"I don't write letters. I just kick butt!"
Posted on 09/04/2007 7:39:30 PM PDT by mdittmar
AUSTIN — Just two months before he perished defending the Alamo, Davy Crockett described to his daughter and son-in-law the land he treasured enough to die for its independence.
"I must say as to what I have seen of Texas it is the garden spot of the world," the famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee wrote. "The best land and the best prospect for health. ..."
The Texas Historical Commission announced Tuesday it bought the letter, which is believed to be the last that Crockett penned before he and about 200 other Alamo defenders were killed by Mexican forces led by Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
Gov. Rick Perry accepted the letter on behalf of the state during a brief ceremony Tuesday at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
"He stood tall against overwhelming odds and he refused to run away," Perry said of Crockett.
"It's clear that he cherished his principles above his life and died nobly in their defense," he said.
The state bought the letter for $490,000 from Simpson Galleries, a Houston fine arts auctioneer.
Ray Simpson said his grandfather bought the letter from a descendent of Crockett's in 1986 and misplaced it years ago. Simpson said he and his father found it about two weeks ago in their office.
The document likely could have sold for a much higher price in an open auction, Simpson said, but the family wanted to offer it to Texas first.
"Our family is very, very proud to have made this document available for the state commission to own," Simpson said.
State officials plan to eventually put the letter on display, but they have not decided when or where that will happen, Texas Historical Commission Chairman John Nau said.
The neatly scripted letter was dated Jan. 9, 1836, and was written from San Augustine, about 150 miles north of modern-day Houston. According to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, it was addressed to his daughter Margaret and her husband, Wiley Flowers. Crockett arrived at the Alamo a month later and died in the siege the month after that.
In the note, Crockett described his "handy welcome" to Texas with a dinner and cannon fire. He said he expected to settle "on the Bodark or Choctaw bayou," which the Texas Historical Commission said is near modern-day Bonham, about 65 miles north of Dallas.
"I would rather be in my present situation than to be elected to a seat in Congress for life," he said.
I have also read that history long ago, but it was good to read more from Clan Gregor.
When in San Antonia, I also attended the San Antonio Highland Games in Helotes, where I met members of the Bexar Pipe Band and also members of the San Antonio Pipes and Drums. They were fine folks who made this northerner feel so welcome. ( I'd live there if I could.)
Members from both bands mentioned Piper John McGregor. He is a local hero to the bandsmen of San Antonio, which means he will never be forgotten. Few areas of the US have such an inspirational figure of such a piper as Long John McGregor.
"I don't write letters. I just kick butt!"
Wow.
How our politicians pale today in comparison.
Thanks for posting it. Its a good standard by which to measure our candidates.
I have also heard he wanted to be a Honey Grove Warrior...live out by lake Crockett.
I was bashful of the attention, and played a medley: Corachollies Welcome to the Northern Meeting, Highroad to Gaerloch and The Brown Haired Maiden,and an even bigger crowd assembled, at which time I was very emotional, thanked everyone, and humbly made my way back to my nearby hotel, knowing that John Mcgregor played better than anyone now alive likely could have under Mexican fire.
That room also gave me the chills , as did the enclosure to the left of the main hall.
I wish I could have been in the crowd to hear you.
This is a little off topic. Several years ago some young men poured weed killer on a very old tree at the Alamo and the tree died despite efforts. Does anyone know what became of the idiots who did that?
May God curse the memory of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the pack of red redistributionists around him. Up until the traitorous creep from Georgia, the #1 most disastrous president in our history. Now he shares the honor.
Alamo personnel include:
Mrs. Dianne MacDiarmid DRT Alamo Committee Chairman 210-225-1391 Ext 231 Fax 210-354-3602 e-mail: alamochair@thealamo.org
David Stewart Director Tel: (210)225-1391, ext.13 Fax: (210)354-3602 Email: dstewart@thealamo.org
Dr. Richard Bruce Winders Historian and Curator Tel: (210)225-1391, ext. 27 Fax: (210)229-1343 Email: bwinders@thealamo.org
Ann Burney DRT Shrine Hostess Tel: (210)225-1391, ext. 14 Fax: (210)229-1343 Email: aburney@thealamo.org
Laura Garcia Executive Secretary and Event Coordinator Tel: (210)225-1391, ext. 34 Fax: (210)354-3602 Email: lgarcia@thealamo.org
Sally Koch Education Department Tel: (210) 225-1391, ext. 24 Fax: (210)229-1343 Email: skoch@thealamo.org
Mark Nauschutz Horticulturist Tel: (210)225-1391, ext. 29 Fax: (210)229-1343 Email: mnauschutz@thealamo.org
Virginia Garcia Maintenance Department Tel: (210)225-1391, ext. 30 Fax: (210)229-1343 Email: vgarcia@thealamo.org
You and me both!
"Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier!"
And the Alamo is indeed a special place, when you read the names of the men on the monument out front, and think of that cowardly skirt-wearing Santa Ana.
On the bagpipes?
How original.
The first two or three hundred times I heard "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes, I really liked it.
I have been in many places, and there are only three or four where I would want to live, and San Antonio is the only city where I would want to live.
*ping* to Alamo
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
