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Paul Perry writes a weekly opinion
column for his local daily paper. Following is a sampling of those
articles. All were originally published in the Waxahachie Daily Light, although some were subsequently published elsewhere, such as in DallasBlog.com.
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Paul D. Perry
Published on March 18, 2007
Last Dawn at the Alamo
The grey and white stone walls glowed dull red in the late afternoon
sun in northern Mexico. The cold wind smelled of dust and death when it
should have whispered of the rebirth that would soon be spring. Defeat
threatened the rebels inside from the sharpened lances and swelling
numbers of those gathering outside the wall.
No more reinforcements were expected for the rebels. The small, diverse
band of dreamers and patriots were united by three things: a
soul-gnawing loneliness, a desire for freedom and enemy cannon fire.
Gregorio Esparza staggered from the wave of an explosion. As he
steadied, he remembered to breathe. His ears were now dull from a noise
that no human ear is designed to handle. Fear made his grip on the
stone wall too strong. His left hand ached. A day before, splinters had
exploded through his rough wool tunic into his forearm during a
Centralista cannonade, while he stood guard behind a low wooden wall.
The few small shards of cedar and oak the surgeon hadn't picked out
were now just an irritant. The tattered sleeve of his tunic was
splashed with a copper stain. The cannon Esparza now guarded spit
defiance in return. Those who had thrown the protections of the Mexican
constitution of 1824 in the dirt were paying a price. Dreams of empire,
money and false glory were finding a cost in the lives of the blindly
obedient as well as the rebels.
Gregorio's compatriots would honor their own dream of liberty. Their
unit's flag, a Mexican tricolor with two stars in the white stripe,
flew from the fort. Let that pompous Usurper note he was opposed by
people of his own blood but with very different ideals. Maybe the dream
of the Mexican constitution could live on in a new nation.
Where had the Centralistas' troops been when this land was being
settled? Always their families had to fear the Comanche when they
tended livestock and crops. Thank God some foreign settlement had been
allowed. The foreigners contributed to the common defense and helped to
thin the wolves.
It was hard for Gregorio Esparza's compatriots not to laugh or even
spit when they heard men proclaiming the Centralista Commander by his
titles of office. Esparza's compatriots' callouses witnessed that they
knew what work was like; the Usurper's work was treachery to an ideal,
to freedom itself. He called himself General and President of Mexico,
with a golden braided uniform, a high hat and, of all things, feathers
in that very same hat. He had promised death to all who opposed him
here. No surrender would be honored. Gregorio's wife and children were
sheltered inside the fort. Would they see him die? Surely his family
would be spared.
Though they knew his threats were real, Juan Antonio Badillo, Antonio
Fuentes and the others of his unit had no regard for this man who would
trod upon their liberties. Let that arrogant ass and the Centralistas
come. There will be many widows among the men who will try to come over
this wall. This fort was once a mission; for the defenders it was now
again holy ground.
Maybe with luck or providence they would send that Peacock down the
same bitter road of defeat that his brother-in-law, General Cos, had
traveled just a short time before when this very fort was taken from
him. Someone, maybe it was Juan or Antonio, cracked a joke about
demoting Santa Anna from Peacock to Hen. Many of the foreigners who
shared Gregario's side of the wall caught the joke; more than a few
understood some Spanish. One of the defender's compatriots sharpened a
small dirk and grinned.
The post commander, the one named Travis, had matured in his short time
in command. Gregorio's compatriots had noticed. Maybe it was Antonio's
father who once said something about the man you wanted at your side
during a war was not always the man you would have as guest in your
house. Colonel Travis was now both. There was one they called Davy;
some called him Colonel as well. He was a rare combination. He told
tales in a foreign tongue that some of the Tejanos could not understand
but somehow they still liked how he told them. A compatriot pointed out
he had been a politician, but, God, he could shoot. Jim Bowie was ill.
He would be missed. It was said he was the greatest warrior of all, and
he was also favored by the Tejanos. He had lived as a Mexican.
******
The men I have mentioned died at the Alamo. I have taken some liberties
in fictionalizing details of the true account of their courage and
sacrifice. No doubt these men were even more noble at that moment then
I have tried to portray them. Regardless of language or background,
March 6, 1836, was their last dawn. The first time I toured the Alamo,
I was 10 or 11. I remember the Spanish names etched along with the
other heroes that fought for Texas. When I visit the shrine of Texas
liberty, I am still overcome with a sense of the sacrifice for those
who volunteered and opted to die there. This was a selfless act in
defense of kith, kin and community. These men were given the
opportunity to leave their post by their commander. In the face of
certain death they still chose to stay. This was a noble act. Gregorio
Esparza's family was allowed to leave the Alamo after the siege and his
death. Unlike the other defenders, his body was not burned but was
buried due to the pleading of his brother who had once fought for the
Centralistas. Gregorio's children remembered the aftermath.
The War for Texas Independence is now ignored in some quarters and
reviled in others. I believe as a society we forget the sacrifice of
those who fought for self-determination and freedom to our own
detriment. No hero is perfect and no cause is without imperfection.
Common sense and my faith, and probably yours, teaches that no human
motivation is absolutely pure, but where are our celebrations of our
own freedom? Where were you on March 6th of this year? What did your
children discuss in school that day? What stories did you tell your
children?
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