cje
Full Member
Posts: 60
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Post by cje on Dec 2, 2012 22:25:34 GMT -5
I was reading recently about Governor Henry Smith ordering W. B. Travis to go the Alamo and how Col. Travis was both not very excited to go and when he did hit the road, he took his time getting there.
What I am interested in is just what on horseback he took with him seeing he would naturally expect to be at the Alamo for a while? Clothing? Food? Books? Etc.
I know/read he had ordered a uniform but he would never see it come to him.
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Post by Rich Curilla on Dec 3, 2012 18:42:30 GMT -5
Headquarters, Camp at Burnham's, Colorado
Jan. 28, 1836.
To His Excellency, Henry Smith, Governor of Texas:
Sir:
In obedience to my orders, I have done every thing in my power to get ready to march to the relief of Bexar, but owing to the difficulty of getting horses and provisions, and owing to disertions, I shall march to-day with only about thirty men, all regulars except four. I shall, however, go on and do my duty, if I am sacrificed, unless I receive new orders to countermarch. Our affairs are gloomy indeed. The people are cold and indifferent. They are worn down and exhausted with the war, and, in consequence of dissentions between contending and rival chieftains, they have lost all confidence in their own government and officers. You have no idea of the exhausted state of the country. Volunteers can no longer be relied upon. A speedy organization, classification and draft of the Militia is all that can save us now. A regular army is necessary -- but money and money only can raise & equip a regular army -- Money must be raised or Texas is gone to ruin. Without it war cannot be again carried on in Texas. The patriotism of a few has done much; but that is becoming worn down. I have strained every nerve. I have used my personal credit and have slept neither day nor night, since I recd orders to march -- and with all this exertion, I have barely been able to get horses & equipment for the few men I have.............
I have the honor to be,
Your Excellency's obt. servant,
W. Barret Travis
Lieut.-Col. Commd.
[Jenkins, Papers of the Texas Revolution, Vol. 4; pp. 176-177; Chariton, 100 Days in Texas, p. 176-177 (no lie, same page numbers)]
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Post by Rich Curilla on Dec 3, 2012 19:02:24 GMT -5
Burnham's, Colorado, Jan. 29, 1836.
To His Excellency, Henry Smith, Governor of the State of Texas.
Sir:
I have been here with the troops under Capt. Forsythe, but shall await your orders at Gonzales, or some other point on the road. I shall, however, keep the thirty men of Forsythe's company in motion towards Bexar, so that they may arrive there as soon as possible.
Not having been able to raise 100 volunteers agreeably to your orders, and there being so few regular troops together, I must beg that your Excellency will recall the order for me to go to Bexar in command of so few men. I am willing, nay anxious, to go to the defense of Bexar, but, sir, I am unwilling to risk my reputation (which is ever dear to a soldier) by going off into the enemy's country with such little means, so few men, and with them so badly equipped. In fact, there is no necessity for my services to command these few men. The company officers will be amply sufficient. They should at all events be sent to Bexar or to the frontier of the Nueces. They may now go on to San Antonio under command of Capt. Forsythe, where they can be employed if necessary, and if they are not needed there may be sent to San Patricio or some other point. I am now thoroughly convinced that none but defensive measures can be pursued at this inclement season. If the Executive or the Major-General desire or order it, I will visit the post of San Antonio or any other for the purpose of consulting or communicating with officers in command there -- or to execute any commission I may be entrusted with, but I do not feel disposed to go to command a squad of men, and without the means of carrying on a campaign. Therefore I hope your excellency will take my situation into consideration and relieve me from the orders which I have hitherto received, so far as they compel me to command in person the men who are now on the way to Bexar. Otherwise I shall feel it due to myself to resign my commission. I would remark that I can be more useful at present, in superintending the recruiting service....
[Chariton, 100 Days in Texas, pp. 179-180.]
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Post by Rich Curilla on Dec 3, 2012 19:15:25 GMT -5
Wallace O. Chariton's 100 Days in Texas includes some (or all that is available) of Travis' daily expenses in preparation for the assignment to Bexar. These include:
January 21
Flour
Tin ware
Twine
Leggins & Spurs
Flag & Powder Flask
Bridle 3 blankets
Tent frying pan
Rope
January 22
Corn to Made
to Burnam for corn
January 24
Mouly for corn
January 25
Burnam for blankets for 2 soldiers
coffee sugar
January 26
Jackson for blanket for soldier
Winburn for do 2 blankets
McDaniel [nothing specified]
to soldiers for bounty
January 28
To Chadorn for corn
January 30
Dement for shoeing horses
Kimballs bill for corn
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Post by Rich Curilla on Dec 3, 2012 19:19:48 GMT -5
On January 21, before Travis left San Felipe, he sent a message to W. G. Hill, saying:
"I have this day sent you orders about contracting with McKinney for our uniforms and equipment. I wish you to attend to it immediately. I spoke with him about my uniform, which I have written to him to purchase. I am ordered off to the defense of San Antonio, which is threatened with an attack from the enemy. I shall leave in two days. Do all you can to make recruits and get the remain."
[Chariton, p. 164]
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Post by Rich Curilla on Dec 3, 2012 19:30:17 GMT -5
Personally, I think Travis did all he could under the circumstances -- and far more than most. It is unfair to judge him -- or Sam Houston -- by the calendar alone. We need to understand that there is lots we don't know and therefore cannot understand.  |
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Post by Allen Wiener on Dec 3, 2012 22:01:23 GMT -5
True, Rich. The whole place was in a chaotic state. What I find interesting is how sharply Travis' views of the Bexar situation changed once he got there. He seemed to immediately become enthusiastic about the need to defend the place and appeal for help.
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Post by Paul Sylvain on Dec 4, 2012 6:34:11 GMT -5
That sounds right, Allen. In this day and age of instant messaging and instant gratification (drive-thru windows at Mickie-Dee's) we forget about a time BC ("Before Computers"). Events were unfolding fast and there must have been a lot of uncertainty, confusion and so on among those trying to build an army and preparing for the eventual return of Mexican forces to Bexar. We can only imagine what that was like for everyone concerned.
Also, we only know about the messages and records that survived. What we don't know is what didn't survive -- lost or trashed messages, letters, etc., for example. Maybe there were none, but I'm betting much was lost to time over the years.
Paul
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Post by Rich Curilla on Dec 4, 2012 15:02:17 GMT -5
I have always loved the phrase used in someone's Alamo book (Lord? Tinkle?) regarding the time just before the confrontation at Gonzales: "Events began to outrun plans."
How much more this concept could even be applied to just before the siege of the Alamo began.
The book Rick Range is preparing (and hopefully will get out soon) will strongly address the issue regarding his belief that the commanders at Bexar could have made much better use of their time, even under the circumstances we know about. He makes a very good case for this.
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Post by tracesoftexas on Jan 31, 2013 1:39:47 GMT -5
My old history professor at UT, William Roger Louis, once in a sherry-infused moment said something like "Yes, it's important to know what we know, but it's just as important to know what they [historical actors acting in the moment] didn't know."
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