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Post by bubbabod on Sept 6, 2007 9:57:29 GMT -5
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Post by Greg C. on Sept 6, 2007 12:10:47 GMT -5
Just saw that today and was about to post it but you beat me to it.  |
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Post by neferetus on Sept 6, 2007 14:43:06 GMT -5
John Wayne paraphrases a few lines of Crockett's last letter to his children in the SPIRIT OF THE ALAMO TV special.
"Another thing about Crockett," Wayne relates, "When he left for the Alamo, he sent these words to his children,"
I hope you will do the best you can; I will do the same. Don't be uneasy about me. I am with my friends.
"Worked out just about that way," Wayne continues. "He stayed with his friends and he did the best he could."
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Post by Greg C. on Sept 7, 2007 16:50:38 GMT -5
Ah, I remember that very well. Great little documentary that was...
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Post by neferetus on Jan 5, 2008 2:10:57 GMT -5
This just in from Ted Cole. Thanks, Ted.
PhiloBiblos
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Forensic Report on Crockett Letter
The Federal Forensic Associates report on the Davy Crockett letter almost purchased by the state of Texas for $550,000 concludes that the document was produced much later than the 1836 date written on it. An examination of the ink revealed the presence of high amounts of calcium and magnesium:
"Although these materials can be present due to environmental exposure, the abundance levels are more indicative of treatment of the exhibit [the letter] with chemicals normally used in the deacidification process employed by conservators to impede the acidic action of Iron based inks on paper. The presence of both Calcium and Magnesium indicate the use of multiple processes, either in conjunction with each other or at separate occasions. The routine use of Magnesium was not found until the 1980's with the introduction of large scale decidification equipment for the processing of many books and manuscripts in a timely manner."
The report concludes:
"Chemical examination data is consistent with deacidification processing of the exhibit by more that one process or on more than one occasion. The combination of these factors indicates that the exhibit was processed for deacidification within a relative short time after preparation of the writing. Given the availability of these processes, it is unlikely that the original writing would have occurred during the time frame represented by the date appearing on the exhibit.
The exhibit contains many points of concern relative to the source of paper, treatment of the exhibit, and condition of the ink line. Although we can not eliminate all possible scenarios regarding the preparation of the examined exhibit which would account for these results, it is the opinion of the undersigned that the most probable scenario is the preparation of the exhibit at a more recent time, within the twentieth century, with the subsequent processing for deacidification."
Everett Wilkie adds: "The report also notes that the sheet has a stationer's mark showing a train and reading 'Holyoke Co.' That alone would have been enough to debunk the idea that the letter dates from 1836 since the Holyoke Paper Company wasn't founded until 1857." The report, after noting the presence of the stationer's mark, goes on to say "Even though a further study of this image is outside the scope of this report, it may provide additional information regarding the timeliness of the paper."
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Post by neferetus on Jan 5, 2008 2:13:51 GMT -5
Todd Hansen has this to say about the letter in question in THE ALAMO READER, A Study In History, Stackpole Books, 2003, Page 651, 4.5.9.
David Crockett Letter, January 9, 1836
Crockett, David, to Wily and Margaret Flowers. January 9, 1836. Special Collections Library of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Facsimilie of original.
This letter was first published in Dallas News, June 1, 1913, and also in Folmsbee and Catron 1958, which notes that the original letter still existed in private hands. The letter is also quoted in full---though it differs in some details---by Amelia Williams in SWHQ 37:110, where she cited the newspaper date as January 1, although her original notes in CAH (Box 2N492/Folder 3) clearly read "Jun" rather than "Jan." There are numerous misspellings and missing punctuation throughout the letter. "Nacing doches" in the first paragraph is undoutedly Nacodoches. Folmsbee and Catron identified "Bordar" and "Chactaw Bro-" as possibly Bois d'Arc Creek and Choctaw Bayou, and they noted that William was his second oldest son and John Wesley was the eldest son.
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Post by seguin on Jan 5, 2008 21:29:31 GMT -5
Does Hansen reproduce the letter in full too?
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Post by neferetus on Jan 5, 2008 21:56:25 GMT -5
Does Hansen reproduce the letter in full too? Yes indeed. As you remarked, over on the Sentry, you need to get this book! |
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Post by seguin on Jan 5, 2008 22:58:09 GMT -5
I know! It´s got all the relevant letters and documents. A cornucopia of Alamo information!
