I am trying to more precisely locate one of the early colonizing ventures in the Dewitt Colony region of Texas. Gov. Cordero authorized the Spanish settlement of colonists led by Felipe Roque de la Portilla (later father in law of empresario James Power) of Nuevo Santander called Villa de San Marcos de Neve in 1807-1808 and placed it at the point where El Camino Real crossed the Guadalupe River. Author Castañeda says:

"...on the San Marcos River, located a few miles above its confluence with the Guadalupe, probably just below the modern city of San Marcos." The confluence of the current Guadalupe and San Marcos is at current Gonzales. Author Huson says ".....Portilla was granted ....land on the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers, about eight miles above the present town of Gonzales."

W.L. McKeehan
Bellaire, TX

According to the New Handbook of Texas...

SAN MARCOS DE NEVE. San Marcos de Neve, one of the last Spanish attempts at colonization in Texas, was founded in the early nineteenth century four miles below the site of present San Marcos, where the Old San Antonio Road crossed the San Marcos River. It was intended as part of a chain of defensive settlements stretching from Bexar to Nacogdoches and was personally funded by the Spanish governor of Texas, Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante. Cordero charged Felipe Roque de la Portilla with leadership of the expedition to reestablish a Spanish presence on the San Marcos, where the San Xavier missions had been temporarily relocated fifty years earlier. Colonists for the San Marcos villa were recruited from south of the Rio Grande rather than from Bexar and Louisiana. The first group of colonists set out from Refugio (now Matamoros) in December 1807 and by February 1808 had settled near the San Marcos crossing. Lt. Juan Ignacio Arrambide was appointed justicia (magistrate) of the town, with power to issue titles to land. Estimates of the villa's size vary from about fifty to eighty people, including perhaps a dozen families and servants and as many as 1,700 animals-cattle, horses, and mules. A central plaza had been laid out and titles issued to thirteen town lots when a flood on June 5, 1808, nearly wiped out the nascent community. The colony held out for several years, but harassment by Comanche and Tonkawa Indians finally forced its abandonment in 1812. --Daniel P. Greene

©1997, TSHA

Jake Ivey,
Archaeological Consultant to Alamo de Parras

Subject: Bonham, etc.
Date: 02/16/99
From: Steve Hedgpeth

1. How many of the Thirteen Days was James Bonham actually inside the Alamo?
2. Do we know the whereabouts of the grave of alleged Alamo survivor Henry Warnell?
3. Would the Alamo defenders have died primarily from arms and cannon fire or from bayonet and lance?

Steve Hedgpeth
Pennsylvania

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1. Bonham was sent by Travis to obtain aid for the garrison at Bexar on or about February 16, 1836. He returned to the Alamo on March 3, carrying a letter from Robert M. Williamson through the Mexican lines.  The letter assured Travis that help was on its way and urged him to hold out. Bonham died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
    
2. There is some evidence that Henry Warnell escaped from the Alamo during the battle of March 6, 1836, but died at Port Lavaca, Texas in June 1836 from wounds received in the battle.
    
3. My guess is that most injuries would NOT have been incurred by bayonet or lance point. Among their weapons, the arms used by the Mexican light infantry were shown to be ineffective when used with the bayonet attachment. There's no doubt that bayonets and lances were used--probably after the Mexicans broke through and entered the compound. As to the percentage of bayonet/lance use, this is open for debate. I would recommend you check out the "Weapons of War" and "Phases of the Battle" sections here on Alamo de Parras for more information.
    

Subject: Low Barracks
Date: 02/26/99
From: Danny Landry

When were the low barracks and the other walls of the Alamo destroyed?

Danny Landry
Vermont

What remained of the Western Wall was torn down in 1913 because it had become too unstable and city officials thought it unsafe.  An essential factor in its removal was aesthetics. It was thought that the deteriorating walls detracted from the picturesque Alamo chapel.

See Also:

• San Antonio Express newspaper, Oct. 9, 1913, Thursday.
• Excavations at the Western Wall

Subject: Alamo Coloring
Date: 03/01/99
From: Michael P. Heslin

What unusual substance was mixed with the mortar to give the Alamo its color?

