Scots at the Alamo

[Riverkilt]

The new (July 2009) issue of True West Magazine had an article on page 72 promoting a book titled My Name is Falon, One Woman's Saga from Scotland to the Texas Frontier by Kim Wiese. Published by Brown Books $24.99

The short article is titled The Story Behind Scots at the Alamo with a quote from the author, "I was fascinated with the role the Scots played in early Texas history...I used this connection to tell a different kind of story about the sacrafices and long-term consequences of the Battle of the Alamo."

While the Scots are not mentioned in her novel the article points out that four Scotsmen were at the Alamo; Richard W. Ballentine, John McGregor, Issac Robinson, and David L.Wilson - all in their 20s. The article notes that McGregor had his bagpipes with him and played while Davy Crockett fiddled....

And the article notes Jim Bowie was of Scottish descent.

There's not much of the storyline reported other than to say that the main character, Falon Mcvail is representative of the women who arrived in Texas in its early years.

Maybe someone will read the novel and let us know if its worth the $25. That True West thought enough of it to give it such a long write up says something....though the write up is about the book rather than a book review.

No, mention of kilts in the write up....but maybe...in the novel....

Ron

[MonsterDon]

Deep Roots
by Wilma Heberling
Texas Heroes
Presented at Tartan Day at the Alamo, 2008

Good Evening:

To quote an often seen T-shirt slogan: I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as soon as I could!” I was, in fact, born in Scotland, and I am honored, tonight to be asked to pay tribute to the heroes of the Alamo.

It is not my intent to relive the historic Siege…I leave that to those much more qualified than I am… The DRT who preserve and protect the Shrine, and authors such as Walter Lord in his A Time to Stand and Carl Peterson, who covers it in his book Now’s the Day and Now’s the Hour.

Because it is Tartan Day, I am limiting myself to a few of Scottish descent and four who were born in Scotland. I would also like to help you understand the tremendous contribution Scots and those of Scottish descent have made to the development and growth of Texas.

First, who were the heroes of the Alamo? The answer is, of course, every single person who died fighting for the freedom of Texas, but I will single some out. There was James Bowie, a descendant of the Maryland Bowies who emigrated from Stirling, in Scotland. The name comes from the Gaelic, Boughe, but became anglicized. His ancestors originated in the Hebridean Islands. Jim Bowie was born in Kentucky, and made his way to Texas following the trail of the soldier adventurer. He was a leading participant in the battle of Concepcion, and was in charge of a volunteer force during the
Siege by Santa Anna’s forces. At the time of the fall of the Alamo, however, he was confined to his cot with pneumonia, and that is where he was when he was killed. David Crocket, better known as “Davie,” is another well-known hero. His ancestors were Ulster-Scots—sometimes known as “Scotch/Irish.” These are Scots who either left Scotland on their own for Northern Ireland or were transported there by the likes of Oliver Cromwell. His father fought in the American War for Independence. Crocket was well known in his native Tennessee. He was hardly only the “mountain man” of Disney fame. He had served as a Congressman before he came to Texas after his congressional defeat in 1835. In a famous parting speech he said, “Since you have chosen to elect a man with a timber toe to succeed me, you may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas!” There he enrolled as a volunteer. He followed Col. William Travis, who was a Whig, like Crocket. We may not know all the reasons that drew Crocket to the Alamo, but that is where he died, a true Texas hero, defending Texas freedom.

Not so well-known are the four native-born Scottish defenders. Richard Ballentine was born in Scotland and immigrated to Alabama with his family. From there he sailed to Texas on board the Santiago, on Dec 9th, 1835. He and the other passengers signed a statement declaring, “We have left every endearment at our respective places of abode in the U.S.A. to maintain and defend our brethren, at peril of our lives, liberties and fortunes.” He joined the volunteers defending the freedom of Texas, and died during the Siege of the Alamo. He was 22 when he died.

Isaac Robinson was born in Scotland and came to Texas from Louisiana. He took part in the Siege of Bexar. He later served in the Alamo garrison as a 4th sergeant in the artillery. He was 28 when he died here, at the Alamo.

