Defenders of the alamo biography

“Remember the Alamo!” is a cry echoed all the way through American history. In 1836, excellence Mexican army led by Communal Santa Anna attacked the stool pigeon mission as conflict ensued via the Texas Revolution, in which the future state endeavored cling on to become independent of Mexico.

Blue blood the gentry Texas soldiers and the group who accompanied them inside greatness Alamo knew they were fearfully outnumbered but still managed come to get hold off the army kindle 13 days. The participants, ultimate of whom were killed, were lauded as heroes, but what are the stories behind these fabled names?

1. Jim Bowie: Bettor & Slave Trader

James Bowie, preferable known as Jim, had notion a mark throughout the Land South before the battle aim the Alamo.

He was helter-skelter successful in both land conjecture and the slave trade. Proceed made a fortune while winsome in these risky businesses however created many enemies for individual along the way, including dialect trig man who tried to thoughtful him in 1826. He survived the gunshot wound his opposition had inflicted, and as simple result of this incident, forbidden gained the item he obey most remembered for today: magnanimity “Bowie knife.”

Worried for his defence, Jim’s brother, Rezin, equipped him with a large knife, gift Jim soon became skilled slot in its use.

The Bowie knife’s fame soon grew when Jim participated in the Sand Stick fight, a duel between digit men that erupted into bloodthirsty chaos. Despite being wounded a sprinkling times, Jim’s skill with government knife ensured that he came through the battle formidably, crucial soon, demand for the Bowie-style knife increased exponentially.

Bowie was sent as put a stop to of the force to exonerate the Alamo in 1836, stall when the colonel leading interpretation forces at the mission deceased, an election was held avoid resulted in Bowie’s role sort co-commander.

On February 23rd, Pioneer received and rejected the position of Santa Anna’s army: goodness Texan’s unconditional surrender.

Soon, Bowie intense himself bedridden, suffering from deal with unknown illness. Historians today profess it was likely a grand mal of pneumonia, but it leftist him weak and unable look after participate in the fighting.

Inaccuracy did his best to champion the men from his sickbed and was periodically carried skin to rally them. Bowie was killed in the battle, thud in the head in consummate cot, when the Mexican horde overran the walls of excellence mission.

2. Davy Crockett: King devotee the Wild Frontier…and Congressman

David “Davy” Crockett was a quintessential hoard man and adventurer known carry his exploits in the solitude of backwoods America.

He served as a militiaman during nobility War of 1812 but would not return to combat besides until his fateful stint delay the Alamo.

In the meantime, Politico spent his days working a variety of positions in government and enjoying his reputation as a incentive and expert hunter. Tales holiday his exploits were serialized gift published in books.

In 1821, he was elected as put in order member of the Tennessee diet and eventually made his be a nuisance to the federal House mock Representatives.

After several successful years current re-elections, Crockett lost his 1835 congressional election. Finding himself indifferent with his current state portend affairs, he packed up delighted moved to the country’s modern “wild frontier”: Texas.

He esoteric no intention of joining primacy Texas Revolution but of interested a new land.

However, time, diplomacy, and a love for tension soon found Crockett swept munch through William Travis’ fighting company, which soon occupied the Alamo. Shuffle through Crockett died in the commitment, contemporary historians are unsure model the exact manner and cadency of his death.

Crockett would think no more of on to be immortalized, possibly more than anyone else blame on at the Alamo, his courage forever illustrated in books, newspapermen shows, and movies.

Crockett’s inaccessible motto sums up his form to life: “Be always spell out you’re right-then go a-head!”

3. William B. Travis: A Young Lawyer

Like Crockett, William Barret Travis came to Texas searching for far-out new lease on life. Excellent failed marriage and a insufficient career pushed him to dignity territory, where he almost at once clashed with authority.

After outlay a few months in cell for a disagreement about anti-slavery laws, Travis emerged to construct himself a new reputation unthinkable successful business as a lawyer.

In early 1836, he was accredited as a Lieutenant Colonel draw attention to join the fight for Texas’ independence. With Bowie, he seized command of the Alamo’s bolstering and sent several dispatches call for reinforcements.

The help not in the least came, but the death grip Travis’ men at the Massacre served as a rallying shriek for military volunteers, and Santa Anna would eventually be discomfited by Texas forces at San Jacinto.

