A Line in the Sand

Here's how we learned Texas history back in Kingsville, in the 1930's -- From a little cartoon book entitled "Texas History Movies." The cartoons ran in the Dallas News in 1926-27. We were handed booklets of the series in about 1938, and read them in a class at Flato School. You can get your own copy from Amazon. Those cartoons were, for me, visual evidence of my mother's Texas history stories.

Here's Colonel William B. Travis in the Alamo, drawing a line with his sword, inviting all who would stay and fight to the death to step across that line. Jim Bowie had to be carried across. Only Moses Rose, a Frenchman, declined. He slipped the walls and escaped.

Rose is the only source of information about that line in the sand. And he didn't remark on it until two decades later. None of the handful of survivors, women and children, ever commented on Travis' line.

Today's historians question the event. Did it really happen? Did Travis draw his sword and scratch that line?

The thing is, in times past, others used that ploy to rally their comrades. Ben Milam drew a line when he challenged Texians to attack the Mexican army holding San Antonio - "Who will go into San Antonio with Old Ben Milam?"

Perhaps Moses Rose remembered Ben Milan's line?

Ben Milam's assault was successful. In vicious hand-to-had, house-to-house fighting, the Mexicans were defeated. General Cos surrendered the city to the Texians. But Ben Milam was killed. Shot by a sniper high in a cypress tree as he entered the Veramendi house.

That old twin-trunked cypress still stands. According to historian Frank W. Jennings, it's visible on the riverbank at the intersection of Commerce Street and Soledad. I located it easily near the Holiday Inn riverfront when I visited last April.

In front of the Alamo chapel there's a gold streak embedded in the concrete, commemorating Travis' line. And yes, Mom, I would go into San Antonio with Old Ben Milam.

Dac Crossley
May 27, 2011

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." - St. Augustine.

Comments

[Michael J. Crossley]

I was drawn to you book, Return of the Texas Ranger mainly because of your name, but enjoyed the read. I teach 7th grade Texas History and am always looking for stories about the state. We also share the same last name, and I am curious if we are connected. My father was Wayne; his father was Andrew Jackson Crossley, Jr.; his father was Andrew Jackson Crossley. If you get a minute I'd be interested to know if we are related. You can reach me at mcrossley@dentonisd.org if you are so inclined.

[Elizabeth Franklin]

I like it, Dad!

[paige]

I love these tidbits of history!

[Marj. F.]

As I'm sure you know, the book was out of print for many years because of the dialect usage that was blasted for so long. It was finally decided that dialect was a part of the era and not a reflection on today's standards.

I have had the reprint for many years! Thanks for the memory.

[shirley white]

I well remember the book, but did not know the drawings were from the Dallas News!

[Mike Long]

'nother good 'un.