A true Texas fact
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And to you as well!
Big Bend
YEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWW
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"I have sworn to be a good Texan, and that I will not forswear. I will die for that which I firmly believe, for I know it is just and right. One life is a small price for a cause so great. As I fought, so shall I be willing to die. I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son."
----- Jose Antonio Navarro, Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
----- Jose Antonio Navarro, Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Oh ya, we said it in school every day.
We did the Pledge to the American flag every day but I don't recall doing one to the TX flag.
The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day: An average Texas cattle drive in 1880 was made up of: 2,500/3,000 head of cattle 60 horses 1 trail boss 8 cowboys (drovers) 1 horse wrangler 1 cook 1 chuck wagon
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As I sit here this morning and contemplate how they must have felt, I wonder: did they realize that today, this day, was going to be the end of their earthly existence? I reckon that most had come to terms with the fact that no help would be coming. Did they say to one another that this is it, that Santa Anna's army had drawn so close that there would be no salvation now? Did they whisper or did they abide in stoic silence? What was the mood in the final days? Were most of them asleep when the attack finally came? So many things I would like to know. We learn about them in our 4th grade and 7th grade Texas history classes but so much of what I would like to know is forever unknowable. To weep for them seems so beneath them. And so we stand out in the early morning light as the sun slowly creeps in from the east and we plead with the fates to let us be worthy of them, to stand reverently and peacefully with one another and to request their blessing, that this great experiment that we call "Texas" might be allowed to continue.
Remember The Alamo.
Remember The Alamo.
God Bless Texas!!
Remember the Alamo!!
Day Thirteen – Sunday March 6, 1836
At Midnight on March 5, 1836, Santa Anna's troops began moving into position for their planned attack of the Alamo compound. For several hours, the soldiers lay on the ground in complete darkness. About 5:30 A.M., they received the order to begin the assault.
The massed troops moved quietly, encountering the Texian sentinels first. They killed them as they slept.
No longer able to contain the nervous energy gripping them, cries of "Viva la Republica" and "Viva Santa Anna" broke the stillness.
Inside the compound, Adjutant John Baugh had just begun his morning rounds when he heard the cries. He hurriedly ran to the quarters of Colonel William Barret Travis. He awakened him with: "Colonel Travis, the Mexicans are coming!" Travis and his slave Joe quickly scrambled from their cots. The two men grabbed their weapons and headed for the north wall battery. Travis yelled "Come on boys, the Mexicans are on us and we'll give them Hell!" Unable to see the advancing troops for the darkness, the Texian gunners blindly opened fire; they had packed their cannon with jagged pieces of scrap metal, shot, and chain. The muzzle flash briefly illuminated the landscape and it was with horror that the Texians understood their predicament. The enemy had nearly reached the walls of the compound.
The Mexican soldiers had immediate and terrible losses. That first cannon blast ripped a huge gap in their column. Colonel José Enrique de la Peña would later write "...a single cannon volley did away with half the company of Chasseurs from Toluca." The screams and moans of the dying and wounded only heightened the fear and chaos of those first few moments of the assault.
Travis hastily climbed to the top of the north wall battery and readied himself to fire; discharging both barrels of his shotgun into the massed troops below. As he turned to reload, a single lead ball struck him in the forehead sending him rolling down the ramp where he came to rest in a sitting position. Travis was dead. Joe saw his master go down and so retreated to one of the rooms along the west wall to hide.
There was no safe position on the walls of the compound. Each time the Texian riflemen fired at the troops below, they exposed themselves to deadly Mexican fire. On the south end of the compound, Colonel Juan Morales and about 100 riflemen attacked what they perceived was the weak palisade area. They met heavy fire from Crockett's riflemen and a single cannon. Morales's men quickly moved toward the southwest corner and the comparative safety of cover behind an old stone building and the burned ruins of scattered jacales.
On the north wall, exploding Texian canister shredded but did not halt the advance of Mexican soldiers. Cos's and Duque's companies, now greatly reduced in number, found themselves at the base of the north wall. Romero's men joined them after his column had wheeled to the right to avoid deadly grapeshot from the guns of the Alamo church.
General Castrillón took command from the wounded Colonel Duque and began the difficult task of getting his men over the wall. As the Mexican army reached the walls, their advance halted. Santa Anna saw this lag and so committed his reserve of 400 men to the assault bringing the total force to around 1400 men.
