You missed my point. Crockett and all the rest knew Santa Ana was not a man of reason and therefore knew they would be executed if they surrendered. Santa Ana had told them his intentions in no uncertain terms.
Santa Ana didn't surrender at San Jacinto but was, in fact, captured while trying to escape dressed as a peasant. Sam Houston was not the barbarian Santa Ana was and thus did not execute the soldiers whom were captured. Likewise, Lee knew Grant would not execute those who surrendered. Crockett knew otherwise. Thus my question, why would he fight like hell and then surrender knowing he would be killed anyway. Finally, Mrs. Dickinson said later that Crockett had said to her, "I'd rather die out on that field that die trapped in here." He knew he was going to die therefore I'll never believe he surrendered.
But, I do agree that IF he did, his actions would not make him less a hero.
Forgive me my passion but my wife is a direct descendant of Crockett and I get a little riled whenever I hear this story about him surrendering and claiming to have been a tourist "trapped" inside the compound.
I have read, but being at work cannot find the book to footnote, the surrender this way.
Crockett and six others were holed up in the long barracks savagely fighting for every second of life when the soldiers who had been advancing on them pulled back. A Mexican General called out to them, 'Do you hear that? The fighting is over. You are all that remain. Surrender and I swear that you will be treated with Honor as true fighting men."
After a few seconds of listening for fighting nearby, Crockett called out his surrender. They were led from the mission and taken to Santa Anna's command tent by the General and his men. When they walked in Santa Anna was going over a map. After a second, the brutal dictator lifted his eyes to look at the prisoners and said, "I told you no prisoners, kill them immediately." Crockett pulled a knife from his belt and lunged at Santa Anna but 6 bayonets found his chest.
I believe that this was from a memoir of the Mexican General who he had surrendered to. To me, this death is no less heroic or honorable than if he had died in the courtyard.