God Bless the Daughters of the Republic of Texas

(Dawn at the Alamo, 1905, by Henry McArdle) On a recent visit to the Texas Hill Country and the beautiful city of San Antonio, I was able to tour the Alamo (View this photo and View this photo), site of the most famous battle of the Texas Revolution. For those unfamiliar with the Alamo and its history, it is the place where David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Travis, along with over 200 other patriots, gave their lives at dawn on March 6, 1836 in defense of Texas independence.

Alan C. Huffines' well-researched and monumental Blood of Noble Men: The Alamo Siege and Battle is the ultimate reference work on the battle itself. For a great education on the historical background and history of the battle, read Huffines' book along with Alamo Sourcebook 1836: A Comprehensive Guide to the Alamo and the Texas Revolution. The latter provides about as much information as can be known in sourcebook form. Finally, the biographical work Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barrett Travis does a great job of highlighting and illuminating the lives and personalities of three Texas legends. The book is candid and spares no punches in separating myths from reality. 

The Alamo mission (church) building is now a Texas shrine within downtown San Antonio, the upkeep of which is undertaken and sustained by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). The DRT is an association of Texas women dedicated to perpetuating the memory of Texas pioneer families and soldiers of the Republic of Texas. Membership is open to women at least sixteen years of age who are personally acceptable to the association and who can prove lineal descent from men and women who rendered loyal service to Texas prior to its annexation by the United States in 1846.

Comments

[Ginger]

Mr. Hall,
I've been a reader and a fan of your blog for some time now. A friend of mine who I attended another university with directed me here, thinking I might be interested and I read your thoughts regularly now.

I have a couple of blogs myself. Being a true Southerner, one of them has to do with Southern topics, so I hope you don't mind that I've posted a link on my site to this entry, as it has to do with the great state of Texas.

Feel free to check it out. http://sweeticedtea.wordpress.com/

And keep the book suggestions and thoughts coming, please!

Thanks,
Ginger Horton

[BWG]

Ginger:

Delighted to hear from a fellow Southerner. I look forward to checking out your blog. The name sounds great.

Regards,

Bruce