Whomever The Alamo's caretakers are, (city of San Antonio?), they do a magnificent job.
Only days until I am amongst the revelers at
Posted on 03/04/2010 2:16:39 PM PST by Texas Fossil
The Alamo should be remembered as the place where the Mexican Army, under command of General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna, stormed a former Mexican mission defended by a band of Texans fighting for their independence. Among the defenders were our Masonic Brothers James Bonham, Jim Bowie, David Crockett, Almaron Dickenson and Col. William Barrett Travis.
In rooms where priests had prayed, bayonets clashed with Bowie Knives and swords. Musket and cannon fire tore into the Texan defenders. By dawn, all the Texan combatants lay dead. Their sacrifice, on March 6, 1836, would immortalize them as legends, and turn the Alamo grounds into Sacred Ground.
Each year more than three million Americans visit the Alamo. For many of the visitors, who gaze with reverence at the paintings and exhibits, the Alamo is more shrine than historic monument. They have come to the Alamo to honor those whose death gave birth to a Republic.
Brother William Barrett Travis, Commander of the Alamo garrison, is said to have drawn a line in thesand requesting all who would stay and fight to: "step across the line." He drew that line not only in the sand, but into the hearts and minds of every Texas Mason.
Many months after the battle, the charred remains of the Alamo defenders were laid to rest not far from the Alamo itself. Presiding at the ceremony was Brother Juan Sequin. The words he spoke at the interment speak to us even today:
"The spirit of liberty appears to be looking down from it's elevated throne saying: Behold your Brothers: Crockett, Bowie, Travis. They preferred to die a thousand times rather than submit themselves to the tyrants yoke. Their sacrifices are worthy of inclusion in the pages of history. What a brilliant example for others to follow."
If you have not had the opportunity to visit the Alamo, please do so at your earliest possible convenience. The Daughter's of the Republic of Texas have lovingly turned the Alamo Mission into a shrine. It remains to this day a shrine to the heroes of Texas liberty. The veneration of the defenders reached a new height in 1939 with the dedication of The Alamo Cenotaph. Towering sixty feet above the Alamo, the monument's theme is: "The Spirit of Sacrifice". Statues of the principal defenders, and the names of all the Texans who died at the Alamo, are carved into the granite foundation. During your visit, you will find that the Alamo is a powerful place. It's a place filled with legends and memories. It's a place we all should go think about our own potential, about what we need to sacrifice so that we can keep the fraternity on the road that those men fought to preserve.
--
One of the few who survived the massacre at the Alamo was Mrs. Almaron Dickenson (Suzanna) who had been advised by her husband to display his Masonic apron over herself and the child during and after the battle. Santa Anna saw to her needs and even offered to adopt her child. She declined the offer declaring that she would "crawl and work her fingers to the bone to support the baby, but that she would rather see the child starve than given into the hands of the author of so much horror."
I am a proud descendant of Andrew Kent who fought and died there. I am always in awe when I think about the fact that they knew they were outnumbered and were really just regular folks doing what they saw as the right thing.
Only days until I am amongst the revelers at
Born not far from the Alamo, at Ft Sam Houston, now isn’t that a coincidence, I consider it an honor and humble privilege to have been born in the free republic of Texas. Bought and paid for by those who stood so long ago in defense of Liberty and the Alamo.
I traveled for a living for over 30 years, all over the Midwest. Farm people are similar almost everywhere you go. That is what rural Americas was and is. Rooted in earth, un-pretentious and largely honest. The essense of this great nation.
I have spent time in Iowa and liked the people very much.
Patriots are the same everywhere.
TF
My ancestor Thomas R.Miller:
OLD EIGHTEEN. “Old Eighteen” was a term used to describe the Gonzales men who, late in September 1835, delayed Mexican attempts to reclaim the town’s cannon until militiamen from surrounding settlements could be summoned. Their efforts in large measure provoked the subsequent battle of Gonzales. Members of the Old Eighteen were William W. Arrington, Valentine Bennet, Joseph D. Clements, Jacob C. Darst, George W. Davis, Almaron Dickinson, Benjamin Fuqua, Thomas Jackson, Albert Martin, Charles Mason, Thomas R. Miller, Simeon Bateman, Almon Cottle, Graves Fulchear, James Hinds, John Sowell, Winslow Turner, and Ezekiel Williams.
