Showing posts with label Texas History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas History. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Texas Tales Illustrated Reviewed
The Star - The magazine of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum recently reviewed Texas Tales Illustrated ~ The Revolution in its summer issue. Read the interview below...
![]()
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Alamo Defender, Robert Evans
In the 1960 John Wayne production of the Alamo, the action ends with the "Duke" (as Davy Crockett) impaled to the door of the ordnance room in the Alamo. In dramatic Hollywood fashion, Wayne breaks the lance, frees himself, stumbles into the ordnance room, and blows himself and the gunpowder up. This is Hollywood at its worst.(Photo United Artists, The Alamo, 1960)
For during the actual battle that March morning in 1836, it was Robert Evans, ordnance chief of the garrison, who attempted in the final moments of the battle to "fire" the Texans' powder magazine.
Susanna Dickinson, maybe the most noted Alamo survivor, tells that after the front door to the chapel was breached by the Mexican army, Evans raced for the ordnance which was stored in the rear of the chapel. Evans was gunned down as he attempted to torch the room.
Evans not Crockett made the heroic yet futile attempt to keep the remaining gunpowder supply out of Santa Anna's hands.
Not much is known of Evans. What we do know is that he was born in Ireland in 1800 and traveled to Texas from new York. He became master of ordnance of the Bexar garrison in 1835, after the December seige of the city led by Ben Milam.
Milam was killed during that siege, but after four days of fighting, Bexar and the Alamo were surrendered to his rebel force. The Texans hoped their victory would make Santa Anna re-think any further actions . . . but that . . . well that's a whole 'nuther story . . .
Read more about Robert Evans at The Handbook of Texas OnLine.
Copyright 2008 Mike Kearby
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Elm Creek Raid, Young County, Texas 1864
Last week, I was speaking at the Old Post Office Museum in Graham, Texas, when a gentleman came up and introduced himself as "Pooch" Williams. "Pooch" and his daughter, Teresa wanted to show me a relic that had been in their family for 144 years. "Pooch" then produced from his pocket, a medallion minted in 1817 featuring the likeness of James Monroe. Photo - Back of Monroe Peace Medal
The Monroe Medals were minted by Moritz Furst in Philadelphia in 1817 and distributed to various Native American chiefs beginning in 1820.
"Pooch's" medal was discovered by his grandfather's brother, Sam Williams, a day after the raid occurred on the William's property. In 1932, "Pooch's" grandfather, Henry C. Williams, recalled the events in an account entitled, The Indian Raid in Young County, Texas, October 13, 1864. Henry's account was published and distributed with compliments of The Union National Bank of Houston, Texas in 1935.
"Pooch" was kind enough to present me a copy of his grandfather's account. As a Texas History enthusiast, I found the recollection a wonderful read with information not normally found in other Elm Creek Raid accounts.
The Monroe Medals were minted in three sizes, 51 mm, 62 mm, and 76 mm. "Pooch's" medal was the large 76 mm version and by far the rarest minted version. ( only 32 struck )
The medal found on the Williams' property that morning in 1864 is thought to have been worn by the Comanche Chief, Little Buffalo or the Kiowa Chief, Santanta, also known as White Bear. (Set-tainte). Since no records exist that document who the U.S. government gave these medals to, the true owner's identity will probably never be known. But it is a fact that Little Buffalo was killed during the raid and many believe the medal belonged to him.
One last note . . . where was Henry C. William's father that morning in 1864? He was picking up supplies in Weatherford, Texas with Britt Johnson. Britt, also known as Negro Britt, lived on the Fitzpatrick ranch along Elm Creek and is famous for his efforts to rescue his wife and two daughters, as well as Mrs. Fitzpatrick and her two granddaughters, who were all captured that morning . . . but that . . . well that's a whole 'nuther story . . .
Read more about the Elm Creek Raid at the Handbook of Texas OnLine.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/EE/bte1.html
The Monroe Medals were minted by Moritz Furst in Philadelphia in 1817 and distributed to various Native American chiefs beginning in 1820.
"Pooch's" medal was discovered by his grandfather's brother, Sam Williams, a day after the raid occurred on the William's property. In 1932, "Pooch's" grandfather, Henry C. Williams, recalled the events in an account entitled, The Indian Raid in Young County, Texas, October 13, 1864. Henry's account was published and distributed with compliments of The Union National Bank of Houston, Texas in 1935.
"Pooch" was kind enough to present me a copy of his grandfather's account. As a Texas History enthusiast, I found the recollection a wonderful read with information not normally found in other Elm Creek Raid accounts.
The Monroe Medals were minted in three sizes, 51 mm, 62 mm, and 76 mm. "Pooch's" medal was the large 76 mm version and by far the rarest minted version. ( only 32 struck )
The medal found on the Williams' property that morning in 1864 is thought to have been worn by the Comanche Chief, Little Buffalo or the Kiowa Chief, Santanta, also known as White Bear. (Set-tainte). Since no records exist that document who the U.S. government gave these medals to, the true owner's identity will probably never be known. But it is a fact that Little Buffalo was killed during the raid and many believe the medal belonged to him.
One last note . . . where was Henry C. William's father that morning in 1864? He was picking up supplies in Weatherford, Texas with Britt Johnson. Britt, also known as Negro Britt, lived on the Fitzpatrick ranch along Elm Creek and is famous for his efforts to rescue his wife and two daughters, as well as Mrs. Fitzpatrick and her two granddaughters, who were all captured that morning . . . but that . . . well that's a whole 'nuther story . . .
Read more about the Elm Creek Raid at the Handbook of Texas OnLine.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/EE/bte1.html
Copyright 2008 Mike Kearby
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)