The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 35, July 1931 - April, 1932 Page: 129
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James Butler Bonham: A Consistent Rebel
Scott's novels were upon the young men of the eighteen-thirties.
Now James Butler Bonham may never have read any of them
but his romantic career in Texas is true to the hero-type of
Scott's novels-and not Bonham only, but Travis, too."1'
Before Bonham reached Texas the Texans had had several
skirmishes with the Mexicans, had captured several forts, sent an
emissary to Washington, called a convention, declared their in-
dependence and elected Henry Smith governor and Sam Houston
commander of their army. A part of the old Mission of San
Antonio de Valero, was the fort known as the Alamo, commanded
by Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Neill. In response to Neill's re-
quest for reinforcements, Houston sent Colonel James Bowie with
a small force, and Governor Smith sent Colonel Travis with a
few more. A further addition to the little garrison was made by
the arrival of a dozen Tennessee backwoodsmen, led by the re-
doubtable Davy Crockett.12
Just when Bonham reached Texas, and when he entered the
Alamo is in doubt. According to one account he had joined
Travis at San Felipe.3 But a recent investigator feels sure that
Bonham was at the Alamo several weeks before Travis, and on
January 26, 1836, acted as chairman of a committee appointed
by a mass meeting of the soldiers of the garrison, convened to
send a message of confidence and support to Governor Smith,
against the Council. This student thinks Bonham may have gone
in with Bowie's little company.14 Yet Bonham's brother Milledge
says that General Houston told him, in 1838, that he (Houston)
"requested Colonel Bonham, on his leaving for San Antonio to
urge Colonel Travis, commanding at the Alamo, to fall back and
unite his forces with the main army to more successfully defend
the country against the invaders."'5 Be that as it may, Bonham
certainly entered the fort some time during January or Febru-
ary, 1836. Neill's health compelled him to leave the fort in the
"Letter of February 10, 1931, to the author.
"Dictionary of American Biography, VI (New York, 1930), 555.
"Brown, in Texas Farm and Ranch, May 15, 1889; of. also Columbia
(S. C.) State, April 26, 1914; letter from Judge M. L. Bonham to the
author, March 9, 1917.
"'Letter to the author from Miss Amelia Williams, of Austin, Texas,
May 20, 1925.
"Memorandum on the life of J. B. Bonham, in the papers of Milledge
Luke Bonham, in possession of the author.129
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 35, July 1931 - April, 1932, periodical, 1932; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101092/m1/133/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.