Great Grand Father's Visit to the Alamo in 1854

[hbjemison]

Hi everyone, new member here and I have something you might find interesting.  I have a 27 page journal (typed from original) written by a distant relative and my Great Grandfather, detailing a trip they took to Texas in 1854.  My Great Grandfather's name is Shadrack Jemison and his cousin Robert Jemison, were plantation owners and some of the early settlers of Taladega, Alabama.  I believe they were also probably related to Green Benito Jameson.  Anyway, what is interesting about the journal is it details a first hand account of their travels from Taladega, to Galveston then across Texas to San Antonio and their visit to the Alamo.  Their reference to the Alamo is only about half a page long, but it talks about the room where "Davies" name is cut into the wall.  I know nothing about Alamo history, I've been there once, plan to go back this fall, but I'd like to learn more about the battle and particularly Green B. Jameson's role, inasmuch as we may be very distantly related.  Anyway, if anyone (moderator perhaps) wants to take a look at the journal and see if it Is worthy of uploading to the site, I'd be glad to make a copy and mail to to them.  It is really a charming document, talks about how they traveled, the landscape, folks they met along the way, particular friends they visited from Taladega who migrated to Texas.  Apparently they left their wives at home and made the most of their trip.  Footnote:  I know it seems that Shadrack Jemison would have to be more distant than my Great Grandfather, but my father was born in 1911, his father, also named Shadrack, was born in 1861.  We came by the journal by way of a lot of family material that is archived at Alburn University.

[loucapitano]

Sounds like we have another "primary source." Could be interesting and add another slice to the Alamo story.
Lou from Long Island

[hbjemison]

Loucapitano. Being new to the forum, I'm not sure what the protocol is to upload a document, but if you can do that, I'll be glad to mail you a hard copy and let you determine if it's worth uploading. It is really interesting because it gives a first person account of a horse back visit to the area and the Alamo in the 1850's.

[alamonorth]

The book sounds interesting and I was just wondering if you could possibly post the sentence related to the Davies name being cut into the wall. Thank you.

[tracesoftexas]

Good Lord I would love to read this letter! Please post it!

[wilyrobbins]

Wily Robbins-b1835 d1886- from Walker County; in 1861 went to San Antonio with other men of 17th Texas Mounted Troops and joined The Army of New Mexico under Sibley's command. The they became The 7th Texas Mounted Volunteers Company G, part of the Second Brigade. Wily' father George Robbins-b1804 d1836-Robbins Ky- is an unrecognized defender mentioned by Amelia Williams in  her flawed work. More on this later. J Robbins , Wily's great grandson.

[loucapitano]

We're tantalized with the possibilities of this letter and would love to see it posted.
Lou from Long Island

[hbjemison]

My email is [e-mail]
If one of you guys wants to email and provide an address, I'll mail you a hard copy of the journal and maybe you can scan it and get it posted. The entire journal is very interesting, even the parts that have nothing to do with the Alamo.

[DLNelson]

Has this journal ever been scanned and uploaded?  I'm sure it would be an interesting read...

[Joshua]

What room was the name Davies scrawled in to?

[5thgentexan]

Outstanding - that is so interesting and a treasure to have. My father's family came over to northeast Texas from Georgia, purchasing land in 1851. I have often thought what it would have been like to visit the Alamo at that time - less than 20 years after the battle. What your great grandfather got to see - no doubt there were still obvious signs of the devastation.