LOT #60039 |
Sold on Dec 2, 2023 for: Not Sold
Thomas Gay Broadside Announcing the Fall of the Alamo. ...
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Description
The First Announcement of the Fall of the Alamo in San Felipe de Austin: "I have just received information by Col. William T. Austin of the fall of the Alimo [sic]"
Thomas Gay Broadside Announcing the Fall of the Alamo. One
page, 7.75" x 10", [San Felipe de Austin: Printed by Baker &
Bordens. March 16 or 17, 1836].Addressed "To the People of Texas," this is the first announcement of the massacre made at San Felipe with speculations about the fate of Goliad. Signed Thomas Gay in type on behalf of the Standing Committee, and attested by F.W. Johnson and Edward Bailey. Housed in a custom quarter brick leather and marbled board folding case.
It reads, "Fellow Citizens, I have just received information by Col. William T. Austin of the fall of the Alimo [sic], and massacre [sic] of our countrymen in that garrison. Goliad is attacked ere this and possibly has shared the fate of the Alimo [sic]. The enemy had advanced as far as Gonzales on the evening of the 14th, with a detachment of about 2000 Cavelry [sic]. Gen Houston is on the retreat to Bremnans on the Colorado with about 500 Infantry. Gen. Santa Anna is at the head of the army which is at this time from 6 to 7000 strong, so says Mrs. Dickinson who was in the Alimo [sic] when it was stormed. John Sequin gives the same information. Gen. Santa Anna is already advanced into the interior of our country. Our force in the field at this time does not exceed 1000.
The united action and exertion of all are now necessary to the salvation of Texas and the cause in which we are engaged. It is confidently expected that all will turn out and join the main body at Burnham's, or such other point as they occupy. All-all, must be satisfied of the necessity as well as importance of making a desperate defence [sic] in support of their lives, fortunes, and sacred liberty. It is confidently hoped that none, in this hour of trial and danger, will prove recreant, but, like men and freemen, maintain all at the point of the bayonet."
Streeter notes: "This is the first news at San Felipe of the Fall of the Alamo" and that the copy at the Texas State Library "bears the printer's endorsement that 150 copies were printed at a cost of $10."
The fall of the Alamo remains perhaps the most remembered and mythicized battle of the Texas Revolution. On October 2, 1835, 180 Texans engaged the Mexican Army outside of Gonzales, thereby officially starting the War for Texas Independence. After their narrow victory, revolutionaries began to lay siege Mexican-occupied San Antonio de Béxar. By the end of the month, nearly 400 volunteer soldiers had arrived under the command of Stephen F. Austin. Texan and Mexican forces clashed repeatedly throughout the next two months as the latter failed to dislodge the former from San Antonio.
On February 23, 1836, an army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna arrived outside a newly-fortified Alamo. After troops inside the fort failed to agree to Santa Anna's terms for surrender, the general began his siege. On March 6, the thirteenth day of the siege, Santa Anna attacked the garrison and the battle began. The fighting lasted only ninety minutes and all the Alamo defenders were killed. Only two weeks later, Texans faced another devastating blow when Mexican General José Urrea defeated and captured James Walker Fannin's forces at Goliad, as speculated in the broadside here.
The massacre at the Alamo and the defeat at Goliad galvanized both the revolutionary troops and Texas sympathizers in the United States. Word of events at San Antonio reached Austin ten days later when Sam Houston's aide-de-camp arrived with the news. From there, Thomas Gay printed the broadside feature here to be circulated throughout Texas and the United States. Only a month later, soldiers led by Sam Houston attacked Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, captured the general, and ended the war.
Condition: Restoration has added paper along the lower left margin and lower right corner. Paper added at the lower right has "S. F. Austin / No. 3" written on verso. Adhesive staining where paper is added.
References: Streeter 134, citing a single copy at the Texas State Library.
Auction Info
2023 December 2 The Ted Lusher Texas History Collection, Part One Signature® Auction #6281 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
2nd
Saturday
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