Post by Allen Wiener on Aug 5, 2010 10:11:44 GMT -5
Did Travis Draw a Line in the Sand?
Among the most iconic moments in the Alamo story is the tale of Col. Travis’s line in the sand. Legend, and some fact, suggests that Travis assembled the garrison, when it looked like all hope of reinforcement had vanished, and offered the defenders the choice of staying and fighting to the end, or attempting escape. The moment has been played out in Alamo films and literature, with some variations, and has become a cherished part of Alamo mythology. Other information suggests that Travis considered the possibility of surrendering, although the Mexicans under Santa Anna had made it clear from the day they arrived that no quarter would be granted to the Alamo defenders.
The discussion of the “line in the sand” is linked to the story of Moses (or Louis) Rose, who allegedly was the only man not to cross the line and made his way to safety in the home of the Zuber family, to whom he related the story of Travis’s line and his own harrowing escape. However, the Zuber story was not published until 1873 and has been strongly refuted by Thomas Ricks Lindley in his book Alamo Traces (Republic of Texas Press, 2003). An earlier consideration of the story is found in Exploring the Alamo Legends by Wallace O. Chariton (Republic of Texas Press, 1992).
A more recent account that lends new veracity to the Rose story appears in James Donovan's book The Blood of Heroes (2012). Donovan uncovered an account by Susannah Dickinson that preceded the Zuber account. Earlier doubts about the Rose story pointed out that all of Dickinson's corroborations of it post-dated the Zuber account and could have been influenced by it.
The story of Travis’s line in the sand and related topics, including the Rose story, have been discussed on the following threads here on the Alamo Studies Forum:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=questions&action=display&thread=1017&page=1
Moses/Louis Rose:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=1016
Picture alleged to be Rose:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=622
Related Topics regarding questions of amnesty & Travis considering surrender:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=359&page=1
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=13
Discussion of Travis’s Leadership:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=87
Among the most iconic moments in the Alamo story is the tale of Col. Travis’s line in the sand. Legend, and some fact, suggests that Travis assembled the garrison, when it looked like all hope of reinforcement had vanished, and offered the defenders the choice of staying and fighting to the end, or attempting escape. The moment has been played out in Alamo films and literature, with some variations, and has become a cherished part of Alamo mythology. Other information suggests that Travis considered the possibility of surrendering, although the Mexicans under Santa Anna had made it clear from the day they arrived that no quarter would be granted to the Alamo defenders.
The discussion of the “line in the sand” is linked to the story of Moses (or Louis) Rose, who allegedly was the only man not to cross the line and made his way to safety in the home of the Zuber family, to whom he related the story of Travis’s line and his own harrowing escape. However, the Zuber story was not published until 1873 and has been strongly refuted by Thomas Ricks Lindley in his book Alamo Traces (Republic of Texas Press, 2003). An earlier consideration of the story is found in Exploring the Alamo Legends by Wallace O. Chariton (Republic of Texas Press, 1992).
A more recent account that lends new veracity to the Rose story appears in James Donovan's book The Blood of Heroes (2012). Donovan uncovered an account by Susannah Dickinson that preceded the Zuber account. Earlier doubts about the Rose story pointed out that all of Dickinson's corroborations of it post-dated the Zuber account and could have been influenced by it.
The story of Travis’s line in the sand and related topics, including the Rose story, have been discussed on the following threads here on the Alamo Studies Forum:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=questions&action=display&thread=1017&page=1
Moses/Louis Rose:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=1016
Picture alleged to be Rose:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=622
Related Topics regarding questions of amnesty & Travis considering surrender:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=359&page=1
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=13
Discussion of Travis’s Leadership:
alamostudies.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=alamohistory&action=display&thread=87