From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
James Bowie
James "Jim" Bowie fighter and frontiersman, both real and fictitious, have
made him a legendary figure in Texas history and a folk
hero of American culture.
Born in Kentucky, Bowie spent most of his life in
Louisiana, where he was raised and later worked as a land
speculator. His rise to fame began in 1827 on reports of
the Sandbar Fight. What began as a duel between two
other men deteriorated into a melee in which Bowie,
having been shot and stabbed, killed the sheriff of Rapi-
des Parish with a large knife. This, and other stories of
Bowie’s prowess with a knife, led to the widespread pop-
ularity of the Bowie knife.
Bowie’s reputation was cemented by his role in the
Texas Revolution. After moving to Texas in 1830, Bowie
became a Mexican citizen and married the daughter of
the vice governor of the province. His fame in Texas grew
following his failed expedition to find the lost San Saba
Nickname Jim Bowie mine, during which his small party repelled an attack by
Born April 10, 1796(1796-04-10) a large Indian raiding party. At the outbreak of the Texas
Logan County, Kentucky (USA) Revolution, Bowie joined the Texas militia, leading forces
at the Battle of Concepción and the Grass Fight. In Jan-
Died March 6, 1836(1836-03-06) (aged 39)
uary 1836, he arrived at the Alamo, where he commanded
The Alamo, San Antonio, Republic of Texas,
North America the volunteer forces until an illness left him bedridden.
Bowie died with the other Alamo defenders on March 6.
Allegiance United States of America Despite conflicting accounts of the manner of his death,
Republic of Texas
the "most popular, and probably the most accurate"[3]
Service/ Texas Rangers, Republic of Texas Militia accounts maintain that he died in his bed after emptying
branch his pistols into several Mexican soldiers.
Years of 1835, 1836
service
Early years
Rank Colonel
According to his older brother John, James Bowie was
Unit Texian volunteer army born in Logan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1796.
Bowie was of Scottish and English ancestry.[4] Historian
Commands The Alamo, San Antonio
held Raymond Thorp gave his birth date as April 10, but Thorp
did not provide any documentation for that date.[5]
Battles/ Battle of Nacogdoches, Battle of Concepción, Bowie was the ninth of ten children born to Elve Ap-
wars Siege of the Alamo
Catesby Jones and Rezin Bowie. His father had been
wounded while fighting in the American Revolution, and
in 1782 married the young woman who had nursed him
back to health. The Bowies moved frequently, first set-
tling in Georgia, before moving to Kentucky. At the time
of Bowie’s birth, his father owned eight slaves, eleven
Signature of James Bowie head of cattle, seven horses, and one stud horse. The fol-
lowing year the family acquired 200 acres (80 ha) along
James "Jim Bowie (pronounced
Jim" /ˈbuːiː/ boo [1][2])
boo-ee the Red River. They sold that property in 1800 and re-
(April 10, 1796 – March 6, 1836), a 19th-century American located to Missouri, before moving to Spanish Louisiana
pioneer, slave trader, land speculator, and soldier, played in 1802, where they settled on Bushley Bayou in Rapides
a prominent role in the Texas Revolution, culminating in Parish.[6][7][8]
his death at the Battle of the Alamo. Stories of him as a
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
The family moved again in 1809, settling on Bayou In 1825, the two brothers joined with their younger
Teche in Louisiana before finding a permanent home in brother Stephen to buy Acadia, a plantation near Alexan-
Opelousas in 1812.[9] The Bowie children were raised on dria. Within two years, they had established the first
the frontier and even as small children were expected steam mill in Louisiana to be used for grinding sugar
to help clear the land and plant crops. All the children cane.[7][15][24] The plantation became known as a model
learned to read and write in English, but James and his el- estate, but on February 12, 1831, they sold it and 65 slaves
der brother Rezin could also read, write, and speak Span- for $90,000. With their profits, James and Rezin bought a
ish and French fluently.[10] The children learned to sur- plantation in Arkansas.[15]
vive on the frontier and how to fish and run a farm and Bowie and his brother John were involved in a major
plantation. James Bowie became proficient with pistol, ri- court case in the late 1820s over land speculation. When
fle, and knife[11] and had a reputation for fearlessness. the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in
When he was a boy, one of his Indian friends even taught 1803, it promised to honor all former land grant claims,
him to rope alligators.[12] and for the next 20 years efforts were made to establish
In response to Andrew Jackson’s plea for volunteers who owned what land. In May 1824, Congress authorized
to fight the British in the War of 1812, James and Rezin the superior courts of each territory to hear suits from
enlisted in the Louisiana militia in late 1814. The war those who claimed they had been overlooked. The
ended on December 24 of that year with the signing of Arkansas Superior Court received 126 claims in late 1827
the Treaty of Ghent, and the Bowie brothers arrived in from residents who claimed to have purchased land in
New Orleans too late to participate in the fighting.[13] former Spanish grants from the Bowie brothers.
