Defenders of the Alamo: Who Were They, and Why Did They Do It? by Michael E
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Torch Magazine • Spring 2016 Defenders of the Alamo: Who Were They, and Why Did They Do It? By Michael E. Anderson This article concerns a group of men Two of the defenders became famous who, one hundred and seventy seven to modern times: David Crockett (he years after their deaths, still remain hated being called “Davy”) and worthy of our awe and respect. Finding James Bowie. I still remember “The a match in history equal to their bravery Adventures of Davy Crockett,” with and sacrifice would likely turn up only Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen, on the professional soldiers, which these men television show Walt Disney Presents. were not. I speak of the defenders of But what about the other one hundred the Alamo during Texas’s war for and eighty one defenders? Who were independence from Mexico in 1836. they? What were they doing in Texas? And most important: why were they Michael E. Anderson willing to give their lives? For years, A native of Newmarket, N.H., Michael I write to introduce you to some Anderson is a 1965 graduate of the the mostly Phillips Exeter Academy. He holds a B.S. remarkable men, mostly very young, degree from Tufts University in Medford, American who gave their lives for a cause. They Massachusetts, and a D.D.S. from the were common men exhibiting uncom- University of Maryland in Baltimore. colonists mon valor, ordinary men exhibiting As a practicing general dentist, he has extraordinary bravery. enjoyed his profession for almost 43 years. were given Mike is a diplomat of the American College of Dentists. free grants First, let us set the historical scene. Mike and his wife Jane reside in Starting in the eighteen twenties, the Hagerstown, Md. They have three grown of lush land, Mexican government, which had won children. Mike’s interests include reading, on which they its independence from Spain in 1821, trail hiking, and golf. He also has a special whole-heartedly encouraged coloniza- interest in both American and Napoleonic prospered. history. tion of its territory of Texas, in hopes of This paper was presented at the development and economic gain. For November meeting of the Hagerstown This event in American history is years, the mostly American colonists Torch Club in 2013. well known and has often written were given free grants of lush land, on about, glorified in books, television, which they prospered. All they had to and cinema. From February 23 to do was obey Mexican law and pay fair March 6, 1836, one hundred and eighty taxes and fees. three men defended a broken down Catholic mission against a Mexican But by 1830, new colonists were army at least ten times larger. (Modern arriving uninvited, and they tended to historical research suggests that there show less respect for the Mexican may have been as many as two hundred government and its laws. For example, and fifty defenders, but whether we the new colonists usually ignored the accept the traditional or the revised requirement that immigrants convert headcount, they were vastly out- to Catholicism, and some found ways numbered.). The ending was a given: to circumvent Mexico’s 1829 abolition death by the sword. The defenders were of slavery, such as writing contracts of reminded this nightly, as the Mexican employment with their slaves, signed army band played the Deguello (an with an “X,” for 99 years. (To my old Moorish battle anthem, loosely knowledge, the only known slave translated as “cut their throats”). owner at the Alamo was James Bowie.) 8 Torch Magazine • Spring 2016 On April 6, 1830, the Mexican right up to 5:30 a.m. on March 6, a unrepayable debt. They were not saints, government passed a law forbidding group of defenders not even half that nor a bunch of wallflowers. On trees all future immigration from the United size gave it their best. over Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and States and greatly curtailed the South Carolina was whittled “G.T.T.” colonists’ economic freedoms. The * * * –-Gone To Texas. abrogation of civil and state rights Who were these defenders? Most of throughout Mexico led to rebellion in them were very recent arrivals from the William Barrett Travis shared two places in 1835: Zacatecas and United States. They came from eighteen command with James Bowie at the Texas. After quelling the Zacatecas states and five foreign countries; beginning of the siege and assumed uprising, General Antonio Lopez de twenty-six were born in Europe. full command when Bowie became Santa Anna Lebron (the Mexican Their occupations included merchant, seriously ill. He was an attorney/school president and dictator, who envisioned