First of all, let me say that I cannot think of another experience (outside of the classroom), where a person can submit a question or state a point of view (valid or invalid), and garner responses from a variety of specialists and experts relative to Texas history. I have learned a lot since I started visiting this site, whether actively submitting queries or just reading the detailed information available (The New Handbook of Texas, alone, contains enough information to keep me busy for the next couple of winters).
Does the record show how many of the Alamo defenders (including the survivors), owned property - business or home - in Texas?
Mick Martínez
Irving, TX
I have been interested in this question as well as broader statistics in order to determine how unique the members of the Gonzales Ranger relief force were from general Alamo casualties. Of the 27 members of the group who can be clearly verified as DeWitt Colony residents, the oldest was Andrew Kent at age 44, 4 were over 40, 5 aged 31-40, 14 aged 21-30 and four (Fuqua, Gaston, Kellogg and King) were teenagers, the youngest of which was 16.
My study shows at least seventeen had been engaged in prior military engagements in service of Texas, primarily in the battles of Gonzales, Concepción and Bexar. At least 22 were "green card-carrying" legal Mexican immigrants who had sworn allegiance to the Constitution of 1824 and professed the Catholic faith and held titles to homesteads and property (or members of families who were). Three were civil servants (Kent, Miller, Millsaps), most were farmers and ranchers, two (Kimble and Miller) were merchants and two (Almeron Dickinson and Jacob Darst) were skilled blacksmiths with shops in Gonzales. Seven within the group were related to at least one other member and several had multiple relations in the group.
The at least ten more DeWitt Colony residents who were in the garrison
already and died there generally fit the profile above. Participation
was larger per resident than any other single municipality or district
of Texas, residents of the Municipality of Gonzales comprised about 4%
of the total population of Texas and accounted for about 20% of the casualties
at the Alamo. Put another way, over 4% of the total population of
the DeWitt Colony, among them some of their most productive landholders,
ranchers and farmers as well as merchants and civic leaders, died in the
Alamo while total Alamo casualties, irregardless of origin, represented
less than 0.5% of the total population of Texas.
Wallace L. McKeehan
Consulting Editor to Alamo de Parras
I'm a British writer. I live in London, and I'm doing research for a book. I am in the process of writing on the Alamo from the perspective of a British emigrant who through a series of events joins the volunteers that take the Alamo from General Cos at the instigation of Ben Milam, and stays to defend it against Santa Anna.
Dan Arnsan who has the diorama of the Alamo on this web site advised me to use this forum to get some feed back. What I want to know is, How many horses do you think the Alamo defenders had? Would they have made sorties from the Alamo into San Antonio or the surrounding countryside during the siege? Do you think the Tejano defenders would have kept in contact with their friends and relatives in San Antonio during the siege? Iif so would they have passed information on to Travis. What would have been their staple diet? If you are able to give any opinions on these questions, or offer any other insight into the siege I would be very grateful.
Paul Corrick
London England
The defenders made several sorties outside the walls but mainly into the Barrio del Alamo to burn jacales so as to remove potential cover for the Mexicans. I don't know of any sorties that went as far as Bexar.
At least in the early stages of the siege, there was probably contact between the Bejareños and the men and women in the Alamo. Juan Seguín was known to have had his meals brought from town, and there is a story of Tejanas who provided much of the information that influenced Santa Anna's decision to attack on the morning of March 6.
As far as the food of the garrison goes it consisted mainly of corn and beef with any additional staples the defenders brought with them. If you look over Alamo De Parras web site closely, I think you will find answers and opinions to most of your questions. The Alamo Forum and War Room archives are a good place to start.
John Bryant, Staff Writer
Alamo de Parras
Subject: 1950s Alamo Displays
Date: 10/02/99
From: Wendel Dickason
My brother and I recently discussed a visit we made to the Alamo in the late 1950s when we were probably 6 to 8 years old. We both seem to remember peeking behind some tall wooden doors inside the church and seeing what appeared to be scaling ladders. Can anyone confirm the presence of any such structure or exhibit and expand on it? Thanks.
Wendel Dickason
Cedar Hill, Texas
We're open to reader input on this one.
Subject: James L. Allen, 20th Century Defender
Date:: 10/18/99
From: Dennis G. McClure
I have been shocked to learn that a Anglo Alamo defender lived into the 20th century and there is no known interview of him. His name was James L. Allen (1815-1901), and he is reputed to have been the last courier sent out of the Alamo (March 5). It seems impossible that if indeed he was an Alamo defender, that his tale was not recorded by someone, somewhere in the intervening sixty-five years. Has anyone done the tedious job of searching out the newspapers, diaries, etc. of people around this man to see if any interview or rememberance exists. It seems he could provide so much information about the happenings inside the Alamo right up to the last desperate moment, if indeed he was ever there.
In response to Wendel Dickason's question about 1950's Alamo Displays, I can't say that I ever saw scaling ladders at the Alamo in San Antonio. However, I pestered my family to include the Alamo movie set at Bracketville in the early 60's and I remember vividly peering through a gap in a locked door along the "Long Barracks" and seeing scaling ladders inside the room.
Dennis G. McClure
Cleburne, Texas
In his 1997 book, Alamo Legacy, Ron Jackson mentions an undated interview by reporter, Robert H. Davis with an F.C. Proctor who claims to have heard Allen's account when he was a boy. Proctor says he was 14 years old when he heard the story from Allen, then a judge. He claims that the story was later verified by Allen's daughter, Mary L. Cunningham.
"Lieutenant Colonel Travis made it known to his men in the Alamo he needed another courier. Travis was determined to reach Col. James Fannin at Goliad with yet another plea. Fannin had to be convinced to come to the aid of the garrison with his troops.
Travis sensed time was running out. For twelve days, he and his men had been besieged by a superior force of Mexicans under the command of General Santa Anna. Only 189 men held the Alamo. The situation was desperate. Reinforcements had to arrive soon or the Alamo would be lost.
Several men volunteered on that March 5 afternoon to make the daring ride. Among them was James L. Allen.
The twenty-one-year-old Allen had left his home in Missouri with fellow classmates from Marion College in 1835. They were bound for the wilds of Texas, where prospects of a successful and adventurous life were rumored to be excellent.
Allen had volunteered for military service in Texas upon his arrival, and soon found himself in the middle of a revolution. Now he stood in front of Travis with other defenders awaiting the colonel's answer.
Travis told Allen he would be the one to make the attempt to carry the message to Fannin because he had the fleetest mare. Shortly after nightfall, Allen grabbed the reins on the bridle of his horse and mounted bareback. A gate was opened and off he rode. Allen bent low and hugged the horse's neck, providing a lesser target as he dashed through the Mexican lines. Every bullet missed its mark as Allen disappeared out of sight toward the east.
After roughly two days of hard riding, Allen arrived in Goliad some ninety-five miles from the Alamo. When he found Fannin unable to comply with the request, Allen quickly rode to Gonzales, arriving on March 11.
Anselmo Bora arrived in Gonzales from a ranch near Bexar at about the same time. He informed Allen and others of the gory details regarding the fall of the Alamo on March 6. Borgara said the TexansÐ182 in all-Ðhad been massacred to the last man. He went on to report some 521 Mexicans died in the battle ands many were wounded.
At that moment, Allen realized he owed his life to his horse. He had narrowly escaped death as the Alamo's last courier."
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