After mustering out of the militia, Bowie settled in Rapi- Although the Superior Court originally confirmed most
des Parish,[7][14] where he supported himself by sawing of those claims, the decisions were reversed in February
planks and lumber and floating them down the bayou for 1831 after further research showed that the land had
sale.[7][15] In June 1819, he joined the Long expedition, never belonged to the Bowies and that the original land
an effort to liberate Texas from Spanish rule.[16][17] The grant documentation had been forged. The U.S. Supreme
group encountered little resistance and, after capturing Court upheld the reversal in 1833.[25][26] When the dis-
Nacogdoches, declared Texas an independent republic. gruntled purchasers considered suing the Bowies, they
The extent of Bowie’s participation is unclear, but he re- discovered that the documents in the case had been re-
turned to Louisiana before the invasion was repelled by moved from the court; left without evidence, they de-
Spanish troops.[18][19] clined to pursue a case.[27]
Land speculator Bowie knife
Shortly before the senior Bowie died in 1818 or 1819, he Main articles: Bowie knife and Sandbar Fight
gave 10 slaves as well as horses and cattle to both James Bowie became internationally famous as a result of a feud
and Rezin. For the next seven years, the brothers worked with Norris Wright, the sheriff of Rapides Parish. Bowie
together to develop several large estates in Lafourche had supported Wright’s opponent in the race for sheriff,
Parish and Opelousas.[15] Louisiana’s population was and Wright, a bank director, had been instrumental in
growing rapidly, and the brothers hoped to take advan- turning down a Bowie loan application.[28] After a con-
tage of its rising land prices through speculation. frontation in Alexandria one afternoon, Wright fired a
Without the capital required to buy large tracts,[20] they shot at Bowie. The uninjured Bowie was enraged and
entered into a partnership with pirate Jean Lafitte in 1818 tried to kill Wright with his bare hands. Wright’s friends
to raise money. By then, the United States had outlawed intervened and stopped the attack, after which Bowie re-
the importation of slaves, and most southern states al- solved to carry his hunting knife at all times.[29] The knife
lowed anyone who informed on a slave trader to receive he carried had a blade that was 9.25 inches (23.5 cm) long
half of what the imported slaves would earn at auction as and 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide.[30]
a reward. Bowie made three trips to Lafitte’s compound
on Galveston Island. On each occasion, he bought smug-
gled slaves and took them directly to a customhouse to
inform on his own actions. When the customs officers of-
fered the slaves for auction, Bowie purchased them and
received back half the price he had paid, as allowed by
the state laws. He then could legally transport the slaves
and resell them at a greater market value in New Orleans
or areas farther up the Mississippi River.[21][22] Using this A Bowie knife
scheme, the brothers collected $65,000 to be used for
their land speculation.[22][23]
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
The following year, on September 19, 1827, Bowie and curved point, a "sharp false edge cut from both sides",
Wright attended a duel on a sandbar outside of Natchez, and a cross-guard to protect the user’s hands.[43]
Mississippi. Bowie supported duellist Samuel Levi Wells
III, while Wright supported Wells’s opponent, Dr. Thomas
Harris Maddox. The duellists each fired two shots and, as
Establishment in Texas
neither man had been injured, resolved their duel with In 1828, after recovering from wounds suffered in the
a handshake.[31][32] Other members of the groups, who Sandbar Fight, Bowie decided to move to Texas, at that
had various reasons for disliking each other, began fight- time a state in the Mexican federation.[44] The 1824 Con-
ing. Bowie was shot in the hip; after regaining his feet he stitution of Mexico banned religions other than Roman
drew a knife, described as a butcher knife, and charged Catholicism and gave preference to Mexican citizens in
his attacker, who hit Bowie over the head with his empty receiving land.[45] Bowie was baptized into the Roman
pistol, breaking the pistol and knocking Bowie to the Catholic faith in San Antonio on April 28, 1828, sponsored