surveyor, painter, farmer, shopkeeper, teacher/merchant, born in South himself as the “Napoleon of the West”) plasterer, glazer, jockey, and teamster. Carolina and raised in Alabama. What turned his attention to dealing with the At least six were physicians, and six was he doing in Texas? One story has it Anglos in Texas, who, by late 1835, were lawyers. The average age was that he killed a man that made advances had initiated a provisional government twenty-nine; the youngest was fifteen towards his wife; another that he was started to form militias. and the oldest fifty five. A diverse lot, running from debts. He was absolutely but not one of them was a professional convinced that the defense of the Santa Anna decided that these uppity soldier. To a man, they shared the will Alamo would slow the advance of Texians (as they were called) needed to to fight and die for what they believed Santa Ana’s army, giving Sam Houston be taught a lesson. He sent his brother- was right. more time to organize the Army of in-law, General Martin Perfecto de Cos, Texas. One of Travis’ many pleas for to arrest troublemakers and fortify the Texians to come to their aid shows the garrison at San Antonio de Bexar. Cos Some came to nature and depth of his commitment. was soundly defeated by 300 Texian In part it read: volunteers. Thus began the War for escape family Texas Independence. and/or financial The enemy has demanded surrender at discretion, otherwise, The Mexican government sent out a problems— the garrison will be put to the circular throughout all of Mexico. In sword […] I have answered the part, it read: a quick and easy demand with a cannon shot […] way to leave a I shall never surrender or retreat. The colonists established in Then, I call to you in the name of Texas have recently given the broken marriage, Liberty, of patriotism & everything most unequivocal evidence of the a pregnant dear to the American character, to extremity to which perfidy, ingrat- come to our aid, with all dispatch. itude, and the relentless spirit that girlfriend, […] If this call in neglected, I am animates them can go […] forget- determined to sustain myself as ting what they owe to the supreme a hangman’s long as possible & die like a soldier. government of the nation which noose, or an Victory or death. so generously admitted them to its bosom. […] active measures will unrepayable Travis was among the first, if not the be taken to rectify this crime debt. very first, to die during the final against the whole nation. Mexican assault, of a bullet through the forehead while defending the Alamo’s Santa Ana had had enough. He Why had they come to Texas? Some weak north wall. personally led an army in to punish the were drawn by stories of vast acres of defenders of San Antonio, arriving on land that could be acquired for little A defender who exemplifies the over- February 23, 1836. With 2500 men, he money. The dream of agricultural all spirit of these men is a twenty-one- immediately laid siege to the Alamo, a riches was very alluring. Some came year-old lawyer from Kentucky named patched-up old Franciscan mission to escape family and/or financial Daniel Cloud. He had arrived in Texas that could hardly be called a fort. problems—a quick and easy way to only on February 11, seeking to help Minimally defending its walls would leave a broken marriage, a pregnant “the cause.” History remembers him have required 400 to 500 men. But, girlfriend, a hangman’s noose, or an best for his letter to his brother, 9 Torch Magazine • Spring 2016 dated December 26,1835. Among other left the Alamo in the late evening of Almeron Dickinson, a twenty-six- things, he explains his views of the February 28 to deliver Travis’s message. year-old blacksmith from Gonzales, Texas Revolution and his reasons for Despite being out of harm’s way, he was an artillery officer for the garrison wanting to join it. The following is an chose to return to the Alamo with and one of very few defenders to move excerpt: twenty-nine other volunteers from their families to the Alamo. According Gonzales, ultimately giving his life for to Mexican Army accounts, Dickinson Ever since Texas has unfurled the choice. was among the last to die, while the banner of Freedom and defending the chapel area. His wife and commenced a warfare for Liberty James Butler Bonham, a twenty- daughter were spared by the Mexican or Death, our hearts have been nine-year-old South Carolina aristocrat soldiers. By his wife’s account, Captain enlisted in her behalf. The progress and lawyer, was another defender who Dickinson rushed to her in the chapel of her cause has increased the eschewed his own safety. Twice Travis and cried, “Good God! The Mexicans ardor or our feelings, until we have sent him out with dispatches.