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Post by pff on Jun 13, 2009 10:33:15 GMT -5
Only 1 defender-Robert Musselman had "regular" Military experience {US Army soldier in Seminole War} -while others {Travis, Crockett, Bonham, Ward only had Milita training}.  |
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Post by bobdurham on Jun 13, 2009 14:17:12 GMT -5
Even though there may be no record of it, I believe quite a few of the Alamo defenders would have had some militia training. Militia organizations all across the United States were quite popular; if nothing else, for something to do on a Saturday afternoon, to give an excuse for getting together for a drink after the drill. Town picnics and other social gatherings were planned around these meetings, there were drill competitions between neighboring towns . . . This was a crucial part of 19th century American life.
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Post by mustanggray on Jun 20, 2009 9:18:36 GMT -5
Is there any truth to the story that Rose was part of the Grande Armee? Were there not any War of 1812 veterans at the Alamo? I know Crockett was a veteran of the Creek Wars but surely there were some 1812 vets that had served in or with the regulars... I know there are several signers from the Convention that had service in the War of 1812.
SMc
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Post by Herb on Jun 20, 2009 10:56:50 GMT -5
There was some military experience at the Alamo, Walraven, only looked at the rosters of three US infantry regiments and I believe turned up two defenders who were US veterans. Besides that Neill suposedly served in the US artillery, and Dickinson also supposedly had served in the artillery (but from what I understand the unit he served in was used primarily as infantry).
As Bob says, the militia experience at the time, especially in the west and the south can't be underestimated. The defenders had far more experience than the average citizen today.
It's a topic that deserves a lot more research.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Jun 20, 2009 11:41:03 GMT -5
I'd be curious to find out how many defenders did NOT have militia experience. It was common, at least in the west and south, to join the militia. The fear of Indian and (earlier) British attack was very real, especiall on the frontier. There were northeasterners in the Alamo as well, but I don't know what the militia situation was in that region by the 1830s. Yeah - worth more research for sure.
AW
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Post by mustanggray on Jun 22, 2009 11:46:08 GMT -5
Just don't confuse association with a militia to mean real martial experience. True, some militias were trained and met regularly but many were more of a minuteman/ranging company and formed up for quick retaliatory raids against Indians. I think this is a subject someone needs to write a book on!  SMc |
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