ground. Wright shot at and missed the prone Bowie, who by the alcalde (chief administrator) of the town, Juan
returned fire and possibly hit Wright. Wright then drew Martin de Veramendi, and the wife of the administrator,
his sword cane and impaled Bowie. When Wright at- Josefa Navarro.[46] For the next 18 months, Bowie trav-
tempted to retrieve his blade by placing his foot on eled through Louisiana and Mississippi. In 1829, he be-
Bowie’s chest and tugging, Bowie pulled him down and came engaged to Cecilia Wells, who died in Alexandria,
disemboweled Wright with his large knife.[33][34] Wright on September 29, two weeks before they were to be mar-
died instantly, and Bowie, with Wright’s sword still pro- ried.[24][47]
truding from his chest, was shot again and stabbed by an- On January 1, 1830, Bowie left Louisiana for perma-
other member of the group. The doctors who had been nent residency in Texas. He stopped at Nacogdoches, at
present for the duel retrieved the bullets and patched Jared E. Groce’s farm on the Brazos River, and in San
Bowie’s other wounds.[35] Felipe, where Bowie presented a letter of introduction to
Newspapers picked up the story, which became Stephen F. Austin from Thomas F. McKinney, one of the
known as the Sandbar Fight, and described in detail Old Three Hundred colonists. On February 20, Bowie took
Bowie’s fighting prowess and his unusual knife. Witness an oath of allegiance to Mexico and then proceeded to
accounts agreed that Bowie did not attack first, and the San Antonio de Bexar.[24] At the time, the city was known
others had focused their attack on Bowie because "they as Bexar and had a population of 2500, mostly of Mexican
considered him the most dangerous man among their op- descent, and Bowie’s fluency in Spanish helped him es-
position."[36] The incident cemented Bowie’s reputation tablish himself in the area.[48] Bowie was elected a com-
across the South as a superb knife fighter.[24] mander, with the rank of colonel, of the Texas Rangers
There is disagreement among scholars as to whether later that year.[49] Although the Rangers would not be
the knife used in this fight was the same as what is now organized officially until 1835, Stephen F. Austin had
known as a Bowie knife. Multiple accounts exist of who founded the group by employing 30 men to keep the
designed and built the first Bowie knife. Some claim that peace and protect the colonists from attacks by hostile
Bowie designed it, while others attribute the design to Indians. Other areas assembled similar volunteer militias,
noted knife makers of the time.[37] However, in a letter and Bowie commanded a group of the volunteers.[50]
to The Planter’s Advocate, Rezin Bowie claimed to have in- Bowie became a Mexican citizen on September 30,
vented the knife,[38] and many Bowie family members as 1830, after promising to establish textile mills in the
well as "most authorities on the Bowie knife tend to be- province of Coahuila y Tejas.[50] To fulfill his promise,
lieve it was invented by" Rezin.[39] Rezin Bowie’s grand- Bowie entered into partnership with Veramendi to build
children, however, claimed that Rezin merely supervised cotton and wool mills in Saltillo.[51] With his citizenship
his blacksmith, who was the creator of the knife.[40] assured, Bowie now had the right to buy up to 11 leagues
After the Sandbar Fight and subsequent battles in of public land. He convinced 14 or 15 other citizens to ap-
which Bowie used his knife to defend himself, the Bowie ply for land in order to turn it over to him, giving him
knife became very popular. Many craftsmen and manu- 700,000 acres (280,000 ha) for speculation. Bowie may
facturers made their own versions, and major cities of have been the first to induce settlers to apply for empre-
the Old Southwest had "Bowie knife schools" that taught sario grants, which could then be sold in bulk to specu-
"the art of cut, thrust, and parry".[41] His fame, and that lators like Bowie.[51][52] The Mexican government passed
of his knife, spread to England, and by the early 1830s laws in 1834 and 1835 that stopped much of the land
many British manufacturers were producing Bowie speculation.[53]
knives for shipment to the United States.[42] The design On April 25, 1831, Bowie married 19-year-old Maria
of the knife continued to evolve, but today a Bowie knife Ursula de Veramendi, the daughter of his business part-
generally is considered to have a blade 8.25 inches ner, who had become the vice governor of the province.
