Please read, heed and pass on.
See the attached flier about the upcoming events, celebrations and reenactments around Austin and the state. (Adobe Acrobat format)
For more details see – http://www.txindependence175.org/index.html
From Colonel Charlie Yates, Texian Legacy Association
October is Texas Archeology Month
The Brazoria County Historical Museum is hosting four lectures during the month of October.
The lectures are to be presented at the Brazoria County Historical Museum, located at 100 East Cedar Street, Angleton, TX.
October 7, 6:30 p.m.
“Recent Archeological Discoveries at the San Jacinto Battlefield”
Lecture by Douglas G. Mangum of
Moore Archeological Consulting, Inc.
October 14, 6:30 p.m.
“Bernardo Plantation Excavations”
Lecture by Charlie Gordy of the
Houston Archeological Society
October 21, 6:30 p.m.
“Following the Paper Trail: Researching the Plantations of Brazoria County”
Lecture by James Smith of the
Brazosport Archaeological Society
October 28, 6:30 p.m.
“Weapons of the Texas Revolution: How the Texians Armed Themselves”
Lecture by Flem Rogers of the
Brazoria Historical Militia
All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, call 979/864-1208, or visit the Museum’s website at www.bchm.org.
Gourmet Jack is a friend currently traveling over in Australia, visiting family and friends. He sent over this report on spending some time with a local Aboriginal elder, who gave Jack some colorful history on his great great grandfather – James Morrill.
It was a truly amazing day for all of us. Rusty Butler took us right through all the places where ‘James’ or, ‘The Old man’, as he called him had been. [This man, James Morrill, was John’s great great grandfather, who was shipwrecked there and one of the first white people the aboriginals had ever seen.] All the special spots that you had to be with an elder to even know where they are, let alone find your way to them. He showed us all sorts of medicinal plants and bush food. Amazing things like how they knew where fresh water was, even on the edge of a tidal salt pan. Us white folks just drive past so much stuff because we don’t know what’s there and we don’t see them … wild apples, figs, small yams, hearts of palm type of things. Mary has eczema on her arms and Rusty found the weed that grows everywhere beside the roads up here, showed her how to break the stalk, get the white sap out, and rub it on her arms …. said it would start to clear in a week.
Rusty had spears and boomerangs and we got a lesson on how to throw a spear with a woomera and how to throw a boomerang so it comes back or throw it straight to kill something. We all got a boomerang that Rusty had made, special for left handed and right handed.
There were a lot of areas he pointed out up on the range where there are very large galleries of art, but he couldn’t take us there, because they were ceremonial, and sacred areas for men or women, and whitey is not permitted to go there. We did see some amazing art though, the oldest was 5000 years old. We saw the James red ochre personal rock paintings. The St George Cross from the English Merchant Marine flag that would have been on the Peruvian , a pair of scissors (totally unknown to the aboriginals), a painting of his sailors’ splicing spike, that he was said to have with him all the time, and the strangest thing was a windmill with the lattice blades, like you see in Dutch paintings. Apart from the fact that Rusty knows they were done by James, they all obviously were done by a European, not an aboriginal.
The essential history from the aboriginal perspective is that if you go back in their history, to the time before the last big global ice melt in the northern hemisphere, they lived on the then shoreline which is where the Barrier Reef is today. The water rose and drove the people ‘inland’ to where the coastline is today. He says he knows where all sorts of art galleries are under water out on the reef!!
So, jump forward in time to when Jimmy got shipwrecked. When he was found, the tribe who found him and the others immediately though they were ancestor spirits (ancestor spirits are white, or depicted as white in dance) who had come in from the Reef. All aboriginal tribes have what they call ‘skin groups’. Because they live in small groups of about 20, they intermarry a lot, and they knew they could inbreed to some extent, but knew they had to swap women out regularly with another tribe to avoid the genetic defects. These women were known as the transfer group. Transferring women was the single most cause of fighting and killing between them. You would approach another tribe and offer to exchange a group of women. If they were recalcitrant, you would invite them to special fighting areas where you would fight it out. The winner got new women, and the loser got the winners transfer group. Go figger!!