David Wilson was born in Scotland and lived in Nacogdoches with his wife Ophelia. He became a volunteer with Captain Dimmit’s troop, and remained at the Alamo after Dimmit left. He fought courageously for Texas and died aged 29.

Last, there was John MacGreggor. Born in Aberfeldy, in Perth, Scotland and forever etched in memory as “the Piper of the Alamo. Some speculate that he left Scotland as a result of the Highland Clearances, when Highlanders were forcibly removed from their land to make way for sheep. Whatever the truth, he also settled in Nacodoches. He was a sergeant in Captain Carey’s Artillery Co. It is thought he accompanied Crocket and his Tennessee volunteers to the Alamo. That is where he died, March 6, 1836, aged 28.

There were others of course, many of them: James Burns, Robert Campbell, James Ewing, John Forsyth, Andrew Harrison, Jesse MacCoy, William MacDowell, James Robertson, William Sutherland, David Wilson and the great-grand uncle of Ellis Buchanan, the President of the San Antonio Scottish Society, James Buchanan. These and the other 180 plus men who died fighting a force of about thousands, are who we honor this Tartan Day evening. We also pay tribute to all the Scots who carved their niche in this great state. Huge numbers did not come here in waves of several hundreds at a time, like the Germans did, but they made their mark.

We should remember that almost half of Texas 254 counties are named after Scots. That our other heroes like Sam Houston and Steven Austin, called “The Father of Texas,”, are of Scottish descent. That our Capitol in Austin was not only financed by but partially built by Scottish stone-masons. That the blood, sweat and tears of Scots raised Texas cattle and farmed Texas land, they ran the government and settled the prairies. We must remember them all because they are at the heart of Texas greatness. But most of all,
tonight, we will remember the heroes and “Remember the Alamo.”

Thank you very much.

[JolyStNicholas]

Again we are gaining a grand education here at XMarks, thru our fellow members, thank you very much!

[Colonel MacNeal]

I was very upset when I read my daughter's Junior High "Texas History" textbook. The book made a great pretense at pandering to various ethnic groups in Texas, the Anglos, the Hispaniards, the Germans, and the Irish, but it said nothing about the Scots. So I decided to teach my bonnie little lass the Scottish history of Texas myself.

I've also looked at textbooks in other states, which say that the Anglos basically stole Texas from the Mexicans, on account of greed. The truth is that there were many Tejano soldiers and civilian Tejano patriots in the Texas Independence movement, that were likewise fed up with the centralized tyranny coming out of the Mexican capital.

So - I guess what I'm trying to say, is be aware of what your kids are taught at school - there's a good chance it's crrrraaappp!

[macwilkin]

So - I guess what I'm trying to say, is be aware of what your kids are taught at school - there's a good chance it's crrrraaappp!

Not all of it is, sir. Some of us who do teach take our professions very seriously. Granted, I teach at the college level, but I strive to teach American history from as much of an objective view as possible.

Todd

[Colonel MacNeal]

Aye, there's a good chance it's not crap too. The main point is to be aware.
Cheers, ColMac

Not all of it is, sir. Some of us who do teach take our professions very seriously. Granted, I teach at the college level, but I strive to teach American history from as much of an objective view as possible.

Todd

[KFCarter]

Not all of it is, sir. Some of us who do teach take our professions very seriously. Granted, I teach at the college level, but I strive to teach American history from as much of an objective view as possible.

Todd

Doing a pretty darn good job of teaching at the "X Marks the Scot" level, too, as I can personally attest!!

:ootd:

[Dan R Porter]

Not all of it is, sir. Some of us who do teach take our professions very seriously. Granted, I teach at the college level, but I strive to teach American history from as much of an objective view as possible.

Todd

WHy teach at all, we now have wikipedia

[macwilkin]

Post deleted.

[Bigkahuna]

I just wanted to add that there were also two Walkers at the Alamo.