Posted on 12/17/2003 2:26:00 PM PST by sonofatpatcher2
March 6, 1836: A massacre of Americans at the Mexican Army's hands made "Remember the Alamo" an immortal Texan battle cry. But is this history viewed through an American lens? With distance from the heat of battle, a Mexican version of the controversy emerges. What caused Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett to run from their pasts to become heroes in death? How did a struggle for independence become a race war? In this 2-hour investigation, we expose new evidence in this grand victory with a dark secret. TV PG
Nope, my late Father was born in Blooming Grove, Texas, about 15 miles from where I now type this. Kelly was in the 36th Infantry Division. It was the federalized Texas National Guard from where my Dad began his military service. Kelly was a replacment brought in after the war started.
Dad was not the only one who had a low opinion of Kelly's character. I recall many of his fellow vets at 36th Divison reunions talking about what a thug he was. However all admitted he could fight and did so with a vengence.
That does not take away from his bravery or heroics. I am sure a lot of men who showed the right stuff in war were not the guys you want to hang out with after the war ends.
On this I can attest to personally.
As to that idiotic commercial.........................................ditto.
Hummmmmm?
"Now listen her, pilgrim," Duke Bush offered to Howie Dean. "I'm only gona say this once. You mess with my Republic and you will find yourself as dead as a beaver hat!"
I think I might like that... };^)
...but not before he tried to 'sell' a product that he saw as an alternative to natural rubber. That product became the base of what later became known as "chewing gum".
He died a pauper; could have been a multi-millionaire from this alone.
I found it interesting that they said that illegal aliens who were in this case white settlers, lead an internal revolt. And they implied or faulted Mexico for allowing so many illegals in. I wonder if someday we will pay the same price?
Well, I consider myself a fair student of history, having a degree in it. I am a third generation Texan who does see that a lot of the myth about the Alamo has been generated by films and television that played fast and loose with history for both dramamtic effect and just plain ignorance.
However, I realize there is another side to every historical event and I am willing to take a look at those arguments. I consider something fair and balanced if all points of view are served up.
That does not mean I agree with all the sides presented in the History Channel's "Remembering the Alamo." I have my own view that there were brave men on both sides of the battle. There were also bad men on both sides. Those who know the unvarnished truth are long dead.
That said, there have been few times in my life when I felt totally awed in the presence of bravery. Once when I got to spend a few minutes talking to Audie Murphey, once when I shook Barry Goldwater's hand and every single time I was ever inside the Alamo.
wardaddy, I think we have traded replies before and mostly agreed as I recall. I am sure that though you may have murdered those deer in my family's past county, I am also sure it was only those deer that either dragged their large, Left racks in the ground or they were trying to change your correct conservative political views. In those cases, it is justifible homicide.
He later rebelled against the government, gained considerable backing. By 1833, he was elevated to president of Mexico in a democratic election. He soon determined, however, that Mexico was not ready for democracy and pronounced himself dictator.
Santa Anna was remembered as a particularly ruthless opponent by the Texans. Despite this, he was allowed to return to Mexico after his capture at the Battle of San Jacinto.
After his return to Mexico, Santa Anna participated in the Mexican War and in 1853 sold territory to the United States including that area known as the Gadsden Purchase. He was later exiled from Mexico, but allowed to return a few years before his death in 1876.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Antonio López de Santa Anna Pérez de Lebrón (sometimes spelled de Santa Ana) (February 21, 1794 - 1876) was a Mexican general and dictator.
Antonio López was born to lower-middle class parents in Jalapa, while Mexico was still known as the colony of New Spain. He joined the military, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant, at first taking part in attempts by the Spanish military to put down Mexican revolt, then switching sides and declaring loyalty to Augustin de Iturbide.
He rose to prominence by driving the Spanish forces out of the port city of Veracruz in 1821. Iturbide rewarded him with the rank of General and appointed him Governor of Veracruz. In 1823, however, Santa Anna was among the military leaders supporting the Plan of Casa Mata to overthrow Iturbide and declare Mexico a Republic.