The tribe that found them knew they were not their ancestors, because they had wrong facial features. James was white with red hair and a long red beard … not one of them at all. So, they sent out message sticks (about 6″ long and 1/2″ thick with dots, swirls and lines on them) to tribes all over Northern Australia and as far south as Ne South Wales, letting tribes know that some spirits had come ashore from the submerged lands, and that they should send some emissaries to check them out and see if they belong to their tribe. Amazing stuff. No one claimed them so the local tribe, the Bindal adopted them. The captain and his wife didn’t survive long, and the other survivor a cabin boy took a fancy to a girl in a tribe from down near Bowen and headed out with them. He also didn’t survive long.
James was a smart person and learn’t the ways quickly, in exchange, he was able to use his seaman skills and show them how to make rope, string and fishing nets. Valuable skills to hunter, gatherers, To stay and be accepted into the tribe, he had to learn all the foods, medicines, hunting and cooking knowledge. Once he had done this, he was permitted to marry, which he did, and had several wives and some number of kids … number not specified.
So we went to places he camped, favorite fishing spots, lagoons where they would go and catch wild ducks and gather eggs. A place and story noe of us had heard, was one of the places they would snare ducks, also a favorite place for crocodiles.james was showing one of his sons how to et a duck out of a snare and the son was attacked by a crocodile. James in turn attacked the croc with his splicing spike. He killed the croc, but not before he got badly bitten on his left leg. The son died of the injuries and James injuries were healed with bush medicine, herbal wraps and stuff. He walked with a limp for the rest of his life.
When the white people came, there was the famous exchange of ‘Don’t shoot me I am a British object’ This got his life spared, but the cattle people were afraid of the aboriginals and thought of them as animals and started to hunt and kill them if they were anywhere near Europeans or cattle. The guy Townsville is named after – Robert Towns (Towns Ville}, was a ruthless bastard apparently. James had many meetings with him and his people arguing that the aboriginals were a proud people with thousands of years of history, meant no harm, and simply wanted to live in peaceful harmony on the land they knew. Nothing would be accepted by Towns, and even at the end when the Bindal asked to be left alone on the tidal flats and mangroves, no one would agree. They were seen as savages and best hunted down. The massacres started in earnest apparently, and the tribes took to pretty rough and difficult to get to land to avoid being killed.
Rusty, other tribal elders and descendants are constantly protesting any memorial, street naming, development etc, planned to be named after Robert Towns, As far as they are concerned he is a murderer and a criminal not to be honored.
When we got back to Mary’s place, we all sat under Mary’s mango tree and Rusty told us dreamtime stories. The kids were fascinated. Things like Why curlews call out at night, Why owls only fly about at night etc.
Gourmet Jack is originally from Australia and is a self-described foodie and self-taught chef. You can read more about Gourmet Jack and his food adventures at http://gourmetjack.com/.
There is even a great recipe for ANZAC biscuits, which is sort of like and upgraded hard tack. =)
– Many Rifles
I got the below via email and wanted to pass the word on, if anyone is interested.
My name is David O’Neill, Camp Director for Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch. We are a 9,000 acre camp located in the Davis Mountains of Texas and we operate a nine week camp for Boy Scouts. We are the largest and most popular Scout camp in Texas, in both size and participation. We will have over 4,000 participants this summer, and many of them come to our camp to participate in our high adventure programs. The most popular of all of those High Adventure programs is our Mountain Man camp.
The Mountain Man camp is located 3 miles down the trail from our main base camp, and is designed to immerse the participants in the life and times of the Mountain Men and the fur trapping era. We have 30 participants a week at this program, living in period style tents and doing activities such as black powder rifle, learning about edible plants, tanning hides, taking hikes to see real Indian paintings and much more! I have attached a brochure for the program to give you an idea of what we do.
