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The Alamo Messenger
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December 2014
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Remembering Through Education
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William R. Carey is an important but lesser known member of the Alamo garrison. In fact the thirty-three-year old Carey was, as he explains in this letter, the actual commander of the Alamo's garrison! Carey wrote to his family describing the Battle of Béxar and the events that transpired in San Antonio following the Texas victory over General Martin Perfecto de Cos in December 1835. Keep Reading
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A great deal of research and effort has gone into creating the historical interpretation at the Alamo. These bullet points on Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution summarize the Alamo's official interpretation and may be useful to educators who teach Texas History. Keep Reading
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Firearms of the Texas Frontier Exhibit Videos
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 | | Volcanic Repeating Pistol |
 | | Henry Repeating Rifle |
 | | Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy" |
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The Alamo will be closed December 24th & 25th.
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Greetings!
Greetings and welcome to the December 2014 edition of the Alamo Messenger. This month's newsletter is jam packed with goodies, including a new monthly column that looks at the evidence behind some of the greatest myths about the Alamo and the Texas Revolution. In addition to our usual columns, we also have a special, for newsletter readers only, update on the Phil Collins Texana Collection including pictures of some of the artifacts.
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Feature Article
The Battle of Béxar: Forgotten Fight for San AntonioMention the Texas Revolution and the Battle of the Alamo most likely comes to mind. The epic battle has dominated the story of Texas' struggle for independence since it  occurred in 1836. However, historians and students of history know that the Battle of the Alamo may not have happened if the Battle of Béxar had not preceded it. Keep Reading
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Artifact of the Month
Deaf Smith's Pistol and Accoutrements
 | | Photo Credit: Ernesto Rodriguez, III |
This bag, pistol, knife and charm once belonged to Texas Patriot Erastus "Deaf" Smith. Smith is possibly best known as a scout for Sam Houston who encountered Susanna Dickinson after the fall of the Alamo and for his role in destroying Vince's Bridge just before the Battle of San Jacinto. These artifacts were donated to the Alamo by Phil Collins and are part of the Phil Collins Texana Collection.
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Stories of Texas Women
Cynthia Ann Parker  On May 19, 1836, less than a month after the Battle of San Jacinto, a large group of Comanches and Kiowas approached Fort Parker, a small settlement in central Texas about an hour east of the present day city of Waco. Inside the fort were six men, eight women and nine children, all members of the prodigious Parker clan who had immigrated to Texas from Illinois in 1833. Keep Reading |
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Legend vs. Evidence
Were General Cos and Santa Anna Brothers in Law?
One of the most enduring misconceptions regarding the Battle of Béxar is a supposed family relationship between Antonio López de Santa Anna and Martin Perfecto de Cos. As the legend goes, Santa Anna and Cos were brothers-in-law. Hence, Cos' loss of San Antonio de Béxar brought dishonor to the entire family, a dishonor that Santa Anna vowed to erase by recapturing the town. Keep Reading
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This Month in Texas History
December 29, 1845: Texas Annexed to the United States
On December 29, 1845, United States President James K. Polk signed the Texas Admission Act, officially turning the Republic of Texas into the state of Texas. From a  modern perspective the annexation of Texas into the United States seems to be a foregone conclusion. However, in actuality the road to statehood was a bumpy one and the destination was hardly preordained. Keep Reading
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Update on the Phil Collins Texana Collection
After months of anticipation and waiting, T he Phil Collins Texana Collection has arrived at the Alamo. Keep Reading for an update on the collection and to view behind the scenes photos of the accessioning process. Keep Reading
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Thank you for reading the December 2014 edition of the Alamo Messenger. Join us next month as we continue our our month-by-month survey of the Texas Revolution. As always, we welcome your feedback on how we can continue to improve our newsletter and provide our subscribers with quality content.
Happy Holidays, The Alamo Education Department Staff
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 | At the Alamo October 15th - April 15
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