I wanted your opinion about the night of 5 March 1836. Did Crockett escort anyone into the compound? If so, was it a sizable force? Do these additional men reflect the body count as related to the roster?

John Warren
Ladoga, Indiana

The story that Crockett went out late in the siege and brought back about thirty volunteers may have good support. If it's true, it would bring the numbers in the Alamo up to the 250 Range. However, 30-50 of the men were supposedly killed by Mexican cavalry after going over the walls to the east at the end of the fight.

This theory apparently originated with Tom Ricks Lindley's research on the subject that was published in the Alamo Journal and is again mentioned in William C. Davis's Three Roads to the Alamo...

Among primary sources, the log books of the San Luis Battalion and the account of Manuel Loranca [San Antonio Express, 23 June 1878] both confirm that about sixty defenders were killed by Mexican cavalry as they tried to flee the Alamo on 6 March. General Sesma's after action report also confirms this. Both are published in the Fall 1998 Journal of the Alamo Battlefield Association.

Subject: Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto
Date: 02/26/2000
From: Grant Hopkins

I recently read that a combination of the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto were the key factors that led to Texas Independence. However, I wasn't convinced with their support. What would have happened if not for these three battles? How did they create an independent Texas?

Grant Hopkins
Massachusetts

Was there one main reason Tejas' revolted against Mexico?

Stephen R. Berry
Los Angeles

Contrary to many theories proposed by those with "axes to grind," which include greed for territory and land, protection and extension of slavery, and racial contempt for Hispanics, the major causes of rebellion were stated simply and concisely by loyal Mexican citizen Col. James Bowie, as follows:

I've always thought [that, militarily speaking,] the Battle of the Alamo was not a crucial one. If Travis and his men had chosen retreat into the eastern half of the state, it wouldn't have made any difference to the rest of the fight. Santa Anna would still have stopped for 2-3 weeks, waiting for all his columns to arrive, and [on a grand scale] the number of men lost wasn't particularly meaningful.

Which battle of Goliad? [It] doesn't look like anything of consequence happened there, either (ignoring a minor massacre or so). Those battles, such as they were, were defeats for the rebels. Militarily, they did nothing for the cause of the Texians. Unless you want to argue that without the "Remember!" battle cries, the battle of San Jacinto would have been lost.

Jake Ivey

The Texas Revolution began as an attempt by the colonists of Texas to support the Federal Mexican Constitution of 1824, which put the running of the country in the hands of state legislatures and an elected Congress (similar to that of the United States). Those in Mexico who supported the Constitution are known as Federalists, while those who favored a strong central government are called Centralists. They had been fighting over which direction Mexico was to go politically since Mexican independence in 1821.

In 1833, the Federalists secured the Congress and the presidency. Santa Anna, who was a Federalist was elected president while Gomez Farias, a very liberal Federalist was elected vice-president. Santa Anna left office, leaving Farias as acting president.

He and his cabinet enacted liberal reforms which threatened the church, the military and the large land owners. Santa Anna stepped back in (with the support of these three groups) and Farias fled his office. Santa Anna closed the Congress. In the next elections, the Centralists won, and starting in 1835, commenced revoking the Constitution of 1824. With the passing of the Seven Laws in October 1835, Mexico was run by a selected cabinet.

Various Mexican states rebelled against Santa Anna and the Centeralists, but they were defeated. Texas was among the last to oppose Santa Anna and the move toward Centralism.

While there were those in Texas who believed in the Constitution, there were others who felt Texas should be independent from Mexico and annexed to the United States. As it became more and more apparent that the Texians could not enlist massive support from Mexican Federalists, the independence movement gained ground, and when the Convention met on 2 March 1836, it declared Texas independent of Mexican rule.

The men of the Alamo supported independence. A quick read of their letters prior to the siege shows not only support for Texas independence, but the understanding that the Convention (which met while they were under siege) would declare independence,which it did.

In short, the Texas Revolution was part of a Mexican Civil War that became a war for independence for Texas. Mexican historians,then and now, do not see it as such, as they consider it part of a large move by the United States to gain Mexican territory.

There are of course, two sides to every story. This one not only has two sides, but two very emotional ones.

Kevin R. Young

My son's school project is to write on an Alamo Hero and the one picked for him was Gail Bordon, Jr. We can't find this man listed anywhere as of yet, including the encyclopedia. Have you heard of him? Where can we find information?

Candy Kane
Kerrivlle, TX

Gail Borden was not at the Alamo. He was the publisher of the Telegraph and Texas Register, who kept the free press rolling until Santa Anna had the press thrown into Buffalo Bayou.

He's a great Texas-American character, who made significant contributions to his country. Whenever you see Elsie the Cow, or any Borden's milk logos or products, you witness his legacy. He was a tireless inventor, investor and newspaperman. His most interesting invention was the "locomotive bath house", an innovation where women could bathe in the ocean at different locations on the coast equal to men, but without the exposure.

He invented one of the earliest forms of hardtack and jerky, a biscuit with meat, that was the precursor to C-rations for the army in the field. His most successful invention was condensed milk, also for the army in the field, which gave rise to Borden's milk products of today. You can find a condensed biography of Borden in the Handbook of Texas Online.

As a suggestion, why not look at the nearly fourteen women and children who not only experienced the battle but survived it and had to live in its aftermath. The Esparza's, the Losoyas and the Navarro's have a story to be heard- look at Timothy M. Matovina's The Alamo Remembered (University of Texas Press)or Crystal Ragsdale's Women and Children of the Alamo (Statehouse Press, Austin) to learn more out their stories.

