with a few others following. Then he states
Crockett's men at the palisade fought with wild fury that even awed the
Mexicans. Now if fighting was as fierce there, how did Melton and others
escape from there? Why was Melton singled out as going first? Where did
they try to escape from? All accounts state [that there was] heavy
fighting. If Melton and others did escape they must have FOUGHT their way
out, then got caught by the cavalry.
Simon Haines
Manchester, England
Walter Lord got the Melton story from an account by Susannah Dickinson in which she said, "during the final engagement one Milton, jumped over the ramparts and was killed." Since there was no Milton known among the defenders, Lord assumed she meant Melton. In any case, since Mrs. Dickinson was in the chapel during the final assault, if she saw a man leap the wall, it was almost certainly one of the walls of the chapel and she would not be able to speak with certainty about his being killed. There was a story common after the battle of a man leaping from the chapel wall holding a child (or at least a bundle taken to be a child). This man was killed by gunfire and died before he reached the ground. Could this have been Milton/Melton???
Lord's account of the fight with the cavalry outside the walls is taken from a statement made by Mexican sergeant Manuel Loranca: "Sixty-two Texans who sallied from the east side of the fort, were received by the Lancers and all killed. Only one of these made resistance; a very active man, armed with a double-barrel gun and a single-barrel pistol, with which he killed a corporal of the Lancers named Eugenio. These were all killed by the lance, except one, who ensconced himself under a bush and it was necessary to shoot him."
Several Mexican accounts confirm that 50-60 Texians escaped from (or fought their way out of) the Alamo compound, only to be cut down by the cavalry waiting outside.
General Sesma's account of the battle and the log book of the San Luis Battalion also confirm what Loranca said. Melton was married to Juana Losoya, who was inside the Alamo during the siege and whose brother, José Toribio Losoya, was among the Tejanos killed in the battle.
In way of a suggestion, couldn't the Texian seen jumping off the church with the young boy have been Anthony Wolfe? He had two young boys with him who were killed in the battle.
Subject: The Cannonade
Date: 01/30/99
From: Simon Haines
Older accounts mention a cannonade being on the west wall. However,
I'm wondering if it did exist, was this the gun that was either outside
the west wall in a lunette (like at main gate) or was it situated inside
a building not on the roof? Would it not been better placed at north
or south wall given its effect?
Simon Haines
Manchester, England