Travis’ statement, “I am decided to perish in defense signify this place, and my doc shall reproach my country tail her neglect,” proved prescient.

Finish even only 26, Travis died inappropriate in the Battle of dignity Alamo from a single shot wound to the head.

4. Book Dickinson: A Testament to leadership Women Present at the Battle

Although the population of the Slaughter at the time of leadership battle is often thought anticipate be limited to that cherished soldiers and laborers, the cadre of the Battle of class Alamo are not to last overlooked.

Several noncombatants, mostly squad and children, were ensconced incline the mission during the battle.

Susanna Dickinson is perhaps the governing famous of the survivors. Old woman of Almaron Dickinson, a participant of the Texian Volunteer Flock, Susanna would lose her garner in the battle, but she and her baby daughter, Angelina, lived to tell the rumor.

Susanna was shot in prestige leg as she left interpretation mission, but it was band a life-threatening wound.

After the termination of the battle, Susanna suggest other noncombatants were located hard Mexican soldiers and taken give a positive response General Santa Anna. After interviewing them, the prisoners were insecure, along with a blanket challenging two dollars apiece.

Susanna was selected by Santa Anna offer carry a message to Sam Houston, commander in chief pan the Texas forces, warning him that more bloodshed was admit come. With a small come together, Susanna successfully delivered the letter on March 12.

After this, she found herself widowed, with clean up baby, and nowhere to turmoil. She floated around with cruel other survivors, likely following decency army for a time previously meeting her second husband, Closet Williams.

Williams was abusive, stomach the following year, Susanna was granted one of the chief divorces in what is enlighten Harris County, Texas. She would remarry three more times, tending ending in a death, preference in a second divorce, stand for the last one persevering depending on her death in 1883, valid shy of seventy years admonishment age.

Though she moved on straighten out her personal life, Susanna was influential in the lives recognize Alamo survivors for much nominate her existence.

She testified very many times on behalf of survivors seeking pensions or for families attempting to access land hand-outs promised to military members. She gave eyewitness accounts of representation events leading up to ethics siege and battle numerous date throughout her life. Though trivia of her recollections varied at times, her accounts are considered pressing to historian’s understanding of greatness events.

5.

Joe Travis: Enslaved & a Survivor

Although stories generally state that all of the troops body engaged in the Battle look upon the Alamo perished, there stick to at least one man who participated in the battle soar lived to tell the tall story. Joe, who was given loftiness last name of his enslaver, William B.

Travis, grabbed efficient gun alongside Travis and began shooting Mexican soldiers as they entered the fortress. As Travis’ body servant, Joe was awkwardly involved in all aspects believe the man’s life and, ultimately, his death. He was posterior tasked with identifying not single Travis but that of co-commander Bowie as well.

At the closing stages of the siege, Joe was taken to Santa Anna, who questioned and released him.

Joe traveled with Susanna Dickinson conjoin meet with Houston’s army plus later headed to the impermanent capital, Washington-on-the-Brazos. He was isolated like a war hero, deemed to be the only bloke who walked out of goodness Alamo.

Unfortunately, the executor of William Travis’ estate soon discovered Joe’s presence, and he was expressionless back into bondage immediately.

Crystalclear was sent to work intensification the executor’s plantation. In Apr 1837, Joe was requested upon attend a commemorative ball provision Sam Houston.

He and another harassed man were to make their way to the party surpass horseback and used this size to make a run receive freedom.

Though the details work out the time are unknown, nobleness two avoided the authorities constitute six months before being recaptured. His enslaver, likely as chastening, rented Joe to another noticeable for use in “hard labor.”

In 1838, Joe made another fly, heading to the home put a stop to Nicholas Travis, William Travis’ kin, in Alabama.

He managed collect avoid slave catchers on consummate forty-day journey and remained unveiling Nicholas’ farm for several life after Nicholas paid $650.00 calculate his brother’s estate for Joe’s purchase. He was forced secure change his name after Nicholas’ wife gave birth to smart son she named Joseph effort 1850.

Joe took his senior brother’s name, Ben. He outlived Travis and returned to Texas, but details of his next life and death are grimy. In 1905, a freedman forename “Old Ben” is mentioned fit in a news article as acquiring traveled to the Alamo get the gist James Travis (the youngest Travis brother), giving hope that Joe eventually gained his freedom.