You ming also try one of the "Imortal 32" from González. These men actually fought their way into the doomed and surrounded fortress on 29 Feb 1836, to attempt to aid their comrades and die with them. For beginning research on them, visit our sister site Sons of DeWitt Colony Texas.

Members may be interested to know that an outfit called The Windmill Group has remastered and put a new soundtrack to the 1915 "Martyrs of the Alamo." It's an impressive VHS copy for a remarkably affordable $14.95. They've also got two other Alamo tapes, "Heroes of the Alamo" (1937), and the San Antonio semi-documentary "The Alamo: Shrine of Texas Liberty" also available for the same price. The latter tape includes a documentary on the making of "Shrine of Texas Liberty" and the 1976 "Spirit of Independence" cartoon on the Alamo. They've got a deal of $39.95 for all three tapes.

All three make good instructional material, not only on the military aspects of the battle ("Shrine," for instance, has a group of defenders being shot at the end of the fighting), but on social aspects as well. The treatment of Mexicans and women, the use of actors in black-face to portray African Americans, in "Martyrs" can, among aspects of the movie be used to advantage in getting students to think about a variety of issues.

Please be aware that the Web site for the company only contains information regarding their children's products. They do have toll-free number, 1-800-470-5540.

Frank de la Teja
Southwest Texas State University

For information on the rediscovery of "Martyrs of the Alamo" and the other videos in the Windmill Group, see the September 1999 issue (#114) of "The Alamo Journal." --The Editor

Can someone elaborate the context of Williamson's letter to Travis:

..."for God's sake hold out until WE can assist you..."

Robert Paul Emmons
Berea,KY

Williamson, who had been on the frontier, (the Colorado River) moved down to Gonzales when word of the Alamo siege arrived. The Gonzales relief force had already moved out, so Williamson began to gather intelligence about other groups heading his way and for the Alamo. These included Jesse Billingsley's Company from Bastrop and Sidney Sherman's Kentucky Volunteers who were marching down from Washington-on-the-Brazos with others.

Captain McNutt's, Captain Baker's, and Captain Rabb's companies all arrived on 6 March. The Washington Company of Captain Hill arrived on the seventh. I imagine that Williamson probably over estimated the number of volunteers that would be on hand in Gonzales to march to the relief of the Alamo.

J.H. Kuykendall's Recollections, published in the April 1901 issue of the Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association (The San Jacinto Campaign issue) detail the movement of the volunteer companies heading for the relief of the Alamo. It is not known if Williamson was including Fannin in his estimate or not. Since Fannin had given up his attempt to relieve the Alamo on 25 February, it is possible that Williamson had learned that Fannin was not on the March. However, Fannin had sent an advance force under Captain Chennoworth's Company as far north as the Cibolo crossing of the San Antonio River.

Who constituted this possible unknown reinforcement into the Alamo toward the end is open for discussion. Williamson would have remained in Gonzales organizing things until the commander-in-chief, Sam Houston, arrived, which he did on 11 March (and that is a whole different story). You will have to contact Tom Lindley directly to get a copy of his research, or wait until his manuscript is published.

Kevin R. Young

Subject: Three-legged Willy at Gonzales
Date: 03/10/ 2000
From: James D. Gray

Robert McAlpine Williamson during the Revolution was the Commanding officer of the Ranging Corps.(Texas Rangers now). Before the Alamo came under seige the Rangers were engaged in protection of the frontier up towards Bastrop. They were newly formed unit and recruitment was a problem. It did not stop Captain John J. Tumlinson's new command to rescue the Hibbons boy from the Commanche. Indian "depredations" were on the main focus of Texas until the Alamo came under seige. It would also be a real concern to Texas during, and after the Texas revolution. Williamson expressed his concerns about recruitment and increasing contact with Hostiles in San Felipe in early Feb 1836. The Advisory Commitee issued a series of orders to the Commitee of Safty of all districts and Major Williamson specific orders, dated 14 Feb 1836. He was in Gonzales talking with the Safty Commitee and finding out rumors of Mexican army movemnts when the messengers of the Alamo arrived. He was already responding by forming the Gonzales Rangers on the 24th. and ordering Militia Companies to Rally to Gonzales.

This authority is stated in order #4 of his orders. When the Gonzales Rangers left for the Alamo, no doubt he briefed them to give up-dated intelligence to his friend Buck Travis. Maj. Williamson also would perform the role as gathering intelligence for the Rallying Texas Army by interviewing refugees and Messengers from the Alamo on Mexican Army movements and Organization. When Bonham came through Gonzales Williamson would write his 1 Mar 1836 letter to Travis offering a up-dated intell picture and encouragemnt. Why didn't he go himself? He was being a good solider and following orders.Upon arrival of a Superior Officer, probably Neil or Burleson, I'm sure he would [have] loved to go to the Alamo. Sam Houston arrived and ordered Williamson back to Bastrop to guard the Northern Frontier. Again following orders from the Government and Sam Houston whom he would maintain contact through letters.

Major Williamson's service was a bigger mission than history gives him credit for. His Rangers would be Protectors of the fleeing population, one must remember all the variable threats involved on the northern front: hostile Indians, outlaws who raped and robbed, and Mexican spies who were a very effective asset of the Mexican army and active as Generak Genoa's Vanguard. It's said they aided the Indians as well. His Rangers would be rear guard and spies as well and "lawmen" forgotten by the big battles of the Revoultion. Major Williamson performed his primary mission and protected the northern flank. Williamson's letter [of] 1 Mar 1836 was captured and sent back to Mexico and published in a Newspaper El National. If this translated letter was used it may be wrong. Anyone have a copy of the letter? I would love to see it.

James D. Gray
Covina Calif.

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