(21.0 cm) long and 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) wide, with a Several days before the ceremony, he signed a dowry
contract promising to pay his new bride 15,000 pesos (ap-
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
proximately $15,000 then, or $308,000 today[54]) in cash
or property within two years of the marriage. At the
Texas Revolution
time, Bowie claimed to have a net worth of $223,000
($4,580,000 today), mostly in land of questionable title. Texian rumblings
Bowie also lied about his age, claiming to be 30 rather Between 1830 and 1832 the Mexican Congress passed a
than 35.[55] The couple built a house in San Antonio on series of laws that seemed to discriminate against Anglo
land Veramendi had given them near the San José Mis- colonists in the province of Coahuila y Tejas, increasing
sion. After a short time, however, they moved into the tension between the Anglo citizenry and Mexican offi-
Veramendi Palace, living with Ursula’s parents, who sup- cials. In response to the rumblings, Mexican troops es-
plied them with spending money.[56] The couple had two tablished military posts in several locations within the
children, Marie Elve (b. March 20, 1832) and James Vera- province, including San Antonio de Béxar.[63][64]
mendi (b. July 18, 1833).[57] Although much of the military supported the administra-
tion of President Anastasio Bustamante, Antonio López
de Santa Anna led an insurrection against him in 1832.[65]
San Saba Mine Anglo colonists in Texas supported Santa Anna and Gen-
Shortly after his marriage Bowie became fascinated with eral José Antonio Mexía, who led soldiers into Texas to
the story of the "lost" Los Almagres Mine, said to be west oust commanders loyal to Bustamante.[66]
of San Antonio near the ruin of Santa Cruz de San Sabá After hearing that the Mexican army commander in
Mission.[30] The mine had been operated by local Indi- Nacogdoches, José de las Piedras, had demanded that all
ans before being seized by the Spanish. After Mexico won residents in his area surrender their arms, Bowie cut
independence from Spain, government interest in the short a visit to Natchez in July 1832 to return to Texas.[24]
mines waned. A number of hostile Indian tribes roamed On August 2, 1832, he joined a group of other Texicans
the area, including Comanche, Lipan Apache, and and marched into Nacogdoches to "present their de-
Karankawa, and without government troops to keep the mands" to Piedras.[63] Before the group reached the
tribes at bay, mining ceased. It was believed that after building housing the town officials, they were attacked
the Mexican citizens left the area, the Lipan Apaches took by a force of 100 Mexican cavalry. The Texans returned
over the mines.[57] fire and, after the cavalry retreated, initiated a siege of
After obtaining permission from the Mexican gov- the garrison.[63] After a second battle, in which Piedras
ernment to mount an expedition into Indian territory to lost 33 men, the Mexican army evacuated during the
search for the legendary silver mine, Bowie, his brother night. Bowie and 18 companions ambushed the fleeing
Rezin, and nine others set out for San Saba on Novem- army and, after Piedras fled, marched the soldiers back to
ber 2, 1831. Six miles (10 km) from their goal, the group Nacogdoches.[24] Bowie later served as a delegate to the
stopped to negotiate with a large Indian raiding party Convention of 1833, which formally requested that Texas
following them. The attempts at parley failed and Bowie become its own state within the Mexican federation.[67]
and his group fought for their lives for the next 13 hours. Several months later, a cholera epidemic struck
When the Indians finally retreated, Bowie reportedly had Texas. Fearing the disease would reach San Antonio,
lost only one man, while over 40 Indians had been killed Bowie sent his pregnant wife and their daughter to the
and 30 were wounded.[23][30][58] In the meantime, a party family estate in Monclova in the company of her parents
of friendly Comanche Indians rode into San Antonio and brother. The cholera epidemic instead struck Mon-
bringing word of the raiding party, which outnumbered clova, and between September 6 and September 14, Ur-
the Bowie expedition by 15 to 1. The citizens of San Anto- sula, their children, her brother, and her parents all died
nio believed the members of the Bowie expedition must of the disease. Bowie, on business in Natchez, heard of
have perished, and Ursula Bowie began wearing widow’s his family’s deaths in November. From then on, he drank
weeds.[59] heavily and became "careless in his dress."[67]
To the surprise of the town, the surviving members The following year, the Mexican government passed
of the group returned to San Antonio on December 6.[59] new laws allowing land sale in Texas, and Bowie returned
Bowie’s report of the expedition, written in Spanish, was to land speculation. He was appointed a land commis-
printed in several newspapers, further establishing his sioner and tasked with promoting settlement in the area
reputation.[60] He set out again with a larger force the purchased by John T. Mason. His appointment ended in
following month but returned home empty-handed after May 1835 when President Antonio López de Santa Anna