In 1829 Spain made its final attempt to retake Mexico, landing a force of 3,000 soldiers at Tampico. Santa Anna marched against them with a smaller force and defeated the Spaniards, many of whom were suffering from yellow fever. Santa Anna was declared a hero, which he much relished, and from then on he entitled himself The Victor of Tampico and The Savior of the Fatherland.
Santa Anna declared himself retired, "unless my country needs me." He decided he was needed when Anastasio Bustamante led a coup overthrowing and killing president Vicente Guerrero.
Santa Anna seized power in the confusion and then was elected President in 1833. At first he had little interest in actually running the country, giving a free hand to his vice-president Valentin Gomez Farias, a liberal reformer.
Gomez Farias worked hard to root out corruption, which stepped on some powerful toes among the military and wealthy landowners. When these voiced their displeasure, Santa Anna dismissed Gomez Farias, declared the Constitution suspended, disbanded the Congress, and worked to concentrate power in the central government. This was applauded by some conservatives but met with considerable disapproval from other sectors.
The Mexican state of Texas declared itself independent in 1835 (see Texas Revolution); Santa Anna marched north to bring the rebellious province back under his control but was captured by separatist forces at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 22, 1836. Santa Anna was forced to allow Texan independence, on the condition that Texas would remain independent and not accede to the USA. Back in Mexico City, a new government declared that Santa Anna was no longer President.
After some time in exile in the United States, in 1837 he was allowed to return to Mexico to retire at his hacienda.
In 1838 Santa Anna saw a chance to redeem himself when French forces invaded Mexico in the Pastry War. Santa Anna succeeded in driving off the French but lost a leg to a cannon ball in the battle. Santa Anna ordered his leg buried with full military honors, and from then on at public events he would ride on horseback holding his wooden leg over his head as a symbol of his sacrifices for his country. Santa Anna held on to control of his troops after the French had left, at first in aid of Bustamante, then declaring himself once again President.
Santa Anna's second rule was even more dictatorial than the first. His demands for ever greater taxes aroused ire, and several Mexican states simply stopped dealing with the central government, Yucatan and Laredo going so far as to declare themselves independent republics. In December 1844, opposition had reached the point where Santa Anna decided it was wise to accept an offer (in the interests of avoiding a civil war) to renounce all claims to the Presidency and go into exile in exchange for a generous pension. Santa Anna then moved to Cuba.
In 1846 the United States declared war on Mexico. Santa Anna wrote to Mexico City saying he no longer had aspirations to the presidency but would eagerly use his military experience to fight off foreign invasion of Mexico as he had in the past. President Gomez Farias was desperate enough to accept the offer and allowed Santa Anna to return. Meanwhile, Santa Anna had secretly been dealing with USA representatives, pledging that if he were allowed back in Mexico through the blockades, he would work to sell all contested territory to the United States at a reasonable price. Once back in Mexico at the head of an army, Santa Anna reneged on both of these agreements. Santa Anna declared himself president again and unsuccessfully tried to fight off the United States invasion (see Mexican-American War).
Santa Anna went into exile in Venezuela. In 1853 he was invited back by rebellious conservatives, with whom he succeeded in retaking the government. This reign was no better than his earlier ones. He funneled government funds to his own pockets, sold more territory to the United States (see Gadsden Purchase), and declared himself dictator for life with the title Most Serene Highness.
Despite his generous pay-offs to the military for loyalty, by 1855 even his conservative allies had had enough of Santa Anna, and he fled back to Cuba. As the extent of his corruption became known he was tried in absentia for treason and all his estates confiscated. He then lived in exile in Cuba, the United States, Venezuela, and St. Thomas. During his time in New York City he is credited as bringing the first shipments of chicle, the base of chewing gum, to the United States, but he failed to profit from this since his plan was to use the chicle to replace rubber in carriage tires, which was tried without success.
In 1874 he took advantage of a general amnesty and returned to Mexico.
He died two years later in poverty and obscurity in Mexico City.
I live within walking distance of where he lived on Staten Island. How he came to live here, I don't know. At that time, Staten Island was a sparsely populated place. Kind of off the beaten path for someone like Santa Anna.
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