Alamo Diary

University Gets 1840s Alamo Diary

By The Associated Press, December 16, 1998

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A Mexican army officer's 1840s diary that defies the popular legend of Davy Crockett's death at the Alamo is being donated to the University of Texas, which tried but failed to buy the controversial papers last month. "We're delighted, needless to say,'' said Don E. Carleton, director of the university's Center for American History. "It's a very valuable scholarly resource. It's one of the best accounts of the Texas Revolution that we have.''

The memoir, purportedly an eyewitness account written by Lt. Col. Jose Enrique de la Pena, says Crockett was captured and executed March 6, 1836, along with other volunteers who were defending the Spanish mission in their fight for independence from Mexico. Pena's account defies the traditional story: that Crockett valiantly fought Mexican troops to the end of the 13-day siege, wielding his long-rifle, Betsy, like a club before he fell near the doors of the Alamo's chapel. Though the Alamo fell, the Texans eventually won independence. The Republic of Texas was created later in 1836; it became part of the United States in 1845.

The diary had been at the John Peace Library at the University of Texas at San Antonio for nearly 25 years but was sold by John Peace III, son of the man for whom the library was named. The 200-page manuscript and associated documents, about 700 pages in all, were sold at an auction to two unidentified Texans for $350,000 last month in Los Angeles. The university revealed Tuesday that the buyers were alumni Charles W. Tate of Houston and Thomas O. Hicks of Dallas. Both men have a history of donating to the university. The university also revealed it was among the bidders. "We made a huge effort at the auction to bring this manuscript back to Texas,'' Carleton said. "We are delighted that these donors have acted so generously.''

Many experts question the authenticity of the account, said to have been dictated in Spanish by Pena in the 1840s. Carleton said it says nothing shameful about Crockett, who "fought to the last,'' and that it offers wider insights "about the conduct of war.''