two and a half months of searching.[24] abolished the Coahuila y Tejas government and ordered
Bowie never talked of his exploits despite his increas- the arrest of all Texicans (including Bowie) doing busi-
ing fame.[61] Captain William Y. Lacey, who spent eight ness in Monclova. Bowie was forced to flee Monclova and
months living in the wilderness with Bowie, described return to the Anglo areas of Texas.[24]
him as a humble man who never used profanity or vul- The Anglos in Texas began agitating for war against
garities.[62] Santa Anna, and Bowie worked with William B. Travis,
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
ter Bowie led a charge to seize one of the Mexican can-
nons, at that time only 80 yards (73 m) away. Ugartechea
retreated with his troops, ending the Battle of Concep-
ción. One Texian and ten Mexican troops had been
killed.[70][72] One of the men under Bowie’s command
during the battle later praised him "as a born leader, nev-
er needlessly spending a bullet or imperiling a life, who
repeatedly admonished... Keep under cover boys, and re-
serve your fire; we haven’t a man to spare."[72]
Grass Fight and commission difficulties
An hour after the battle ended, Austin arrived with the
rest of the Texian army to begin a siege of San Antonio de
Béxar, where General Martín Perfecto de Cós, the over-
all commander of Mexican forces in Texas, and his troops
were garrisoned.[73] Two days later, Bowie resigned from
Austin’s army because he did not have an official com-
mission in the army, and he disliked the "minor tasks of
scouting and spying".[74]
On November 3, 1835, Texas declared itself an inde-
pendent state, and a provisional government was formed
with Henry Smith of Brazoria elected provisional gover-
nor. Austin requested to be relieved of his command of
Antonio López de Santa Anna, president of Mexico, led the the army, and Sam Houston was named army chief. Ed-
Mexican Army into Texas ward Burleson was chosen as temporary commander of
the troops in San Antonio. Bowie appeared before the
council at some point and spoke for an hour, asking for
the leader of the War Party, to gain support. Bowie visit-
a commission.[75] The council refused Bowie’s request,
ed several Indian villages in East Texas in an attempt to
likely because of lingering animosity over his land deal-
persuade the reluctant tribes to fight against the Mexi-
ings.[76]
can government. Santa Anna responded to the rumblings
Houston offered Bowie a commission as an officer on
by ordering large numbers of Mexican troops to
his staff, but Bowie rejected the opportunity, explaining
Texas.[24]
that he wanted to be in the midst of the fighting.[76] In-
Battle of Concepción stead, Bowie enlisted in the army as a private under Fan-
nin.[24][74] He distinguished himself again in the Grass
The Texas Revolution began on October 2, 1835, with the Fight on November 26. Cós had sent about 187 men to cut
Battle of Gonzales. Stephen F. Austin formed an army of grass for his horses.[77] As they returned to San Antonio,
500 men to march on the Mexican forces in San Antonio Bowie took 60 mounted men to intercept the party,[78]
with the cannon that had precipitated the fight. On Oc- which they believed carried valuable cargo.[77] The Mexi-
tober 22, Austin asked Bowie, now a colonel in the vol- can troops quickened their pace in the hopes of reaching
unteer militia, and James W. Fannin to scout the area the safety of the city, but Bowie and his cavalry chased
around the missions of San Francisco de la Espada and them. At the end of the fight, the Texicans had two
San José y San Miguel de Aguayo to find supplies for the wounded men but had captured many horses and
volunteer forces.[68] The scouting party left with 92 men, mules.[78]
many of them members of the New Orleans Grays who Shortly after Bowie left San Antonio, Ben Milam led
had just arrived in Texas. After discovering a good de- an assault on the city. In the ensuing fighting, the Tex-
fensive position near Mission Concepción, the group re- icans suffered only a few casualties, while the Mexican
quested that Austin’s army join them.[69] army lost many troops to death and desertion. Cós sur-
On the foggy morning of October 28, Mexican General rendered and returned to Mexico, taking with him the
Domingo Ugartechea led a force of 300 infantry and cav- last Mexican troops in Texas. Believing the war was over,
alry soldiers and two small cannons against the Texian many of the Texican volunteers left the army and re-
forces.[70][71] Although the Mexican army was able to get turned to their families.[79] In early January 1836, Bowie
within 200 yards (183 m), the Texian defensive position went to San Felipe and asked the council to allow him to
protected them from fire. As the Mexicans stopped to re- recruit a regiment. He again was turned down as he "was
load their cannon, the Texians climbed a bluff and picked not an officer of the government nor army."[80]
off some of the soldiers. The stalemate ended shortly af-
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
Battle at the Alamo colonel, thus outranking Travis, a lieutenant
colonel.[86][87] He refused to answer to Travis, who called
Main article: Battle of the Alamo
an election for the men to choose their own commander.