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Post by neferetus on Jan 7, 2008 12:36:39 GMT -5
Closing page of the Crockett letter:  |
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Post by neferetus on Jan 7, 2008 12:37:59 GMT -5
Full text of the Crockett letter, from Todd Hansen's ALAMO READER, A Study In History, Stackpole Books, 2003, pgs. 651/652 (NOTE: I have not altered the misspellings, or lack of punctuation.)
Saint Augusteen Texas 9th, January, 1836
My Dear Sone & daughter,
This is the first I have had the opertunity to write you with convenience
I am now blessed with excellent health, and am in high spirits although
I have had many defficulties to encounter I have got through Safe and
have been received by everybody with the open cerimony of friendship
I am hailed with a harty welcom to this country A dinner and a party
of ladys have honored me with an invitation to partisipate both at
Nacing doches and at this place. The Cannon was fired here on my
arivel and I must say as to what I have seen of Texas, it is the garden
spot of the world the best land and the best prospects for health I
ever saw and I do believe it is a fortune to any man to come here
there is a world of country here to settle
It is not required to pay down for your League of land every man is
entitled to his head right of 4000-428 [sic]acres---they may make the
money to pay for it on the land I expect in all probility to settle on the
Bordar or Chactaw Bro- of Red River that i have no doubt is the richest
country in the world Good land and plenty of timber and the best springs
& good mill streams good range clear water---and every appearance of
good health and game plenty---It is in the pass where the Buffalo passes
from North to South and back twice a year and---and bees and honey
plenty---I have a great hope of getting the agency to settle that country
and I would be glad to see every friend I have to settle thare It would
be a fortune to them all I have taken the oath of government and have
enrolled my name as a volunteer for [unclear, perhaps "Six"?] monthe
and will set out for the Rio grand in a few days with the volunteers from
the United States But all volunteers is intitled to a vote for a member of
the convention or to be voted for and i have but little doubt of being
elected a member to form the constitution for this province I am rejoiced
at my fate I had rather be in my present situation than to be elected to
a seat in congress for life I am in hopes of making a fortune for myself
and family bad as my prospects has been
I have not wrote to William but have requested John to direct him what to
do I hope you show him this letter and also Brother John as it is not
convenient at this time for me to write them I hope you all will do the
best you can and I will do the same Do not be unesy abot me I am among
friends---I must close with great respects Your affectionate father Farewell
David Crockett
to Wily & Margaret Flowers
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Post by neferetus on Jan 7, 2008 12:48:52 GMT -5
One thing I noticed right off the bat, when comparing the text in Hansen's ALAMO READER with the copy of the letter (above) is that, while Hansen's states in the closing paragraph, "Do not be unesy about me I am among friends", the above letter states "Do not be uneasy about me I am with my friends"
So "among friends" has been changed to "with my friends", while "unesy" has been corrected to "uneasy". The letter is difficult to read, but, can you find any additional discrepancies?
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Post by Cole_blooded on Jan 7, 2008 18:13:17 GMT -5
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Post by seguin on Jan 7, 2008 20:02:34 GMT -5
Very interesting story indeed! At least we have the two slightly different copies of the original letter ( if there ever was an original letter, that is)...
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Post by neferetus on Jan 7, 2008 20:24:35 GMT -5
As I think I mentioned earlier, John Wayne used the "Don't be uneasy about me I am with m friends" quote in his SPIRIT OF THE ALAMO TV special. I wondered what source Wayne used?
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Post by seguin on Jan 7, 2008 23:45:43 GMT -5
Maybe Shackford´s Crockett bio ...
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Post by neferetus on Jan 8, 2008 2:07:15 GMT -5
Maybe Shackford´s Crockett bio ... Oh really? That's one I do not have. Is it a good read? |
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Post by seguin on Jan 8, 2008 21:33:23 GMT -5
I have´nt read it. It´s just my bid for the book Wayne got the Crockett quote from. It was mentioned in the article Ted put up a link to. The book came out 50 years ago and is still supposed to be one of the best on Crockett. It also mentions the name of the guy who supposedly owed the original letter. I got that info from the article. Maybe you can get a cheap copy on abebooks...
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