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Post by pff on May 9, 2014 17:22:55 GMT -5
Any good pictures of the Herrera gate from the Alamo?
Does 18 pd cannon still exist? Any good pictures of it?
Of 21 cannons at Alamo-how many still exist?
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 10, 2014 15:19:03 GMT -5
 This is the best contender for being the original 18-pounder, although there is probably no way to prove it. If I remember, it is nearly nine feet long. It is in the northernmost courtyard at the Alamo in San Antonio and was dug up with other tubes when Sam Maverick was building his home within the original perimeter of the fort at the N.W. corner.  Here is another view of it. Very little doubt that all the tubes Maverick found were indeed from the battle, experts just can't say for sure if this is an 18-pounder or a 16-pounder, also part of the Alamo's inventory as per the Mexican accounts.  More certain is this 12-pound gunade, found by Maverick and known to have been there. I'm not sure of the count of remaining tubes, but the ones at the Alamo are the two pictured above, two (I think) 8- or 9-pounders, and a very recent addition of a brass cannon located by Rick Range and now placed in the tower base room to the left after entering the Alamo church. I don't recall the size. There are also two tubes flanking the N.W. entrance gate to La Villita that are from the battle and, I believe, two more on display outside a building in Fort Worth. |
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 10, 2014 15:58:38 GMT -5
I searched my files high and low for the photo and drawing of the Herrera Gate and came up empty-handed. Sorry. However, there is no evidence that it was the Alamo's main gate (which was much larger). There is also no proof that it was even from the Alamo. I believe the most that can be said is that it was an original Spanish-Colonial gate from early Bexar or one of the missions. I'm not remembering at the moment why it has been named "Herrera Gate," but it was found on a ranch in Bexar County that, if my calculations are right, was the Ruiz Rancho at the time. A theory (or perhaps a hope) that I've had is that Francisco Ruiz, the alcalde at the time of the battle, salted it away from the ruined mission-fortress. I'd love to know more about this gate myself. I believe it is on exhibit at the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio.
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Post by pff on May 11, 2014 7:58:32 GMT -5
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 11, 2014 11:09:25 GMT -5
With late friend Kevin Young, you've got THE expert regarding all things Alamo, particularly the Mexican Army. All I would add to this is the tube now in the Confessional located by Rick Range.
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Post by Paul Sylvain on May 12, 2014 20:00:20 GMT -5
Rich -- you never cease to amaze me. Very interesting info, for sure.
Paul
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Post by pff on May 25, 2014 8:45:05 GMT -5
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 25, 2014 16:39:50 GMT -5
See my posts on your above linked threads. |
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