After Houston received word that Santa Anna was lead-
They chose Bowie, infuriating Travis.[86] Bowie celebrat-
ing a large force to San Antonio, Bowie offered to lead
ed his appointment by getting very drunk and causing
volunteers to defend the Alamo from the expected at-
havoc in San Antonio, releasing all prisoners in the local
tack. He arrived with 30 men on January 19,[81] where
jails and harassing citizens. Travis was disgusted, but
they found a force of 104 men with a few weapons and a
two days later the men agreed to a joint command; Bowie
few cannons, but not many supplies and little gunpow-
would command the volunteers, and Travis would com-
der.[82] Houston knew that there were not enough men
mand the regular army and the volunteer cavalry.[24][86]
to hold the fort in an attack and had given Bowie author-
On February 23, the bells of San Fernando sounded
ity to remove the artillery and blow up the fortification.
the alarm of the Mexicans approach. Travis ordered all
Bowie and the Alamo commander, James C. Neill, decid-
the Texican forces into the Alamo.[88][89] James Bowie
ed they did not have enough oxen to move the artillery,
hurried to gather provisions and herd cattle into the
and they did not want to destroy the fortress. On January
Alamo compound.[90] Fearing for the safety of his wife’s
26, one of Bowie’s men, James Bonham, organized a rally
relatives in San Antonio, Bowie invited her cousins
which passed a resolution in favor of holding the Alamo.
Getrudis Navarro and Juana Navarro Alsbury, as well as
Bonham signed the resolution first, with Bowie’s signa-
Alsbury’s 18-month-old son, Alijo Perez Jr., to stay inside
ture second.[83]
the walls of the Alamo.[91] Bowie also brought several
black servants, some of which worked at the Veramendi
Palace, into the security of the Alamo fortress.[92][93]
Bowie had been ill, and two doctors, including the fort
surgeon, were unable to diagnose his illness.[84] Travis
became the sole commander of the forces when Bowie
was confined to bed.[94] Santa Anna and his army began
a siege of the Alamo on February 24. The Mexican army
raised a red flag to warn the defenders that no quarter
would be given.[95]
Bowie and Travis began sending out couriers with
pleas for provisions and assistance.[96] Travis sent Juan
Seguin on Bowie’s horse, to recruit reinforcements on Fe-
The Alamo, circa 1846 bruary 25, and 32 additional men arrived.[97][98] On Fe-
bruary 26, David Crockett reported that Bowie, though
Through Bowie’s connections because of his marriage suffering from his affliction, continued to crawl from his
and his fluency in Spanish, the predominantly Mexican bed around noon every day and presented himself to the
population of San Antonio often furnished him with in- Alamo’s inhabitants, which much boosted the morale of
formation about the movements of the Mexican army. his comrades.[99] Thirty-five years after the Alamo fell, a
After learning that Santa Anna had 4,500 troops and was reporter identified Louis "Moses" Rose as the only man
heading for the city,[83] Bowie wrote several letters to the to have "deserted" the Texican forces at the Alamo. Ac-
provisional government asking for help in defending the cording to the reporter’s version of Rose’s account, when
Alamo, especially "men, money, rifles, and cannon pow- Travis realized that the Mexican army would likely pre-
der".[84] In another letter, to Governor Smith, he reiterat- vail, he drew a line in the sand and asked those willing
ed his view that "the salvation of Texas depends in great to die for the cause to cross the line. At Bowie’s request
measure on keeping Béxar out of the hands of the enemy. Crockett and several others carried the cot over the line,
It serves as the frontier picquet guard, and if it were in leaving Rose alone on the other side.[100] After its pub-
the possession of Santa Anna, there is no stronghold from lication, several other eyewitnesses confirmed the ac-
which to repel him in his march toward the Sabine."[84] count,[101][102] but as Rose was deceased the story can
The letter to Smith ended, "Colonel Neill and myself have only be authenticated by the word of the reporter, who
