Alamo Traces by Thomas Ricks Lindley

would the men, women, and children of the Alamo have thought of Houston’s actions? Given that Captain James B. Bonham, on the morning of March 3, brought in the news that Houston would not be riding to the rescue, the people of the Alamo probably saw Houston’s behavior as pure and simple betrayal of the worst kind. 67
Chapter One Notes
    1 Dr. Anson Jones,
Memoranda and Official Correspondence Relating to the Republic of Texas, its History and Annexation
(New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1859), 35.
    2 Marquis James,
The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston
, Introduction by Robert M. Utley (1929; reprint, New York: Book-of-the-Month Club, Inc., 1990), ix-x.
    3 Ibid.
    4 Moseley Baker to Sam Houston, October (1842), Evergreen, Manuscript Collection, Archives Division, Texas State Library, Austin, Texas, hereafter cited as MC-TSL; D. G. Burnet,
Review of the Life of Gen. Sam Houston
(Galveston: News Power Press Print, 1852), entire publication; Sidney Sherman,
Defense of Gen. Sidney Sherman Against the Charges made by Gen. Sam Houston in His Speech Delivered in the United States Senate, February 28th, 1859
(Galveston: “News” Book and Job Office, 1859), entire publication. The year is not given in the Baker letter’s date, but Baker referred to the invasion that had taken place the previous spring. This appears to have been the Mexican attack on San Antonio conducted by Rafael Vasquez that occurred in March 1842. The Baker missive and the two pamphlets detail many of the complaints made against Houston by his fellow soldiers. Baker wrote the letter in response to political attacks Houston made upon him.
    William C. Davis, in
Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis
(New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1998), 547-548 and 568-569, was the first twentieth-century historian to objectively and accurately report on Houston’s negative military behavior during the revolution. Davis, in making his case, used Thomas Ricks Lindley, “Drawing Truthful Deductions,”
Journal of the Alamo Battlefield Association
, I (September 1994), 31-33.
    5 Robert M. Coleman,
Houston Displayed, or Who Won the Battle of San Jacinto By a Farmer In the Army
(Velasco: [Press of the Velasco Herald], 1837), entire publication.
    6 John H. Jenkins,
Basic Texas Books
(1983; revised, Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1988), 81.
    7 Sam Houston to James Collinsworth, March 13, 1836, Gonzales, in John H. Jenkins, ed.,
The Papers of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836
(10 vols.; Austin: Presidial Press, 1973), V: 69-70; hereafter cited as
Papers
.
    8 Ibid.
    9 Sam Houston to Henry Reguet, March 13, 1836, Gonzales, Jenkins, ed.,
Papers
, V: 71-72.
    10 Sam Houston to James Collinsworth, March 15, 1836, Camp on the Navadid [River], Jenkins, ed.,
Papers
, V: 82-84. This letter conflicts with Houston’s January 17, 1836, missive to Governor Henry Smith in whichHouston asked for Smith’s approval to destroy the Alamo and abandon San Antonio.
    Also, in writing Collinsworth, Houston alleged that he gave the order on January 16, 1836, which is at odds with the date of January 17, in the actual missive to Smith. It is of note that Houston, on March 13, damned Fannin for not reinforcing the Alamo. Then on March 15, Houston wrote Collinsworth that the
troops should not be garrisoned in forts where they could not be supplied with “men and provisions.”
Could Houston have been worried that Collinsworth might order him to reinforce Fannin, who was at that time ensconced in Fort Defiance at Goliad?
    11 Sam Houston, “A Refutation of Calumnies Produced and Circulated Against His Character as Commander-In-Chief of the Army of Texas, February 28, 1859,” in Amelia W. Williams and Eugene C. Barker (eds.),
The Writings of Sam Houston, 1813-1863
(8 vols.; 1938-1943; reprint; Austin and New York: Pemberton Press, 1970), VII: 306-336; hereafter cited as
Writings
.
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