Michael P. Heslin
Kilgore, TX

The church is made of local limestone, which ranges from chalk white to yellow-white. The mortar is a mixture of lime and sand, sometimes a little fine gravel, but has been repointed, I think, with portland cement. The lime is not the best, and had some mineral crud and bits of charcoal from the firing mixed in. All of this together, with an overlay of 240 years or so of San Antonio fumes affecting it, bird poop, lichen and moss growth, and such stuff, produced the color you see.

Jake Ivey,
Archaeological Consultant to Alamo de Parras

Subject: Jacob & Asa Walker
Date: 03/07/99
From: Donald Walker

Has any research been done on Jacob and Asa Walker as to descendants, their relationship, background, etc?

Donald Walker
Rockwall, Texas

Author/Historian, Bill Groneman placed an entry for each in the "NEW HANDBOOK OF TEXAS":

WALKER, JACOB (1799-1836). Jacob Walker, Alamo defender, was born in Rockridge County, Tennessee, in May 1799. In 1827 he married Sara Ann Vauchere, and they had four children. Walker was a resident of Nacogdoches. He took part in the siege of Bexar and afterwards remained in Bexar as a member of Capt. William R. Carey's artillery company. Susanna W. Dickinson recalled that, during the siege of the Alamo, Walker often spoke to her about his children. She also recalled that during the battle, Walker rushed into her room pursued by Mexican soldiers who shot and bayoneted him to death as she looked on. Walker was the cousin of fellow Alamo defender Asa Walker and brother of the famous mountain man Joséph R. Walker.

WALKER, ASA (1813-1836). Asa Walker, Alamo defender, was born in Tennessee in 1813. He moved to Texas in November of 1835, settling at Nacogdoches. On November 28, 1835, he wrote a letter at Washington-on-the-Brazos to a Mr. Gant, explaining why he had stolen Gant's gun and overcoat, stating, ". . . the hurry of the moment and my want of means to do better are all the excuses I have." Walker took part in the siege of Bexar. He was either wounded in the battle or fell sick afterward. Col. James C. Neill's return of his men lists Walker as "in hospital." Walker served in the Alamo garrison as a member of Capt. Robert White's infantry company, the Bexar Guards. Walker died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. He was a cousin of fellow Alamo defender Jacob Walker.

Subject: George Robbins
Date: 03/07/99
From: W. K. Barnard

Was George Robbins (Robins) one of those who died defending the Alamo? George was the brother of Nathaniel Robbins, my ancestor and the first Indian Commissioner recommended by Sam Houston. Family legend has it that George was there. The monument to the Alamo defenders in front of the State Capitol lists a "Robins", but the name is not in any list of the defenders which I have been able to discover. Who is conducting research on the matter of unrecognized defenders?

W. K. Barnard

The DRT's official list does not contain a GEORGE ROBBINS. However, this list was based largely on Amelia William's research that has since been shown to be incomplete.

There are several people working on the list, among these is author/historian Alan Huffines. His new book "The Blood of Noble Men" due out in mid-April 1999 is rumored to prove the existence of several other defenders, bringing the total above 200. Also, Lee Spencer-White, a member of the Alamo Defenders Descendant's Association, has uncovered some very interesting information that also promises to add to the list.

Alamo de Parras will publish these names and the proof of their validity when they become available.

Subject:Brave Bonham
Date: 03/07/99
From: Carl M. Schwab Jr.

Interested in Bonham, I read Mr. Hedgpeth' question about length of time James Butler Bonham was in the Alamo under siege. The answer did not jive with my understanding so I went to Time to Stand to read about Bonham "the Leader", pages 132-34, 136. It appears that before February 27th that James Butler Bonham having returned to the Alamo left for Goliad, then Gonzales returning March 3. This account indicates that Bonham struggled into and out of the siege. twice to do his duty. So I believe that Bonham saw at least 5 of 13 days of service inside and 8 days outside.

Carl M. Schwab Jr.
Coppell, Texas

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With all due respect to Walter Lord, current research indicates Bonham arrived at the Alamo on January 19, 1836.He was sent by Travis on or about February 16, 1836. (Days in the Alamo=28, but all before the siege)

He did not return to the Alamo until March 3 during the siege having to ride through enemy lines.

He was in the garrison during the siege for 3 days if you count March 6th as a full day, which you really can't. Depending on what hour of the day he arrived, he was in the battle for a little over two twenty-four hour periods.