The reason I am contacting you is that we are looking for a new director for the program. The gentleman that ran the program for seven years is no longer able to come to camp and I have to find a suitable replacement that has the passion and the knowledge of this period in American History! We pay a weekly salary and provide the equipment and supplies needed to run the program. There are two other hands that work on this staff, for a total of three people. It is a great program and we need a good leader to make it a continued success.
If you would be willing to share this information with your membership, in order for us to help recruit a new director, it would be most appreciated. If anyone has any questions about the program or the position, I will be glad to answer them. You have my email address and my phone number is listed below. Thank you very much for your help, I appreciate it!
David O’Neill
Field Director
BTSR Camp Director
Buffalo Trail Council
(432) 570-7601
www.buffalotrailbsa.org
If interested, contact David directly at the above address/number.
– Many Rifles
September 19th, 2009 –
Life at the Crossing– Rivers have always served as a lifeline for inland settlements and the relationship between the Brazos river and the town of Washington was no different. The town’s very existence could be attributed to the crossing on the Brazos and the rise of Washington was definitely due to the river traffic that began in earnest in 1842. Oddly enough the downfall of Washington can also be linked to the river because of the towns’ dependence on the traffic there and their resulting reluctance to try out the railroad.
This special program focuses on the importance of river traffic to the town of Washington. Living historians will set up a small interpretive camp at the overlook and will visit with the public about what took place at this crossing and others just like it. This program is on-going throughout the day.
October 16th-17th, 2009 –
Storytellin’ at the Tavern– Once again the old Anson Jones kitchen will serve as the local tavern and the perfect setting for storytellin’. This time rather than merrymaking we will offer an hour long program of tale telling and yarn spinning in the finest tradition of the old time Texians. Visitors will settle in to a period setting after a brief introduction and the tale telling will begin. This is a special after hours program in keeping with the holiday season and will be offered two times per evening at 6PM and 7:30, on Friday and Saturday or per registration. Due to the nature of this type of program all attendees will be required to pre-register.
November 14th, 2009 –
Texas History Symposium– This one day history symposium will focus on the Texian War of Independence and the early republic period. Lead presenter for the symposium will be Dr. Richard Winders, curator of the Alamo and military historian and he will be joined by other noted Texas historians. Speakers will present sessions on military and social culture of the revolutionary and republic eras. This one day symposium will be held at Washington on the Brazos SHS.
December 12th, 2009 –
Christmas up in Washington– Experience the magic of the holiday season with a candlelight visit to Independence Hall, the Birthplace of Texas. Enjoy caroling in the Visitor Center while shopping for those special gifts. Afterwards, stroll down a candlelit trail to Independence Hall, and enjoy stories of Washington’s past and learn how the residents of Washington would have celebrated the holiday season. Discover the holiday traditions at Washington on the Brazos….they just might become your traditions as well. Designed to coincide with Barrington Farm’s event, this special program will be an ongoing experience from 6PM to 8PM.
January 16th, 2010 –
Passing through Washington– In 1836 David Crockett and four friends spent the night in Washington headed to Bexar to join the Texian forces gathered there. While in Washington the traveler’s likely visited with recruits gathering in the area as a part of the ever growing Texas Army. Visitor’s will get a chance to meet Crockett and some of his traveling companions as well as locals gathered to see the famous Bear Hunter and Politician and if the Col. is of mind(and he always is!), visitor’s will be treated to some of his tall tales and hunting stories. This special program is on-going throughout the day.
February 27th-28th, 2010 –
Texas Independence Day– March 2nd, 1836 is one of, if not the most important dates in Texas history. The importance of that date is most relevant here at Washington on the Brazos SHS. Washington was the town where Texians declared independence from Mexico and as such is know as the Birthplace of Texas. Come out and spend the weekend visiting with us here at the park. Admission to the park is free and there will be folks demonstrating period crafts, food vendors from all over Texas, period music by local musicians and historic figures on hand to visit with you about the early days of Texas.
