Davy Crockett . By >William C. Sprague . (New York: The  Macmillan Company, 1915. [“True Stories of Great  Americans” series.] $0.50.)

This is a truly interesting narrative of the man whose name is emblazoned upon the history pages of Texas and whose memory is perpetuated through his glorious death in the Alamo.

The book, however, in one or two places, is at variance with events recorded in Texas history. It is regrettable that the author says, on page 146, that “in 1833 the Americans in Texas decided to strike for independence,” because, according to Texas history, they didn't. During that year the Texans took steps to obtain separation from Coahuila in order to establish a separate government, but no attempt was made to secure independence from Mexico. Without mentioning dates, the author, a little farther down on the same page, says, “The revolution was now on. The Americans organized a government; Henry Smith was elected governor, and Sam Houston was made commander-in-chief.” Smith and Houston were chosen to their respective offices by the Consultation in November, 1835, and not in 1833, as the book would lead one to believe. The fact that in the same paragraph it is stated that San Antonio was taken December 10, 1835, does not remove the obscurity in dates.

Again, on page 147, the author says the Texas Declaration of Independence was issued December 20, 1835, at Goliad. Nowhere does he mention the Declaration of Independence issued at Washington on the Brazos March 2, 1836. The reader of the book must bear in mind that up until March 2, 1836, the Texans were fighting for Mexico—fighting to preserve the Constitution of 1824—against Santa Anna's usurping power. As none of the members of the Alamo garrison knew independence had been declared, they did not know they were dying that an independent republic might rise from their ashes.

James C. Oslin .

How to cite:
Oslin, James C., "Davy Crockett", Volume 019, Number 3, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 318 - 319. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v019/n3/review_34.html
[Accessed Mon Nov 23 23:39:52 CST 2009]