And a slaut to my GGGG uncle, Deaf Smith, who helped bury the burned remains at the Alamo and also fired the first shot at the Battle of San Jacinto.
slaut = salute (above)
To The People of Texas and
All Americans In The World —
February 24, 1836
Fellow citizens & compatriots —
I am beseiged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna — I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man — The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken — I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls — I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch — The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country —
VICTORY OR DEATH
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.
Thank you for that letter - very interesting.
Not sure what I can do about it though. I hope someone else can help this poor guy though. Does he have a website? Maybe I’ll send him a couple of bucks. I’m not sure what the big deal is though. Those Mexicans are just looking for a job to survive and feed their families. Heck, most of them are jobs Americans don’t want to do anyway.
Out of respect for your GGGG uncle, Deaf Smith. San Jacinto is not far away.
Here is a description of that battle and it is mentioned he was tasked to burn the Vince’s bridge (escape path).
http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/node/1219
—
Houston’s Army defeats Santa Anna
(written as a newpaper article)
From the El Paso Times (during the Sesqui-centennnial)
by Ed Pass
San Jacinto, Texas, April 21, 1836
Here, where the land meets the sea. Gen Sam Houston’s Army of 783 men has defeated and put to rout Mexico’s Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his military force of about 1,200 men.
The Lone Star flag of Texas, and no other, flies over the newly-born republic as the sun sets on this glorious day.
Two Texans were killed and about 30 wounded. Mexican loses were heavy 630 dead and 700 prisioners.
Somewhere in the marshes at land’s end, where there is no escape, Santa Anna, Mexico’s dictator-president, is in hiding.
The Texans expect to find the general tomorrow and establish surrender terms.
The victorious battle climaxes a long retreat by Houston from Gonzales, across swollen rivers, as he sought the right place and time to recoil. He found them here.
Santa Anna had outrun the main body of his army hoping to capture the Texas government at Harrisburg. President David Burnett and his cabinet fled in the nick of time to Galveston Island.
Santa Anna burned Harrisburg, then moved his army over Vince’s Bridge that crosses a bayou. When Houston learned of this move, he ordered his troops across the bridge and marched them to within less than a mile of the Mexicans.
At 9:00AM this morning (April 21), 540 men under Gen. Martin Perfecto de Cos crossed Vince’s bridge to join Santa Anna. Houston dispatched Erastus Deaf Smith to destroy the bridge, thereby preventing more arrivals or retreat by either side.
For Texans, this meant victory or death.
At 3:30PM today, Houston paraded his troops, telling them the time of battle was at hand. The infantry formed a line 1,000 yards across. Artillery and cavalry flanked them. Somebody in the line held a flag a five-point blue star on a white field Proclaiming in Latin where liberty lives, there is our homeland.
A German with a fife struck up a tune. Come to the Bower, as a black man beat a drum. Houston, on horseback, commanded: Forward Texas as he drew his sword. The Twin Sisters, two cannon given by the people of Cincinnati, were poised.
Col. Sydney Sherman, on the left flank, cried. Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!
Others picked up the chant as they advanced up a small rise of land shielding them from the enemy. Then they charged as the cannon blew away a bulwark of baggage and saddles. Caught in siesta and without sentries, the Mexican army was in panic. The Texans were amoung them before they could strike a formation.
Houston had 2 horses shot from under him and a rifle ball hit his foot.
In 18 minutes, the fighting was over. The following silence was like an anthem.
I am not a Texan but I was at the Alamo in the late 80s and
I felt that same reverence. It was almost tangible.
The Alamo and Thermopylae have much in common. Overwhelming odds, men of honor and preservation of something greater than themselves:
At the Battle of Thermopylae, Xerxes I of Persia, with 600,000 men, met King Leonidas I of Sparta, with only 300 men. Leonidas had predicted the outcome of the battle, and so he chose only men with sons old enough to take over their family duties. Xerxes promised to spare the lives of the 300 Spartans if they would only lay down their weapons. The Spartans refused, shouting "Molon Labe" ("Come and Get Them"), and held the narrow mountain pass of Thermopylae for days. All the Spartans were eventually killed, but they inflicted such damage to the Persian army (20,000-40,000 dead) that Xerxes was unable to utterly conquer the Greek Peninsula. This act of heroism did nothing less than save Western civilization. The world that you know is due in no small part to those brave men who gave their lives 2,500 years ago. Today there lies a plaque at the site of the battle. It reads: "Go tell the Spartans, passerby, that here, by Spartan law, we lie." John Ruskin called this epitaph the noblest words ever uttered by man. The story of Thermopylae is very similar to the Alamo. Travis, Crockett, and Bowie considered their lives less important than the freedom of their people. As Otto Scott said, "Ours are the same tests and crises that our fathers and forefathers encountered." Our people face the threat of extinction today, and unless we count our lives as less important than the lives of our children, our people will perish. Sic Semper Tyrannis.