February 27th, 2010 –
Who were the Washington Guards?– While most Texans have heard of the garrison of the Alamo and Goliad and of Sam Houston’s army at San Jacinto, most don’t know that there was a militia unit raised right here in Washington during the revolution! In March of 1836, amidst the chaos of the revolution local citizens from Washington were formed into a volunteer unit to serve as part of Sam Houston’s command. The Washington Guards did their duty acting as rear guard for the Runaway Scrape as well as participating in the battle of San Jacinto. Visitors will learn who these men were, what they were fighting for and what became of them after the revolution was over. This special one hour program will take place at Independence Hall and will be scheduled twice daily at 11AM and 3PM.
March 20th, 2010 –
Original Texas Women– An early visitor to Texas once remarked, “Whether she be handsome or homely, accomplished or otherwise, all women made their mark on Texas. ” This program will share stories of the lives of early women settlers, who had connections with the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. They may have been spouses, children, or grandchildren of these early Texas patriots. Drop by Independence Hall and celebrate with us the lives of these original Texas Women. Designed to coincide with Barrington Farm’s event, True Texas Women, this special one hour program will take place at Independence Hall and will be scheduled twice daily at 11AM and 3PM.
April 17th, 2010 –
Republic of Texas District Court Day– Washington hosted the district court during the later 1830’s and into the early 1840’s. Notable judge, ranger and Texian icon, R.M. Williamson presided over district court here in Washington during the republic era. It was also here in Washington that Commodore Moore came for his court martial after returning from his adventures in the Gulf of Mexico.
Now almost one hundred and seventy years later the district court will be returning to Washington. Court will convene in Convention Hall and will hear several cases, some based on historic cases while others will be created for the event. Participants in the case from the attorneys to the plaintiffs will be dressed in period clothing and will be conducting the trial based on mid 19th century law in the Republic. Visitors will be encouraged to sit in on the trials and if interested, serve as jurors.
May 15th, 2010 –
Rowdy Loafers and Upstanding Citizens– Texas is full of colorful characters from rough and ready frontiersmen to upstanding citizens. This special program focuses on the clothing and accessories of some of these male character types as well as their manners(or lack thereof), and habits. Visitors will not only get a chance to see what these characters looked like but will also be able to examine some of the typical garments and accessories worn and used by these men. This special one hour program will take place at Independence Hall and will be scheduled twice daily at 11AM and 3PM.
For more information call Washington on the Brazos SHS Monday through Friday from 9AM-4PM at 936 878-2214 ext. 224.
November 14th, 2009 – Washington on the Brazos SHS
The Republic of Texas, A Social and Military History
Saturday, November 14th, Washington on the Brazos SHS and Star of the Republic Museum will host a one day symposium of Republic of Texas authors and scholars. Dr. Bruce Winders, noted military author of Mr. Polk’s Army and curator of the Alamo will serve as the lead presenter and will be joined by Dr. Stephen Hardin, author of Texian Iliad a Military History of the Texas Revolution, and professor at McMurray University as well as by Dr. Paula Mitchell Marks author of Turn Your Eyes Toward Texas : Pioneers Sam and Mary Maverick and professor at St. Edward’s College. Joining the symposium will be David Vickers, winner of the prestigious 2001 DRT Texas History Teacher of the Year award, Andrew Gray, researcher of McKinney and Williams and Scott McMahon, researcher of material culture of the Republic of Texas.
Each of the presenters will cover a different topic related to the social and military history of the republic. Registration for the symposium is $20 and includes a catered lunch. There will be a book signing during the midday break and the park giftshop will make available titles from the published presenters.
