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Big John would turn in his grave: Davy Crockett's defiant stand at the Alamo 'lasted just 20 minutes', claim historians
"Big John would turn in his grave: Davy Crockett's defiant stand at the Alamo 'lasted just 20 minutes', claim historians
* Americans cut down trying to escape pre-dawn attack
* Diary says Davy Crockett was captured and executed
* James Bowie was 'bayoneted in his bed'
* Hostile reception to new historical account in Texas
But, according to a new book, the brave last stand depicted by Hollywood stars like John Wayne was a myth.
In reality, author Phillip Thomas Tucker claimed many of the Americans who died at the Alamo were cut down as they tried to escape from the besieged garrison after a surprise pre-dawn attack.
But in his book, 'Exodus from the Alamo,' Dr Tucker painted a much less glamorous ending.
Using recently discovered Mexican accounts of the battle, the historian wrote that the defenders of the Alamo in the war for Texan independence did not die defending their garrison under brilliant sunlight.
Instead, the Mexicans launched a surprise pre-dawn attack, climbing the walls under cover of darkness and causing mayhem in the fort while most of its defenders were still asleep.
Bowie is rumoured to have been bayoneted in his bed.
According to a diary kept by Colonel Jose Enrique de la Pena, an officer in Santa Anna's army, Crocket was captured with a handful of others and executed.
Although the accuracy of the diary is disputed, he claimed Crocket and his fellow prisoners were hacked to death with swords.
And most of the Mexican casualties inflicted within the fort were said to be the result of 'friendly fire.'"
"Big John would turn in his grave: Davy Crockett's defiant stand at the Alamo 'lasted just 20 minutes', claim historians
* Americans cut down trying to escape pre-dawn attack
* Diary says Davy Crockett was captured and executed
* James Bowie was 'bayoneted in his bed'
* Hostile reception to new historical account in Texas
But, according to a new book, the brave last stand depicted by Hollywood stars like John Wayne was a myth.
In reality, author Phillip Thomas Tucker claimed many of the Americans who died at the Alamo were cut down as they tried to escape from the besieged garrison after a surprise pre-dawn attack.
But in his book, 'Exodus from the Alamo,' Dr Tucker painted a much less glamorous ending.
Using recently discovered Mexican accounts of the battle, the historian wrote that the defenders of the Alamo in the war for Texan independence did not die defending their garrison under brilliant sunlight.
Instead, the Mexicans launched a surprise pre-dawn attack, climbing the walls under cover of darkness and causing mayhem in the fort while most of its defenders were still asleep.
Bowie is rumoured to have been bayoneted in his bed.
According to a diary kept by Colonel Jose Enrique de la Pena, an officer in Santa Anna's army, Crocket was captured with a handful of others and executed.
Although the accuracy of the diary is disputed, he claimed Crocket and his fellow prisoners were hacked to death with swords.
And most of the Mexican casualties inflicted within the fort were said to be the result of 'friendly fire.'"