Amid the Texian cannon fire tearing through their ranks, General Cos's troops performed a right oblique to begin an assault on the west wall. The Mexicans used axes and crowbars to break through the barricaded windows and openings. They climbed through the gun ports and over the wall to enter the compound.
That first cannon blast ripped a huge gap in their column. General Amador and his men entered the compound by climbing up the rough-faced repairs made on the north wall by the Texians. They successfully breached the wall and in a flood of fury, the Mexican army poured through.
The Texians turned their cannon northward to check this new onslaught. With cannon fire shifted, Colonel Morales recognized a momentary advantage. His men stormed the walls and took the southwest corner, the 18-pounder, and the main gate. The Mexican army was now able to enter from almost every direction.
In one room near the main gate, the Mexican soldiers found Colonel James Bowie. Bowie was critically ill and confined to bed when the fighting began. The soldiers showed little mercy as they silenced him with their bayonets.
The Texians continued to pour gunfire into the advancing Mexican soldiers devastating their ranks. Still they came.
When they saw the enemy rush into the compound from all sides, the Texians fell back to their defenses in the Long Barracks. Crockett's men in the palisade area retreated into the church.
The rooms of the north barrack and the Long Barracks had been prepared well in advance in the event the Mexicans gained entry. The Texians made the rooms formidable by trenching and barricading them with raw cowhides filled with earth. For a short time, the Texians held their ground.
The Mexicans turned the abandoned Texian cannon on the barricaded rooms. With cannon blast followed by a musket volley, the Mexican soldiers stormed the rooms to finish the defenders inside the barrack.
Mexican soldiers rushed the darkened rooms. With sword, bayonet, knife, and fist the adversaries clashed. In the darkened rooms of the north barrack, it was hard to tell friend from foe. The Mexicans systematically took room after room; finally, the only resistance came from within the church itself.
Once more, the Mexicans employed the Texians' cannon to blast apart the defenses of the entrance. Bonham, Dickinson and Esparza died by their cannon at the rear of the church. An act of war became a slaughter. It was over in minutes.
According to one of Santa Anna's officers, the Mexican army overwhelmed and captured a small group of defenders. According to this officer, Crockett was among them. The prisoners were brought before Santa Anna where General Castrillón asked for mercy on their behalf. Santa Anna instead answered with a "gesture of indignation" and ordered their execution. Nearby officers who had not taken part in the assault fell upon the helpless men with their swords. One Mexican officer noted in his journal that: "Though tortured before they were killed, these unfortunates died without complaining and without humiliating themselves before their torturers."
Santa Anna ordered Alcalde Francisco Ruiz to gather firewood from the surrounding countryside and in alternating layers of wood and bodies the dead were stacked.
At 5:00 O'clock in the evening the pyres were lit. In this final act, Santa Anna's "small affair" ended.
Here's a couple great reads about it from a couple survivors of the Alamo
Enrique Esparza
José Francisco Ruiz's account of the Fall of the Alamo
Enrique Esparza
José Francisco Ruiz's account of the Fall of the Alamo
I went to a talk last night at the Alamo about the conservation efforts that are going on, very cool things they are finding out about how the inside of the Alamo looked before the Army whitewashed it, the original architecture, etc. They had some cool things out for us to see and there were only about 30 people there so got to see them up close and personal. A rifle from the battle that was made of beautiful Tiger Maple, a letter from Stephan F. Austin to Gail Borden, and the original Bowie knife that Jims' brother had made for him.
I'm jealous Brother!! Now show them what else you acquired!!
The biggest thrill for me last night was when we were walking in there was some limbs that had been cut down. I went and asked a guy about it and he said to email him and he would get an answer about getting some and write back. As we walked out he caught up to me and handed me a foot long piece of Pecan. I was super stoked!
Wendell, you cause me to be contemplative and reflective this morning and that is a dangerous thing to do. Staying true to transparency, sometimes I like to hear myself type and get rather lengthy. From an early age, I was fascinated with cowboys, explorers, mountain men, covered wagon pioneers, etc. Yes, it was exciting to learn about their discoveries, but the true magic for me was way above that – their determination, fortitude, tenacity – their pluck and spunk! I cannot imagine how, if given, in 1803, commissioning by President Thomas Jefferson to explore and to map the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase and to find a practical route across the western half of the continent, and to establish an American presence in this territory. How do you wrap your mind around that task? What makes up a man, a farmer, who can convince his wife to pack up everything they have into a covered wagon and travel for months and months to a place they know nothing about. That’s pluck!
