"BORN ON A MOUNTAINTOP IN TENNESSEE, GREENEST STATE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE"

DAVY CROCKETT  BORN IN EAST TENNESSEE

Limestone, Tennessee (JFK+50) The song says that Davy Crockett* was "born on a mountain top in Tennessee," and while he was indeed born in the Volunteer State, he was not born on a mountaintop.

The future United States Congressman was born along the Nolichucky River here in Limestone** on August 17, 1786.  Davy later moved with his family to Morristown where his father operated a tavern.

Davy apprenticed in Christianburg, Virginia for four years and returned to Tennessee to marry Polly Finley.  The couple, with their three children, moved to Franklin County in 1813.

Davy served in the Tennessee Militia and then moved to Lawrence County where is was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 1821.  He was defeated in a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives but was elected in 1824.  Davy served Tennessee's 9th District 1827-1831.

Defeated for re-election in 1835, Davy Crockett joined the fight for liberty against Mexican dictator Santa Anna along with some of his "Tennessee Volunteers." He and they lost their lives in the Battle of the Alamo near San Antonio on March 6, 1836.

SOURCE

"David Crockett: The Lion of the West," by Michael Wallis, W.W. Norton Company, New York, 2011.

*David "Davy" Crockett (1786-1836) was an American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier & politician.  DC became known as the 'King of the Wild Frontier.' His legend was assured with the role played by Fess Parker in Walt Disney's 1954-1956 TV series.

**Limestone, TN is located on the western border of Washington County & the eastern border of Greene County in NE TN.  It is home to the David Crockett Birthplace State Park.

 

 Crockett Tavern

Limestone, Tennessee (2009)

Photo by Victor9876 at en.wikipedia

SIEGE OF THE ALAMO BEGINS

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1869

TEXAN FORCES AT THE ALAMO SURROUNDED BY SANTA ANNA 

San Antonio, Texas (JFK+50) One hundred and eighty years ago today, February 24, 1836, several thousand Mexican soldiers under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna surrounded one hundred and fifty Texan rebels within the compound of the Alamo, an old abandoned Spanish mission, here in San Antonio on the first day of what was to be a thirteen day siege.

San Antonio de Bexar and the Alamo had been captured by Texan forces in December 1835.  The old mission had 21 pieces of artillery and most of them were installed on the walls by chief engineer Green B. Jameson.  When Jim Bowie arrived on January 18, 1836, he saw the Alamo as a necessary buffer between the Mexican army and the Texan settlements to the north.

It was clear, however, that the Alamo could not hold without reinforcements. General Sam Houston, seeing the futility of the situation, recommended the old mission be abandoned and destroyed.  That advice, obviously, would not followed.

Colonel Bowie, down with what has been described as typhoid pneumonia, relinquished command to Colonel William Barrett Travis* who responded to Santa Anna's demand to surrender with a cannon shot.  Colonel Travis then sent out a message to his comrades at Gonzales.  He wrote...

"The enemy in large force is in sight.  We want men and provisions.  Send them to us.  We have 150 men and are determined to defend the garrison to the last."

*William Barrett Travis (1809-1836) was born in South Carolina and studied law in Claiborne, AL.  WBT founded the Claiborne Herald & passed the bar in 1829.  His law practice foundered and he fell into debt.  WBT left for Texas, joined the rebel forces and commanded forces at the Alamo.

SOURCES

"ALAMO, BATTLE OF THE," Texas State Historical Association, www.tshaonline.org/

"13 Days of Glory," The Alamo:  The Shrine of Texas Liberty, www.thealamo.org/

Colonel William B. Travis

Alamo Commander