Subject: Thirty-Pound Cannon
Date: 03/14/00
From: Jonathan Hassid

I have been told that the women in Gonzales during the time of the siege at the Alamo used to rely on the vibrations of the 30lb cannon to ascertain that the men in the Alamo were still alive and fighting. When they no longer heard the rumble of the cannon they suspected the worst. I would like to know if this was ever really possible given that Gonzales is approximately 60 miles from San Antonio. If anyone with knowledge of cannon and or ballistics could offer any comment on this matter I would be very interested to hear.

Thanks,

Jonathan Hassid
London England

A thirty-pounder? That sounds like a bombard! Anything like the Mons Meg in Edinburgh Castle?

Unfortunately, the Alamo garrison didn't have anything quite so formidable. Based on recent research, we know the Alamo garrison had 18 cannon of various sizes. These consisted of: the famous 18-pounder, the largest of the cannon, one iron 16-pounder, one iron 12-pound gunnade, one 9" pedrero, two iron 8-pounders, six 6-pounders, three iron 4-pounders, another 4-pounder of either brass or bronze and two 3-pounders. Two of small brass and one small iron gun in the arsenal were not used during the battle.
[SeeALAMO CANNON]

It's doubtful that Gonzales heard the cannon fire. The people of Gonzales did not learn of the Alamo's fate until fleeing Tejanos reported it. It was shortly thereafter verified by Mrs. Dickinson and her party whom Santa Anna sent out from the Alamo on 7 March.

From Correspondent Wallace L. McKeehan, 17 March 2000:

Mary Ann Kent, daughter of Andrew Kent, related throughout her long life that on 6 March 1836 about 3:00 AM, the sound of distant cannons woke her family. She was a nine year old girl at the time and the family had come into town after father Andrew left on 27 February with the Gonzales Rangers to stay with relative and Gonzales town hotelier "Red" Adam Zumwalt. She related that lying on pallets spread on the floor of the Zumwalt residence, the children could hear and feel the boom of the cannons as they fired 70 miles away in San Antonio. By daybreak there was silence which continued past noon and then sundown and the next day and the next. Travis had sent word to Gonzales that he would fire three daily "all's well" volleys from the walls of the garrison as long as it was in Texan hands. For over six days the people of Gonzales and riders that ventured close to San Antonio to try to hear the three times per day volleys heard nothing. Perhaps one needs some theoretical calculations to determine if this indeed were even conceivable at the time, Mary Ann was known to tell a good story and of course stories became more and more dramatic with age. Has anyone with combat experience say on the high seas where there is not much activity and the wind is right have experience with this? Hearing the cannons in Gonzales does seem farfetched, but one should remember that in those days there was essentially complete wilderness and essentially silence between San Antonio and Gonzales. There was none of the collective hum and background noise of civilization to dampen the boom and vibration of a cannon. I don't have the stories at hand, but it seems that there are stories, perhaps also farfetched, of how skilled scouts and native Indians could detect herds of buffalo and wild horses, even mounted men at great distances in those early days. On another note, it may be accurate that the first eyewitness reports at Gonzales were from fleeing Tejanos, but it was likely the lack of the "all's well" firings that were the earliest evidence?

When posed this question, Jim Gray, a former Navy Seal, told me he once heard clear as a bell a tanker being shot up by Iranian Gunboats, presumably with 107 mm rockets, in the Gulf War from their position over the horizon over 25 miles away. By the time they scrambled and got there, there was only the burning tanker left. He felt to hear the known Alamo artillery 70 miles seemed extreme, but a dampened rumble might be possible under unusual conditions. However, if heard it should have been continuous off and on from the time of siege, not just the final assault. One theory is that weather, a thunderstorm at the time, could have been mistaken as cannon fire, or at least in later years memory. Another report in later years of hearing Alamo cannon fire came from Sarah Hibbons relating her experiences while a Comanche captive at an estimated position of over 60 miles from Bexar. She was able to escape her captors during a period when they were driven into a cedar break to escape severe thunderstorms and a Norther. Weather seems to have pinned the same group up when confronted by Capt. Tumlinson's rangers who rescued her captive son whom she had left behind in her escape. It is believed that this all happened sometime in February when the Alamo was not yet under full siege, although conceivably she could have heard random cannon fire. It seems from other reports that weather was nasty during the winter of 1836, perhaps others can verify this idea as well.

