It is convenient to throw every other bit of evidence out of the window, and say all that was so much myth, because here is another bit of evidence that contradicts it. Are we to believe that Mexican officers were not into any myth making of their own? The problem, always, is sorting through all this. For example, when was Santa Ana’s army first reported as entering the disputed territory, and how do you account for the days between then and some other event about which we have pretty strong information?
The following are some notes I jotted down when reading the papers of Franklin Perry, Stephan Samuel Perry and James F. Perry of Brazoria County, Texas. While the letters preserved in those papers do not speak directly to the Alamo, they do speak to the desperateness of the situation from the Texian point of view. More directly, these are letters written in absolute candor, as, for example, men preparing to meet their maker give instructions to their friend or their wife on what they should do. The letter written from Cincinnati, of a man seeking to discover the dreaded truth about his son who volunteered for the Texas cause is especially poignant. There can be no suspicion that these were puff pieces written for political purposes or for historical glory.
1836 – a letter from “camp at Burnhams on Colorado” dated March 16 – “We have retired to this place…from as we suppose by a large Mexican force. We have every reason to believe that Santa Ana at the head of a large army will make a descent upon the lower country and sweep the coast… I would most earnestly recommend to you to abandon your place and move with all the property you can toward Sabine… No doubt an asylum will be offered in the United States to all those who may be driven from this country… Take to the field for we all have to fight and desperately too or our all will be lost… Show this to our immediate friends. Do not cause any excitement. Your friend, A. Somervell.”
Reply: “I cannot think Santa Ana can take Texas with the force he now has. I will be up in the morning as early as I can get my horse. Yours, J.F. Perry.”
1836 – a letter from New Orleans dated April 13 – “With deep regret we have seen…the late disastrous news from your colony and cannot but hope that much has been exaggerated and that the gloomy anticipations which were entertained by many of your neighbors will prove premature. Your obedient servants, John A. Merle & Co.”
1836 – a letter to his wife from Galveston dated April 15 – “I leave this morning for the mouth of the river with Capt. Fuller to procure some tools which we want here… I don’t know we will be gone. You will hear the news from the army and must do as you think best. If necessary retreat further back. Capt. Scott told me if necessary he would move his family with you… Adieu, James F. Perry.”
1836 – a letter to his wife from aboard ship dated April 26 – “While at Valesco, I returned to our plantation and found everything undisturbed… I have left all our things in charge of Wm. B. Aldredge…and directed him to ship most of our things to New Orleans and in case any accident should happen to me to send the Negroes to you or let you know where they are… J.F. Perry.”
1836 – a letter from Cincinnati dated June 2 – “I regret sir my not having met you an had a personal introduction to you as I feel intensely anxious to ascertain the fate of a brave and chivalrous brother, Richard Disney, Esq., a young man whose clear and classical education fitted him for almost any situation in life, but who unfortunately as I fear left us in spite of our wishes and…joined the Texian army as a private and a volunteer. Knowing our opposition, he never even took a formal farewell of us, but left my father’s house leaving nearly all his clothes behind him in order to avoid suspicion. My father pursued him to Louisville, but in vain. Accident last winter through a man in the way of another brother who happened to be at New Orleans who said that Richard was in the Texian army, a first lieutenant, and stationed at Goliad. A few days subsequently to that brought us a letter from my brother Richard data 22 February 1836 at Goliad, in which he said he held the office of first lieutenant in the Texian army. He stated that he had joined them as a private… All this was corroborated by the man at New Orleans who remarked that Richard’s bravery at Tampico…was such as to win the respect and confidence of his associates and that at Goliad he had been made a first lieutenant… All this detail, my dear sir, may appear tiresome to you, but…you will recollect that it relates to a beloved brother. And, I mention them to you for the purpose of aiding you in the inquiry which I beg of you to make in regard to his fate… Your most obedient servant, D.T. Disney.”
Interesting stuff. There were probably many parents like that whose sons could not resist the adventure and excitement of the Texas Revolution. How does and office or a farm compete with a war?
Interesting stuff. There were probably many parents like that whose sons could not resist the adventure and excitement of the Texas Revolution. How does an office or a farm compete with a war?