The same with the Alamo Defenders! What did they have that I don’t have within me? And why don’t I have IT?
Long before discovering some of my ancestors were Alamo Defenders, I was introduced to the lives of some of the Alamo Defenders by a dear history teacher in high school. I lived in Seguin at the time, and one half of the school year was to be local history. She attacked part of the local history by reviewing the live of Juan N. Seguin. Off and on – he was sometimes called one of the Cowards of the Alamo (the other “Coward” – probably erroneously called – was a guy named “Moses” Rose.). Sequin was at the Alamo during the siege, but was sent out prior to the final battle, by, probably Travis, to carry messages and probably to recruit reinforcements. He returned with reinforcements, but by that time, the Alamo had fallen. Note that the siege had started, the Alamo was surrounded by the Mexican Army, and Santa Anna had already declared “no quarter” so Seguin had to fight his way through that.
At times, Seguin has been despised, but San Antonio should bow down and kiss the ground he walked. After Texas became a Republic, Seguin was appointed head of the San Antonio military. Texas army Brigadier General Felix Huston ordered Seguín in early 1837 to arrange for burial of the Alamo defenders' remains that had been left where they were burned. Ashes were identified and collected at three unrecorded sites. Twenty-eight years later in correspondence with Hamilton P. Bee, Seguín remembered placing the remains in a tomb inside the "Cathedral of San Antonio" now called San Fernando Cathederal.
In 1839, at a town thirty miles east of San Antonio, he was honored by parade and celebration; that newly named town would now bear his own name, Seguin.
Texas became flooded with adventurous and land-hungry North Americans who were unfamiliar with the native Texans' history and their loyal support of Texas. Seguin's leadership and loyalty was challenged by these newcomers. General Huston attracted adventurers and “men of little discipline”. He feared San Antonio could not be defended in the event of another Mexican invasion, and ordered the town and the nearby Alamo to be burned.
However, Juan Seguín intervened, and the town and historic mission were spared from destruction.
To be continued….
The same with the Alamo Defenders! What did they have that I don’t have within me? And why don’t I have IT?
Long before discovering some of my ancestors were Alamo Defenders, I was introduced to the lives of some of the Alamo Defenders by a dear history teacher in high school. I lived in Seguin at the time, and one half of the school year was to be local history. She attacked part of the local history by reviewing the live of Juan N. Seguin. Off and on – he was sometimes called one of the Cowards of the Alamo (the other “Coward” – probably erroneously called – was a guy named “Moses” Rose.). Sequin was at the Alamo during the siege, but was sent out prior to the final battle, by, probably Travis, to carry messages and probably to recruit reinforcements. He returned with reinforcements, but by that time, the Alamo had fallen. Note that the siege had started, the Alamo was surrounded by the Mexican Army, and Santa Anna had already declared “no quarter” so Seguin had to fight his way through that.
At times, Seguin has been despised, but San Antonio should bow down and kiss the ground he walked. After Texas became a Republic, Seguin was appointed head of the San Antonio military. Texas army Brigadier General Felix Huston ordered Seguín in early 1837 to arrange for burial of the Alamo defenders' remains that had been left where they were burned. Ashes were identified and collected at three unrecorded sites. Twenty-eight years later in correspondence with Hamilton P. Bee, Seguín remembered placing the remains in a tomb inside the "Cathedral of San Antonio" now called San Fernando Cathederal.
In 1839, at a town thirty miles east of San Antonio, he was honored by parade and celebration; that newly named town would now bear his own name, Seguin.
Texas became flooded with adventurous and land-hungry North Americans who were unfamiliar with the native Texans' history and their loyal support of Texas. Seguin's leadership and loyalty was challenged by these newcomers. General Huston attracted adventurers and “men of little discipline”. He feared San Antonio could not be defended in the event of another Mexican invasion, and ordered the town and the nearby Alamo to be burned.
However, Juan Seguín intervened, and the town and historic mission were spared from destruction.
To be continued….
What does “Remember the Alamo!” shouted by those under the command of Sam Houston at San Jacinto mean? I wonder if it is even mentioned in education today?
To succinctly explain the expression
A reminder to never give in.