come to the solemn resolution that we will rather die in admitted to embellishing other articles, "and thus many
these ditches than give it up to the enemy."[84] historians refuse to believe it."[102]
On February 3, Davy Crockett appeared with thir- Bowie perished with the rest of the Alamo defenders
ty Tennesseans. Neill went on furlough on February 11 to on March 6, when the Mexicans attacked.[24] Most of the
visit his sick family, leaving Travis, a member of the reg- noncombatants in the fort, including Bowie’s relatives,
ular army, in command.[85] Bowie was older than Travis survived.[103] Santa Anna ordered the alcalde of San An-
with a better reputation and considered himself a tonio, Francisco Antonio Ruiz, to confirm the identities of
Bowie, Travis, and Crockett.[104] After first ordering that
6
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
head.[109] Alcalde Ruiz said that Bowie was found "dead
in his bed."[109] According to Wallace O Chariton, The
"most popular, and probably the most accurate"[3] ver-
sion is that Bowie died on his cot, "back braced against
the wall, and using his pistols and his famous knife."[109]
One year after the battle, Juan Seguin returned to the
Alamo and gathered the remaining ashes from the funer-
al pyre. He placed these in a coffin inscribed with the
names of Bowie, Travis, and Crockett. The ashes were in-
terred at the Cathedral of San Fernando.[110]
Legacy
Despite his continual pronouncements of wealth, Bowie’s
estate was found to be very small. His possessions were
auctioned for only $99.50.[111] His larger legacy is his po-
sition as "one of the legendary characters of the Ameri-
can frontier."[17] Bowie left a "frustratingly sparse paper
trail" of his life, and for many "where history failed, the
legends prevailed."[112] Although Bowie’s name and knife
were well known during his lifetime, his legend grew af-
ter October 1852, when DeBow’s Review published an arti-
cle written by his brother John Jones Bowie called "Early
Life in the Southwest—The Bowies." The article focused
primarily on the exploits of Jim Bowie.[113] Beginning
with that article, "romanticized stories" about Bowie be-
gan appearing in national press.[112] In many cases,
"these stories were pure melodrama, with Bowie rescu-
ing some naïve planter’s son or damsel in distress."[112]
Jim Bowie was inducted posthumously into the Blade
Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 1988 Blade Show
in Atlanta, Georgia, in recognition of the impact that his
eponymous design made upon generations of knife mak-
This image of Bowie’s death was created by Charles A.
ers and cutlery companies.[114]
Stephens
A number of films have depicted the events of the
Battle of the Alamo,[115] and Bowie has appeared as a
Bowie be buried, as he was too brave a man to be burned character in each. The Last Command by Republic Pictures
like a dog,[105] Santa Anna later had Bowie’s body placed features Jim Bowie (Sterling Hayden) as the main charac-
with those of the other Texians on the funeral pyre. [104] ter during the battle of the Alamo and the Texas War of
When Bowie’s mother was informed of his death, she Independence. From 1956 to 1958, Bowie was the subject
calmly stated, "I’ll wager no wounds were found in his of a television show, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, which
back."[106] Various eyewitnesses to the battle gave con- was primarily set in 1830s Louisiana, although later
flicting accounts of Bowie’s death. A newspaper article episodes ventured into the Mexican province of
claimed that a Mexican soldier saw Bowie carried from Texas.[116] The show, which starred Scott Forbes, was
his room on his cot, alive, after the conclusion of the bat- based on the 1946 novel Tempered Blade.[117] Alan Ladd
tle. The soldier maintained that Bowie verbally castigat- played Jim Bowie in the 1952 movie The Iron Mistress.
ed a Mexican officer in fluent Spanish, and the officer or- Richard Widmark starred as Jim Bowie in John Wayne’s
dered Bowie’s tongue cut out and his still-breathing body 1960 movie The Alamo (1960 film).
