Fall of the Alamo, 175 Years Ago Today, Remember the Alamo

by: admin - Filed under: History

Fall of the Alamo, 175 Years Ago Today

March 6, 1836 was the culmination of events that resulted in the battle cry “Remember the Alamo”.

This battle cry provided the passion and adrenalin for the troops to win Texas Independence.

Many movies have been made the best of which starred John Wayne as Davey Crockett.

An account of the fall of the Alamo was written by Captain R.M. Potter who lived near the Alamo.  The account along with input from Juan Seguin was published in the San Antonio Herald in 1860.

See the full article here:  http://www.nationalcenter.org/Alamo.html

Photo of Alamo

Remember the Alamo

Travis Draws the Original “Line in The Sand”

by: admin - Filed under: History, Texans

Travis knew by March third that the situation at the Alamo was hopeless. 

Sometime between the  third and fourth he used his sword to draw a line in the sand.  In a passionate speech Travis told the Alamo occupants the situation was hopeless and they should decide how they would die.  He challenged all those who would fight to the death to cross the line in the sand.
Alamo

“We must die. Our business is not to make a fruitless effort to save our lives, but to choose the manner of our death.”

All but Moses Rose crossed the line.  Rose snuck through the enemy lines the night of March fifth.

175 Years Ago, February 8, 1836 – Former Congressman David Crockett Arrives at Alamo

by: admin - Filed under: History, Texans

David Crockett lost his election to the US Congress and was reported to tell the body “You can go to Hell. I’m going to Texas.”

Davy Crockett left Tennessee Nov. 1, 1835, with three other men to explore Texas.  He picked up and lost several men on the way.  Crockett arrived in Little Rock on November 12 and passed through NE Texas to hunt with one of my ancestors, Crockett’s fellow Tennessean and Texas Ranger, Henry Stout.  Crockett and 65 men arrived in Nacogdoches, Texas in early January 1836 where they signed up as volunteers for the Provisional Government of Texas.  On February 6, 1836 Crockett and five other men rode into San Antonio.Tennessee

The group spent the night at the home of Don Seguin along with Jim Bowie.  Crockett first arrived at the Alamo on February 8.

Just like everything else, the death of Davey Crockett is controversial.  Since this is my article, I choose to subscribe to and report that “Ben” a former slave and cook for Santa Ana reported Crockets body was found surrounded by at least sixteen dead Mexican soldiers he had killed in his last stand.

What Led to the Texas Revolution?

by: admin - Filed under: History

Mexico encouraged immigration into Texas in the early 1820’s in order to help settle the Texas Mexican State.  Many US settlers made the journey including the original Stephen F. Austin group.

In 1830 the President of Mexico implemented several changes in the law to discourage immigration from the United States into Texas because the US settlers were outnumbering the Mexican born settlers.

Some of the measures imposed on the settlers were:

  • Settlers were denied freedom of religion and were required to join the Catholic Church.
  • Further immigration from the United States was prohibited
  • Property taxes were imposed.
  • Tariffs were imposed on goods from the US.
  • A prohibition against slavery was imposed.
  • Mexican criminals were given the choice of prison or serving in the Mexican army in Texas.
  • Texas was combined with the Mexican State of Coahuila and the capital moved 500 miles south.
  • When Stephen F. Austin went to Mexico to protest and petition for changes he was jailed.

In 1834 Texas there were:

  • 30,000 US immigrants
  • 7800 Mexican born immigrants
  • 5000 slaves

In 1835 Santa Anna abolished the Constitution of 1824 which was based on a Federal Republic type of government (like we have in the United States) and installed a new constitution removing individual freedom and establishing a powerful centralized government.  Sound familiar?

Chronology of the Alamo, 175 Years Ago

by: admin - Filed under: History, Texans

Alamo

Alamo

December 4, 1835 -

Colonel Benjamin R. Milam rallies Texians for an assault on Cos’ garrison in San Antonio de Béxar

December 5-10, 1835 - Battle of Béxar rages as Texians fight their way into town – Cos surrenders his army, which is then paroled

December 21, 1835 - Colonel James C. Neill receives orders to take command at San Antonio de Béxar – garrison consists of about 100 men

January 19, 1836 – Colonel James Bowie arrives to investigate the military situation for governor Henry Smith and General Sam Houston

