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David Crockett was a well-known
ex-congressman from the United States. When he arrived in Texas in 1836,
he did so with his legendary celebrity intact . . .
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December 1998
Date: 12/01/98
From: John Bryant
The contributions of Crockett would best be described as moral support. We know that as the days of the siege wore on, he was seen in many parts of the compound animating the men with stories. He was such a celebrity and so well known among the Anglos that many probably believed that if Crockett had thrown in with them they had nothing to worry about. When he arrived in Bexar, he gave speeches and generally hurrahed the Texians there and his presence may have won over some, who before had not been totally committed to the Texian cause. The myth and legend of Crockett has become such that yes Crockett the man has faded into the background and his status has overshadowed the other defenders.
Most people when asked who was at the Alamo can rattle off Crockett, Bowie and Travis. A few more may know of Dickinson and Bonham but beyond that how many know of the three Taylor brothers, of Jameson and Isaac Millsaps, not many. That is the real tragedy when remembering the Alamo we remember the few and not the whole...
When the siege was over there were two hundred and forty something other Texians dead and God only knows how many soldados. Were their lives any less dear than Crockett's? I think not.
Date:12/05/98
From: Simon HainesCrockett was probably a boon for morale, but besides that, was just another soldier at the Alamo. I agree that Crockett seems to overshadow the other defenders, there where probably by the law of averages braver and harder fighters at the end. I feel that we have lost so much by concentrating on Crockett and the other well known names that as in any other battle the ordinary man has been overlooked, we owe it to them to try to find out as much as we can about them.
Simon Haines
England
Date: 12/05/98
From: Jeff PendletonI could not disagree more. Natural leaders who often appear only in times of danger and conflict are not just cheerleaders. Someone once defined a military leader as someone who can convince other men to stand and fight when every fiber of their body, every pulse of their heart tells them to run away. That is the service performed by David Crockett once the Alamo doors closed.
Jeff Pendleton
Date: 12/10/1998
From: W.L. McKeehanBoth Sam Houston and Davy Crockett appear to have clinched hero status by blind luck and spur of the moment necessity by being at the right place at the right time. Political opportunist Houston secured his future when he turned south with the boys he was appointed to lead on the Harrisburg Road and by surviving at San Jacinto while relatively honest and "nice guy" Crockett secured his by dying with the boys with which he took refuge while a tourist without a visa or possibly an illegal immigrant while looking for a new life. Imagine the alternative scenario, assuming Davy was among a few survivors at the last, if Santa Anna had taken him into custody, kept him in Perote Prison for exchange after San Jacinto, or released him to US authorities in New Orleans.
Crockett was destined to turn circumstance, including backing out and running, into legend and to become an immortal hero as early as 1798 when he ran out on my third great grandfather Jacob Siler on a cattle drive in Virginia. Grandpa Siler herded cattle between his home in Natural Bridge, Virginia and Greene County, Tennessee on the Abington Road where the Crockett family ran a tavern. On one drive 12 year old Davy was hired out by his father to assist with the drive. From Davy Crockett's Own Story (Citadel Press) and misc. family histories:
"An old Dutchman by name of Jacob Siler, ÷ made a stop at my father's house. He had a large stock of cattle that he was carrying with him. ÷He hired me to the old Dutchman to go the four hundred miles on foot, with a perfect stranger that I had never seen until the evening before. I set out with a heavy heart, it is true, but I went ahead until we arrived at a place, which was three miles from what is called Natural Bridge, and made a stop at the house of Mr. Hartley, who was father-in-law to Mr. Siler, who had hired me. My Dutch master was very kind to me, and gave me five or six dollars, being pleased, as he said, with my services." Davy stayed at the Peter Hartley's (my 4th great grandpa and Siler's father in law) for four or five weeks, became homesick and slipped away just after he got a payment without grandpa Siler's permission at night in a snowstorm to join a teamster, Mr. Dunn, for a ride back to Tennessee.