-Dr. Richard B. Winders Law and Order in the Republic of Texas – a look at the legal system of the Republic
-Dr. Paula M. Marks Women’s Roles, Women’s Challenges in the Republic – a look at the roles and challenges of women in the Republic
-Dr. Stephen L. Hardin Valor, Wisdom & Experience : Early Texas Ranger Captains and the Nature of Frontier Military Leadership – a look at early ranger captains and their roles in the Republic
-David Vickers Thicker Than Fiddlers in Hell – Popular Music in the Republic of Texas
-Andrew Gray Pretending to Be Patriotic (Without it being Offensive): Cotton, Speculation, and the Quest of McKinney, Williams & Co to Get out of Debt – the struggle of McKinney and Williams to recoup their losses after the revolution
-Scott McMahon Clothing the Texas Army – The dress and appearance of the Texas Army circa 1836-1839
For more information call Washington on the Brazos SHS Monday through Friday from 9AM-4PM at 936 878-2214 ext. 224. Registration should be made out to the Washington on the Brazos SP Assoc. and can be mailed to ROT History Symposium PO Box 305, Washington, TX 77880.
The battle of San Jacinto was the concluding military event of the Texas Revolution. On March 13, 1836, the revolutionary army at Gonzales began to retreat eastward. It crossed the Colorado River on March 17 and camped near present Columbia on March 20, recruiting and reinforcements having increased its size to 1,200 men. Sam Houston’s scouts reported Mexican troops west of the Colorado to number 1,325. On March 25 the Texans learned of James W. Fannin’s defeat at Goliad, and many of the men left the army to join their families on the Runaway Scrape. Sam Houston led his troops to San Felipe de Austin by March 28 and by March 30 to the Jared E. Groce plantation on the Brazos River, where they camped and drilled for a fortnight. Ad interim President David G. Burnet ordered Houston to stop his retreat; Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk urged him to take a more decisive course. Antonio López de Santa Anna decided to take possession of the Texas coast and seaports. With that object in view he crossed the Brazos River at present Richmond on April 11 and on April 15, with some 700 men, arrived at Harrisburg. He burned Harrisburg and started in pursuit of the Texas government at New Washington or Morgan’s Point, where he arrived on April 19 to find that the government had fled to Galveston. The Mexican general then set out for Anahuac by way of Lynchburg. Meanwhile, the Texans, on April 11, received the Twin Sisters and with the cannon as extra fortification crossed the Brazos River on the Yellow Stone and on April 16 reached Spring Creek in present Harris County. On April 17, to the gratification of his men, Houston took the road to Harrisburg instead of the road to Louisiana and on April 18 reached White Oak Bayou at a site within the present city limits of Houston. There he learned that Santa Anna had gone down the west side of the bayou and the San Jacinto River, crossing by a bridge over Vince’s Bayou. The Mexicans would have to cross the same bridge to return.
Viewing this strategic situation on the morning of April 19, Houston told his troops that it looked as if they would soon get action and admonished them to remember the massacres at San Antonio and at Goliad. On the evening of April 19 his forces crossed Buffalo Bayou to the west side 2½ miles below Harrisburg. Some 248 men, mostly sick and ineffective, were left with the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg. The march was continued until midnight. At dawn on April 20 the Texans resumed their trek down the bayou and at Lynch’s Ferry captured a boat laden with supplies for Santa Anna. They then drew back about a mile on the Harrisburg road and encamped in a skirt of timber protected by a rising ground. That afternoon Sidney Sherman with a small detachment of cavalry engaged the enemy infantry, almost bringing on a general action. In the clash Olwyns J. Trask was mortally wounded, one other Texan was wounded, and several horses were killed. Mirabeau B. Lamar, a private, so distinguished himself that on the next day he was placed in command of the cavalry. Santa Anna made camp under the high ground overlooking a marsh about three-fourths of a mile from the Texas camp and threw up breastworks of trunks, baggage, packsaddles, and other equipment. Both sides prepared for the conflict. On Thursday morning, April 21, the Texans were eager to attack. About nine o’clock they learned that Martín Perfecto de Cos had crossed Vince’s bridge with about 540 troops and had swelled the enemy forces to about 1,200. Houston ordered Erastus (Deaf) Smith to destroy the bridge and prevent further enemy reinforcements. The move would prevent the retreat of either the Texans or the Mexicans towards Harrisburg.