To face death bravely
To remind that there is victory “of” and “in” death
To gain liberty may cost lives
The feelings I had during those discussions in that history class and the after-class discussion I had with the teacher were amplified as I did genealogical research on my family. Among Texas Rangers, sheriffs, game wardens, doctors, lawyers and just plain scoundrels I found men by the names of George Washington Cottle and Thomas J. Jackson. They were Brothers In Law in Gonzales and were members of the Old Eighteen who defended the cannon Gonzales against the Mexican Army. The next thing I found out is that both men also signed into force of 32 that headed west and fought their way into the Alamo on March 1 – the only reinforcements to arrive in time. Those nagging thoughts about pluck and spunk were coming back up. I cannot imagine fighting your way into a battle! What possessed those men that we/I do not have today?
Thomas J Jackson is my 4th Great Grandfather
George Washington Cottle is my 5th Great Uncle.
About the time of the 175th anniversary of the Battle, I told my family that I wanted to visit the Alamo. It had been nearly 50 years since I last walked the Alamo. I will say it was an humbling and sobering experience. Made exquisite with the opportunity to run my fingers over the names of Thomas J Jackson and George Washington Cottle. The chills passing through my body were indescribable. The emotions almost overflowed my eyes!
Thomas J Jackson was likely born in Ireland in 1808, came to America on the Brig “Planter” in 1826. He moved onto a land grant in DeWitts Colony in 1829. Seven years later he travels to San Antonio where he fights and dies in the Alamo. What drove the man?
George Washington Cottle was born in 1811 in either Missouri, or where I prefer – Tennessee (the Volunteer State). He also obtained a land grant in DeWitts Colony and also went to the Alamo and fought and died at the age of 25!
All that was made even more poignant, when I finally made my connection to Sam Houston. Crazy as he was, he was instrumental and important to Texas. There is a rumor that there is a family connection to Davy Crockett – but cannot find it.
To succinctly explain the expression
A reminder to never give in.
To face death bravely
To remind that there is victory “of” and “in” death
To gain liberty may cost lives
The feelings I had during those discussions in that history class and the after-class discussion I had with the teacher were amplified as I did genealogical research on my family. Among Texas Rangers, sheriffs, game wardens, doctors, lawyers and just plain scoundrels I found men by the names of George Washington Cottle and Thomas J. Jackson. They were Brothers In Law in Gonzales and were members of the Old Eighteen who defended the cannon Gonzales against the Mexican Army. The next thing I found out is that both men also signed into force of 32 that headed west and fought their way into the Alamo on March 1 – the only reinforcements to arrive in time. Those nagging thoughts about pluck and spunk were coming back up. I cannot imagine fighting your way into a battle! What possessed those men that we/I do not have today?
Thomas J Jackson is my 4th Great Grandfather
George Washington Cottle is my 5th Great Uncle.
About the time of the 175th anniversary of the Battle, I told my family that I wanted to visit the Alamo. It had been nearly 50 years since I last walked the Alamo. I will say it was an humbling and sobering experience. Made exquisite with the opportunity to run my fingers over the names of Thomas J Jackson and George Washington Cottle. The chills passing through my body were indescribable. The emotions almost overflowed my eyes!
Thomas J Jackson was likely born in Ireland in 1808, came to America on the Brig “Planter” in 1826. He moved onto a land grant in DeWitts Colony in 1829. Seven years later he travels to San Antonio where he fights and dies in the Alamo. What drove the man?
George Washington Cottle was born in 1811 in either Missouri, or where I prefer – Tennessee (the Volunteer State). He also obtained a land grant in DeWitts Colony and also went to the Alamo and fought and died at the age of 25!
All that was made even more poignant, when I finally made my connection to Sam Houston. Crazy as he was, he was instrumental and important to Texas. There is a rumor that there is a family connection to Davy Crockett – but cannot find it.
@Mike Hill with the blood of those men in your veins I have no doubt that if need be you would stand and remember their faces.
Great stuff Mike, thank you. I have been told that Col. Travis was a very good friend of the family and I do see names in the family tree. My dad's mother's family settled up on Buck Creek and the Red River in the panhandle of Texas. But, no real artifacts to show that relationship and such and have not been in touch with those family members that have that genealogical data. I do know my aunt had the artifacts/information to be a Daughter of the Texas Revolution (believe that is the name of the group) as well as finally connecting the dots to be a DAR member; Daughters of American Revolution (for curiosity, they are still in existence; have not heard of them in a long time).
Thanks for sharing Mike; this was great.
Thanks for sharing Mike; this was great.