The Blood of Heroes: The 13-Day Struggle for the Alamo--and the Sacrifice That Forged a Nation (46 page)

Lieutenant Colonel Rómulo Díaz de la Vega of the Zapadores Battalion.

General José Urrea, commander of the 600-man brigade that swept up the coast, conquering every Texian force it met.

This 1893 German illustration provides a reasonably accurate depiction of Mexican soldiers and officers at the time of the Texas Revolution.
(Courtesy of Joseph Musso)

David B. Kent, son of Alamo defender Andrew Kent. David had been part of the Alamo garrison but was sent out to gather cattle just before the arrival of the Mexican army. His father insisted he stay in Gonzales to care for their family.
(Courtesy of Chester Wilkes)

Attorney Robert “Three-Legged Willie” Williamson, good friend of William Travis and commander of an early ranging corps at the time of the Alamo siege.

Colonel James Walker Fannin, well-meaning but dilatory, commanded the men at Goliad.

Sam Houston, the six-foot-two force of nature who was unanimously voted commander in chief of the Texas armed forces.

Susanna Dickinson, wife of artillery captain Almeron Dickinson, survived the battle of the Alamo only to beg Santa Anna to allow her to keep her daughter, Angelina.

The Mexican dictator was charmed by the pretty, blue-eyed child and expressed his desire to adopt her for his own. Angelina was fifteen months old at the time of the Alamo battle.

The first known sketch of the Alamo, executed during the 1836 siege by Captain José Juan Sánchez-Navarro.
(Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas at Austin)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The following individuals and institutions were unfailingly gracious and generous with their time and knowledge: Jim Bradshaw of the Haley Memorial Library and History Center, who directed me to the late historian Marguerite Starr Crain, who told me of the circumstances surrounding the Clarinda Pevehouse Kegans account mentioning Travis and Bonham; Casey Greene, head of special collections at the Rosenberg Library, Galveston and Texas History Center; Pat Mosher at the Gonzales County Archives, who many times went above and beyond the call of duty; Alfred Rodriguez at the Bexar County Archives; Matt De Waelsche, archivist at the San Antonio Public Library; Donald Hoffman of Nixon, Texas, and Pat Meyer of La Vernia, Texas, for their generous assistance regarding the major crossings and
parajes
on the old Bexar–Gonzales road, and for their bonhomie while trudging through brush, grass, forest, and mud in search of historical sites; Steve Davis, Mary E. García, Connie Todd, Katie Salzmann, and G. G. Mortensen at the Southwestern Writers Collection, Texas State University.

At the Dallas Public Library, the seventh floor’s fabulous Texana department, overseen by manager Carol Roark (whose presence, helpfulness, and friendship will be missed) and her excellent staff—Beth Anderson, Brian Collins, Rachel Howell, and Steve Gaither—was very helpful.

I would also like to thank my friend Rick Barrick, for his constant encouragement; my brother, Brian Donovan, and his wife, Bridget, for their forbearance; and my good and longtime friends Pat Ryan and his wife, Julie Lebrun, for the same.

To Jennifer Ohlson and the employees and patrons of the White Rhino coffee house in Cedar Hill, Texas, who provided a suitable level of white noise and plenty of great tea—thank you.

Gratitude is also due to Elisabeth Kimber, who read this book from fore to aft and made it better; to Mike O’Keefe, Melissa Shultz, Rick Barrick, Jim Boylston, Todd Hansen, and Jeff Guinn, who read portions and did the same; to Mark Gardner, for the title; and especially to Tom Kailbourn, whose assistance on many subjects, from the Mexican army to many of the translations from Spanish, was invaluable.

The following people helped in ways too numerous to mention: Roger Borroel, Jim Boylston, Bruce Castleman, Wallace Chariton, Bill Chemerka, Craig Covner, Frank de la Teja, William DePalo, Gregg Dimmick, Bill Groneman, Todd Hansen, Stephen L. Hardin, Alan C. Huffines, Paul Hutton, Jake Ivey, Mike Koury, Mark Lemon, Timothy Matovina, Stephen L. Moore, Joseph Musso, Tim Niesen, Raymond Powell, Richard G. Santos, Skipper Steely, Herb True, Gary Zaboly, and especially Kevin Young, whose steady encouragement and assistance were more valuable than he knows.