Shortly before noon, Houston held a council of war with Edward Burleson, Sidney Sherman Henry W. Millard, Alexander Somervell, Joseph L. Bennett, and Lysander Wells. Two of the officers suggested attacking the enemy in his position; the others favored waiting Santa Anna’s attack. Houston withheld his own views at the council but later, after having formed his plan of battle had it approved by Rusk. Houston disposed his forces in battle order about 3:30 in the afternoon while all was quiet on the Mexican side during the afternoon siesta. The Texans’ movements were screened by trees and the rising ground, and evidently Santa Anna had no lookouts posted. The battle line was formed with Edward Burleson’s regiment in the center, Sherman’s on the left wing, the artillery under George W. Hockley on Burleson’s right, the infantry under Henry Millard on the right of the artillery, and the cavalry under Lamar on the extreme right. The Twin Sisters were wheeled into position, and the whole line, led by Sherman’s men, sprang forward on the run with the cry, “Remember the Alamo!” “Remember Goliad!” The battle lasted but eighteen minutes. According to Houston’s official report, the casualties were 630 Mexicans killed and 730 taken prisoner. Against this, only nine of the 910 Texans were killed or mortally wounded and thirty were wounded less seriously. Houston’s ankle was shattered by a rifle ball. The Texans captured a large supply of muskets, pistols, sabers, mules, horses, provisions, clothing, tents, and $12,000 in silver. Santa Anna disappeared during the battle and search parties were sent out on the morning of the 22. The party consisted of James A. Sylvester, Washington H. Secrest, Sion R. Bostick, and a Mr. Cole discovered Santa Anna hiding in the grass. He was dirty and wet and was dressed as a common soldier. The search party did not recognize him until he was addressed as “el presidente” by other Mexican prisoners. One of the eight inscriptions on the exterior base of the San Jacinto Monument reads: “Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty.”
One of the most important documents in Texas history is the Declaration of Independence, adopted in general convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos, March 2, 1836.
Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Texas
When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted; and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression; when the Federal Republican Constitution of their country, which they have sworn to support, no longer has a substantial existence, and the whole nature of their government has been forcibly changed without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism, in which every interest is disregarded but that of the army and the priesthood – both the eternal enemies of civil liberty, and the ever-ready minions of power, and the usual instruments of tyrants; When long after the spirit of the Constitution has departed, moderation is at length, so far lost, by those in power that even the semblance of freedom is removed, and the forms, themselves, of the constitution discontinued; and so far from their petitions and remonstrances being regarded, the agents who bear them are thrown into dungeons; and mercenary armies sent forth to force a new government upon them at the point of the bayonet. When in consequence of such acts of malfeasance and abdication, on the part of the government, anarchy prevails, and civil society is dissolved into its original elements: In such a crisis, the first law of nature, the right of self-preservation – the inherent and inalienable right of the people to appeal to first principles and take their political affairs into their own hands in extreme cases – enjoins it as a right towards themselves and a sacred obligation to their posterity, to abolish such government and create another in its stead, calculated to rescue them from impending dangers, and to secure their future welfare and happiness. Nations, as well as individuals, are amenable for their acts to the public opinion of mankind. A statement of a part of our grievances is, therefore, submitted to an impartial world, in justification of the hazardous but unavoidable step now taken of severing our political connection with the Mexican people, and assuming an independent attitude among the nations of the earth.
TEXAS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE . . . . The Texas edict, like the United States Declaration of Independence, contains a statement on the nature of government, a list of grievances, and a final declaration of independence. The separation from Mexico was justified by a brief philosophical argument and by a list of grievances submitted to an impartial world. The declaration charged that the government of Mexico had ceased to protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people; that it had been changed from a restricted federal republic to a consolidated, central, military despotism; that the people of Texas had remonstrated against the misdeeds of the government only to have their agents thrown into dungeons and armies sent forth to enforce the decrees of the new government at the point of the bayonet; that the welfare of Texas had been sacrificed to that of Coahuila; that the government had failed to provide a system of public education, trial by jury, freedom of religion, and other essentials of good government; and that the Indians had been incited to massacre the settlers. According to the declaration, the Mexican government had invaded Texas to lay waste territory and had a large mercenary army advancing to carry on a war of extermination. The final grievance listed in justification of revolution charged that the Mexican government had been “the contemptible sport and victim of successive military revolutions and hath continually exhibited every characteristic of a weak, corrupt, and tyrannical government.” After the signing of the original declaration by fifty-nine delegates, five copies of the document were dispatched to the designated Texas towns of Bexar, Goliad, Nacogdoches, Brazoria, and San Felipe. The printer at San Felipe was also instructed to make 1,000 copies in handbill form.