February 2, 1836 - Bowie and Neill vow “. . . we will rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy.” Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis arrives with 30 men

February 8, 1836 - Former Congressman David Crockett arrives in San Antonio de Béxar with 12 volunteers

February 14, 1836 - Travis and Bowie agree to share command at San Antonio de Béxar after Colonel Neill received a temporary leave of absence

February 23, 1836 - Antonio López de Santa Anna and the Centralist forces arrive and the Siege of the Alamo begins

March 6, 1836 - The Alamo falls in a predawn assault

March-May 1836 - The Alamo reoccupied by Centralist forces

May-June1836 - Centralist forces are ordered out of Texas following Santa Anna’s capture at the Battle of San Jacinto – the Alamo’s fortifications are destroyed by the Centralist garrison

Dance Hall or Honky Tonk

by: admin - Filed under: History, Music, Nightlife

If you’re a Texan you’ve been to Gruene Hall, or any other number of infamous dance halls.  Music is big in Texas, especially country music.  Stroll down 6th street in Austin, the live music capital of the world.

There are legendary dance halls all over Texas.  The one that was in Longview was a legendary Honky-Tonk by reputation, I never went. 

According to “Texas Dance Hall Preservation Inc.” you dance with your wife at a dance hall and dance with somebody elses wife at a honky-tonk.

I have been to quite a few dance halls including the oldest continuously operating hall, in Gruene, Texas.  My wife tells a story about one time when they were really busy and I decided to help serve beer from behind the bar and was asked to leave.

Texas Dance Hall Preservation is out to save all that are left.  Sounds like my kind of  charity to me.  They are a 501( c )3 .   http://www.texasdancehall.org

Come And Take It

by: admin - Filed under: Festivals 2010, History, Texans

175 Years ago, October 1835, Texans began the struggle for Independence at Gonzales.  The reenactment of the “Come and Take it Battle” begins October 2, 2010.

The battle was really a skirmish.  Texans fired on the Mexicans over a canon used to protect Gonzales from the Comanche.  The commander of the Mexican troops had been ordered to take the canon from the town of Gonzales.

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Gonzales, Tx – “Lexington…
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The Mexican commander was sympathetic with the Texans and opposed the Centralist Big government being forced on Texas by Santa Anna.  Even at this early date in Texas history, the Texans valued personal independence and freedom over an oppressive central government.

The Texan commander John Henry Moore, ordered the attack on the Mexicans.  The Mexicans withdrew and the battle was over.  This was the major break in relations between The Texans and Mexico.

Later in the war for independence, the Gonzales men would be the only reinforcements to fight their way into the Alamo.

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Ft Worth

by: admin - Filed under: Cowboy Stuff, History, Museums, Texans

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame recognizes Texas individuals and women that have excelled in the sports as well as business enterprise of rodeo, as well as a traditional western way of life. A handful of of the Inductees consists of: Nolan Ryan, Tommy Lee Jones, Trevor Brazile, Don Edwards, George Strait, Lane Frost, Ty Murray, Barry Corbin, Red Steagall, Tuff Hedeman, J.J. Hampton (17 time PWRA World Champion), Charmayne James, and Don Gay (8 time PRCA World Champion Bull Rider)! Each one of the Inductees possess their personal unique presentation area that includes individual collectibles for the visitors to see.

 Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame opened its doors in 2001. The structure housing Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame is one of the horse and mule barns of the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. Initially constructed in 1888, all of these barns housed more than 3,000 horses and mules. The unique wooden barns which stood in this area were burned March 14, 1911 when the spark coming from a moving train ignited a fire. They were reconstructed and finished in March 1912 and regarded the initial “fire proof” barns. The bricks, columns, metal doors, cat-walks, and cinder blocks found here are all authentic architecture of yes-ter-year.

 Guests discover many of the world-class displays for a single, minimal, all-day entrance charge.

Alamo Founded

by: texasgrand - Filed under: History

5-1-1718   The San Antonio de Valero mission, of which the building known as the Alamo was the chapel, is founded in San Antonio.

Bird’s Creek Indian Fight

by: texasgrand - Filed under: History, Texans

4-2-1839   Soldier and Indian fighter John Bird is elected captain of a Texas Ranger company on the frontier. A month later, he would die while fighting valiantly in the so-called Bird’s Creek Indian Fight in which his small band of rangers repelled an ambush by more than 300 Indian warriors.