Rather than an irresponsible act, this runaway episode became a legend of youthful self-reliance as Davy's collective legendary character grew to such extent that it ranks with the stories of Moses, David, Alexander, Caesar, Richard the Lion-hearted, Lord Nelson, etc. and 50 or more others that are the great Heroes of History (e.g. Hero Tales From History by Smith Burnham, a compilation for all ages).According to the Walravens in The Magnificent Barbarians :
"Crockett never really succeeded in much except creating a legend [for himself] while he lived largely because of his frontier image [outgrinning 'coons, coonskin hat, etc.] ÷ successful hunter, but not soldier÷ great campaigner because he stood for the rights of the common man÷ not much of a congressman because he was too honest [and not a womanizer]÷ defeated in politics he went to Texas where he saw the prospect of free land and unlimited political opportunities [like Houston]."Houston, who was no living legend before the retreat east after the Alamo and Goliad, the turn south to San Jacinto and the battle, by fate survived and acquired legendary status which he had to protect until his natural death, while Crockett was placed by the same forces in a position to immortalize his already legendary personality by death in the cause of regional republicanism and autonomy. He was a tourist without a visa, possibly an illegal immigrant, who by chance found himself in a rebel stronghold when all hell broke loose in the place he happened to be visiting. He likely gave it his best shot having no other real choice, joining in the fight against the attackers, but also in his case honest innocent bystander appeal at one time as well. We will never know the details of every second of his last moments, but he probably stoically accepted his fate at some stage as he unknowingly was about to acquire heroic immortality.Ironically, Crockett's contribution to the Texian cause, aided by Hollywood and unwavering respect for myth and heroes, came long after his death and continues to date. As mentioned above, Crockett is alone among the ca. 50 top tier immortal heroes of world history whose setting was Texas (if we discount LaSalle and some others who may have passed through or visited), continuing to bring the attention of the world of all ages to the Texian cause and spirit, all the unnamed heroes, the Alamo and San Antonio de Bexar.
W.L. McKeehan
Date: 12/10/98
From: Jeff PendletonLord, Lord, another discontent second-guessing our heroes with that 20/20 hindsight that can see thru walls.
To all you fellows who like to sit in history's cheap seats and look down on men like Crockett and Houston I suggest you question your motives. I do. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with seeing the warts when we look at our heroes...they were mortal men after all...but to go out of your way to look for cracks and chinks in their legendary armor serves no good purpose.
"He likely gave it his best shot having no other real choice, joining in the fight against the attackers÷" I get a totally different impression from the existing documentation. Colonel Crockett was offered command status by Travis and although he asked for only the rank of high private, was noted as a morale builder and leader. To try and take that away from him speaks well for no one. And one more thing... give me his address and I'll send your granddaddy that six bucks.
Jeff Pendleton
Date: 12/11/98
From: John BryantJeff, I think you missed my point if you think that I'm a discontent second guesser. Davy Crockett was the first hero I ever had and still is a hero in the first degree. Yet, I consider myself a grown up who can see that Crockett was just a man: a good man who would not go against his principles. My comments that his contributions were mainly in the realm of moral support are not meant to detract from him for that type of support was probably needed desperately in those long cold drawn out days of the siege. I feel he was an inspiration who did what he could to keep the other men's spirits up. I still believe that there were men who might not have stayed or even entered the Alamo if Crockett had not been amongst them. I do agree with you that he was not just there happenstance. He clearly (to me) made a conscious decision to throw in with the Texians (witness his scout for Travis upon the arrival of the Mexican army).
If he had not wanted to be there, he had ample opportunity to have slipped away. As for ulterior motives, yes, he probably had them; what better way to gain support for a hoped for political future than a successful military campaign. We know that he came to Texas looking for a new beginning and a new start in politics and there is no disgrace in that. No one in the Alamo planned on dying there, that was not why they were there. The men kept up their hope of reinforcement probably even as they were dying. I still stand by my belief that all of the hoopla over Crockett has and does detract from the other defenders and soldados, they ended up just as dead and they are no less deserving of our respect.
John Bryant
Date: Sun, Dec 13, 1998, 9:38 AM
From: Simon HainesCrockett...okay [he] was as brave as any man who ended up in the Alamo and died. That he was a hero and leader, a morale boon or whatever is not in any doubt. But as it was said, people can rattle off the names of the top three and maybe one or two others, but the rest seem to be like shadows whilst promoting Crockett, Travis and Bowie, the others seem to be forgotten... just names on a muster. We cannot say how many where even at the Alamo. I'm not knocking Crockett's status, but I don't want us to forget the others who fought in the Alamo, battles are fought by groups of men not individuals.
Simon Haines
Date: 12/ 16 / 98
From: Stanley Lind Jr.Davy was 49 years old, spent about six years out of the backwoods, so I don't think he was a man ready for a prolonged fight. Further, I believe he was down in Texas for political reasons more than anything else. Oh, a successful military background never hurt any politician's chances. By this stage in his life, he was as cagey a politician as he was an Indian fighter and backwoodsman in his younger days. This in no way diminishes what he did at the Alamo.
Stanley Lind Jr.