More.
Ballad of the Alamo
In the southern part of Texas, in the town of San Antone
There’s a fortress all in ruins, that the weeds have overgrown
You may look in vain for crosses andÊ you’ll never see a one
But sometimes between the setting and the rising of the sun
You can hear a ghostly bugle, as the men go marchin’ by
You can hear them as they answer to the roll call in the sky
Colonel Travis, Davy Crocket, and a hundred eighty more
Captain Dickinson, Jim Bowie, present and accounted for
Back in eighteen thirty-six, Houston said to Travis
Get some volunteers and go, fortify the Alamo
Well, the men came from Texas and from ol’ Tennessee
And they joined up with Travis, just to fight for the right to be free
Indian scouts with squirrel guns, men with muzzle loaders
Stood together heel and toe, to defend the Alamo
You may ne’er see your loved ones, Travis told them that day
Those who want to can leave now, those who’ll fight to the death, let ’em stay
In the sand he drew a line, with his army saber
Out of a hundred and eighty-five, not a soul to cross the line
With his banners a dancin’, in the dawn’s golden light
Santa Anna came prancin’, on a horse that was black as the night
Sent an officer to tell Travis to surrender
Travis answered with a shell, and a rousin’ rebel yell
Santa Anna turned scarlet, play Deguello, he roared
I will show them no quarter, everyone will be put to the sword
One hundred and eighty-five holdin’ back five thousand
Five days, six days, eight days, ten Travis held and held again
Then he sent for replacements for his wounded and lame
But the troops that were comin’, never came, never came, never came
Twice he charged and blew recall, on the fatal third time
Santa Anna breached the wall, and he killed them one and all
Now the bugles are silent, and there’s rust on each sword
And the small band of soldiers, lie asleep in the arms of the Lord
In the southern part of Texas, near the town of San Antone
Like a statue on his pinto, rides a cowboy all alone
And he sees the cattle grazin’, where a century before
Santa Anna’s guns were blazin’, and the cannon used to roar
And his eyes turn sorta misty as his heart begins to glow
And he takes his hat off slowly…to the men of Alamo
To the thirteen days of glory…at the siege of Alamo
Now the bugles are silent, and there’s rust on each sword
And the small band of soldiers, lie asleep in the arms of the Lord
Lie asleep…in the arms…of the Lord
By Marty Robbins
Around 5:00 A.M. on Sunday, March 6, [Santa Anna] hurled his columns at the battered walls from four directions. Texan gunners stood by their artillery. As about 1,800 assault troops advanced into range, canister ripped through their ranks. Staggered by the concentrated cannon and rifle fire, the Mexican soldiers halted, reformed, and drove forward. Soon they were past the defensive perimeter. Travis, among the first to die, fell on the north bastion. Abandoning the walls, defenders withdrew to the dim rooms of the Long Barracks. There some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand fighting occurred. Bowie, too ravaged by illness to rise from his bed, found no pity. The chapel fell last. By dawn the Centralists had carried the works. The assault had lasted no more than ninety minutes. As many as seven defenders survived the battle, but Santa Anna ordered their summary execution. Many historians count Crockett as a member of that hapless contingent, an assertion that still provokes debate in some circles. By eight o’clock every Alamo fighting man lay dead. Currently, 189 defenders appear on the official list, but ongoing research may increase the final tally to as many as 257.
From – http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/AA/qea2.html