Subject: Executions
Date: 03/15/00
From: Paul R. Scott

I would just like to point out that you have the same question on the topics of Executions and Santa Anna on Trial.

Originally executions dealt with the question of the legality (under Mexican law) of the Tornel Decree and whether the officers and men who surrendered in December were subject to execution for violation of parole.

Paul R. Scott
Spring, TX

Subject: Captain Samuel Blair
Date: 03/15/00
From: Tom Green

I am attempting to learn more about Captain Samuel Blair who died in the Alamo. Very little is known about this man, and I am attempting to trace his life. The earliest information on Blair is that he borrowed money from James McGloin in 1826, probably in Matamoros, Mexico. Sam Blair was one of the settlers in the San Patricio Colony founded by James McGloin. Sam Blair came to Bexar in 1835 and stayed there after General Cos was defeated. Sam Blair was an election judge in the Alamo when Samuel Maverick was elected as a delegate to attend the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos, saving his life. Sam Maverick served as administrator of the estate of Samuel Blair and purchased the military land grant given to Blair by the Republic of Texas. I believe this is the land in Bracketville where the fort was built. I find nothing to indicate that Samuel Blair was from Tennessee, and in fact wonder if he may have come from New York with the McGloin brothers when they formed their colony. I also find nothing to show he was a brother of the John Blair from Nacogdoches who also died in the Alamo. Nacogdoches documents give the siblings of John Blair, that do not show a Samuel Blair as a brother, and indicates John Blair was from Missouri, not Tennessee as indicated by Alamo records. Any additional help would be appreciated. It is a shame that we have not learned more about the heroes who died at the Alamo!

Tom Green
New Braunfels, Texas

The New Handbook of Texas confirms at least most of your assertions. Samuel Blair was born in Tennessee in 1807. He registered as a single man for a quarter league of land in the Power and Hewetson colony on August 4, 1834. On September 10, 1834, he registered for a headright of land in James McGloin's San Patricio colony. Blair took part in the siege of Bexar. He later served in the Alamo garrison as assistant to the ordnance chief, Robert Evans, with the rank of captain. He died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. At this point, we can't confirm or deny any of your other information.

We agree that it is a shame that we have not learned more about the various defenders. We will shortly attempt to remedy that as we begin to build the Alamo de Parras Alamo Defender's Database. This will be a massive undertaking and will require multiple disciplines to accomplish. We will be seeking input from our readers and fellow researchers. Watch for details in the near future.

Subject:Three-legged Willy Pt. 2
Date: 03/16/00
From: William Bonham

Things must have indeed been confusing around Gonzales in the last days of February and on into March of 1836.

Williamson, whom I believe was well aware that Fannin had decided not to undertake relief of the Alamo, could have nevertheless been under the impression that help was on the way to Béxar.

Dr. Sutherland and eleven others had departed Gonzales on Sunday February 28'th to join with Sequin's force, and together proceed to Cibolo Crossing for a rendezvous with Fannin's advance force (Desaque and Chenoweth). They did indeed come together at the Crossing on the night of February 29'th and remained there waiting for the arrival of Fannin's main force, until finally they (including Desaque and Chenoweth) fell back to Gonzales, arriving there on 3 March. It was only then that they learned of Fannin's express in which he advised the Committee of Safety that he had taken the decision to remain in La Bahía.

It seems almost certain however that when Williamson wrote to Travis on 1 March, he was well aware of Fannin's decision.

William Bonham
San Antonio

NEXT COMMENT IN THREAD

I'm trying to locate any information on John Baugh of the Alamo. I've done an extensive Baugh Family Geneology back to 1500's in England and 1600' - 1700's we were vary strong in the Virginia area. I've seen it listed that JJ Baugh was from VA - that he sounded the alarm before the final attack - and have seen a few letters he wrote. I was wondering if you had anything more on him personally?

Schelle Taylor
Houston