Our brave ancestors would be heart broken and outraged to know of the current invasion overtaking our nation. May we draw inspiration from the actions of these valiant men.
Yes, God Bless Texas Indeed! And God Bless the United States of America!
May "We the People" Allways Defend Her, Against All Enemies both Foreign and Domestic!
If Texas were to secede tomorrow, I would move there immediately with 6 other good fellows to defend our Freedom.
Or, as Davy himself said:
‘You can go to hell! I’m going to Texas!’
Fantastic thread Fossil, As for myself, I was born in Baptist Hospital in San Antonio in the late 50’s. Spent a lot of time in and around The Alamo when I was a kid, and go back every chance I get. I still live within 70 miles of that Hallowed Ground. God Bless Texas and all who fought for her.
Thanks.
I am affected for life by this and other Texas history.
Have some family history stories that are not in the books.
What matters is that when the chips are down Texans will still get the job done. Tyrannts have no place here.
We could field a million man army in a few days with just the word “help” uttered by the Governor. I know of no other state which that would be possible in.
Lets pray it is never necessary. But I have no doubt in the outcome should it be. Lots of 60-80 year olds would be there too. There are still some tough old birds on this turf.
My father was an armorer in Europe during WWII, he maintained quad 50’s and Bofors. He saw Dachau 3 weeks after it was liberated. Left a permainent imprint on him.
He came back home married and went back to farming and raised my brother and I. Modern day Cincinattius. Quiet farmer warrior. He hates what is happening as much as I do. Last time I looked he had 18 rifles in his gun case. And he is still good with them at 84. My brother and I owe him a lot.
Thank you, that’s a nicely written account. San Jacinto, where the mulatto (yellow) “Rose” of Texas distracted Santa Anna at the appointed time, assisting the Texians to achieve surprise. That’s one story anyway, and I like it. It also would explain how Santa Anna acquired the dress he was wearing when captured.
< p>
The Goliad Massacre On Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, after being held captive for one week, the men were told to gather up their things. They thought that they were going to the port of Copano and then on to New Orleans. They were happy and singing. They knew that Colonel Fannin had returned from the Port of Copano the previous day. What they didn't know was that at 7:00 p.m. the pervious evening, Colonel Portilla had received word directly from Santa Anna to execute the men. About an hour after Portilla received the execution order from Santa Anna, he received another order from General Urrea to "Treat the prisoners with consideration, particularly their leader, Fannin, and to employ them in rebuilding Goliad."
At sunrise the able bodied men were formed in three groups and under very heavy guard taken out of the fort. One group was taken out on the San Antonio road, another on the Victoria road, and the other on the Copano road. The prisoners had little suspicion of their fate because each group had been given a different story as to where they were going. One group told that they were going to gather wood, another to drive up cattle and the they they were going to the port of Copano. At selected spots on each of the three roads from one half to three-fourths of a mile from the fort, the groups were halted. After they halted, the guards on one side stepped through the ranks so that all the guards were on one side, they turned and fired at very close range. Those men where not killed ran and were pursued by the cavalry.
The soldiers then came back to the fort and executed the wounded. There were about forty of them. Colonel Fannin was saved until last. He was taken outside the chapel, blind folded and seated in a chair. He made three requests, not to be shot in the face, his personal possessions sent to his family and that he be given a Christian burial. He was shot in the face, an officer took his personal possessions and his body was burned along with many of the other bodies. Not all bodies were burned, some were left where they died. There were 342 men who died in the Goliad Massacre, which is almost twice the number of men who died at the Alamo and San Jacinto combined. Twenty-eight men did escape from the three massacre sites and seventeen men's lives were spared. It is from the accounts of the men who escaped and were spared that we know what happened at Presidio La Bahia. Francita Alavez, the Angel of Goliad and the wife of General Urrea saved the lives of a number of the men.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.