thrown onto the funeral pyre. This account has been dis- Bowie also is the namesake of rock star David Bowie,
puted by numerous other witnesses, and it is thought to who was born David Robert Hayward-Jones. Jones
have been invented by the reporter.[107] Other witness- changed his name in the 1960s because he feared his
es maintained that they saw several Mexican soldiers en- name was too similar to Davy Jones, a member of the al-
ter Bowie’s room, bayonet him, and carry him, alive, from ready famous The Monkees. He chose the surname Bowie
the room.[108] Various other stories circulated, with some because he admired James Bowie and the Bowie
witnesses claiming that Bowie shot himself and others knife.[118]
saying he was killed by soldiers while too weak to lift his
7
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
Both Bowie, Texas, and Bowie County, Texas, are [44] Hopewell (1994), p. 60.
named in honor of Jim Bowie. [45] Hopewell (1994), p. 61.
[46] Sears (2000), p. 175.
Notes [47]
[48]
Edmondson (2000), p. 102.
Hopewell (1994), p. 64.
[1] Manns, William (May-Jun 2004), "The Bowie Knife", [49] Groneman (1990), p. 18.
American Cowboy 11 (1): 40–43. [50] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 65.
[2] Janin, Hunt (2007), Fort Bridger, Wyoming, Jefferson: [51] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 66.
McFarland & Company, p. 138, [52] Edmondson (2000), p. 106.
ISBN 978-0-7864-2912-7 [53] Hopewell (1994), p. 67.
[3] ^ Chariton (1992), p. 74. [54] Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008.
[4] John Jones Bowie, "Early Life in the Southwest--the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved
Bowies," DeBows Review, October 1852 December 7, 2010.
[5] Raymond Thorp, Bowie Knife, New Mexico Press, [55] Hopewell (1994), pp. 69–70. Spears (2000), p. 184.
1948, p. 119 [56] Hopewell (1994), p. 71. Edmondson (2000), p. 107.
[6] Hopewell (1994), pp. 2–3. [57] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 72.
[7] ^ Groneman (1990), p. 19. [58] Edmondson (2000), p. 109.
[8] Edmondson (2000), p. 86. [59] ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 116.
[9] Hopewell (1994), p. 4. [60] Hopewell (1994), p. 75.
[10] Hopewell (1994), pp. 5–6. [61] Hopewell (1994), p. 77.
[11] Hopewell (1994), p. 7. [62] Hopewell (1994), p. 78.
[12] Hopewell (1994), p. 8. [63] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 92.
[13] Edmondson (2000), p. 88. [64] Edmondson (2000), p. 135.
[14] Hopewell (1994), p. 10. [65] Vazquez (1997), p. 65.
[15] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 11. [66] Vazquez (1997), p. 66.
[16] Hopewell (1994), p. 21. [67] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 93.
[17] ^ Nofi (1992), p. 39. [68] Hopewell (1994), p. 100.
[18] Hopewell (1994), p. 22. [69] Hopewell (1994), p. 101.
[19] Edmondson (2000), p. 89. [70] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 102.
[20] Hopewell (1994), p. 18. [71] Edmondson (2000), p. 221.
[21] Hopewell (1994), p. 19. [72] ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 223.
[22] ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 91. [73] Hopewell (1994), pp. 103–104.
[23] ^ Peatfield et al. (1889), p. 175. [74] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 104.
[24] ^ Williamson, William R., James Bowie, Handbook of [75] Hopewell (1994), p. 106.
Texas, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/ [76] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 107.
online/articles/BB/fbo45.html, retrieved [77] ^ Jennings (2000), p. 175.
2007-10-06 [78] ^ Nofi (1992), p. 43.
[25] Hopewell (1994), pp. 23–24. [79] Edmondson (2000), pp. 244–245.
[26] Sears (2000), pp. 179–80. [80] Hopewell (1994), p. 111.
[27] Sears (2000), p. 186. [81] Hopewell (1994), p. 112.
[28] Hopewell (1994), pp. 25–26. [82] Hopewell (1994), p. 113.
[29] Edmondson (2000), pp. 84–85. [83] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 114.
[30] ^ Kennedy (1841), pp. 122–128. [84] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 115.
[31] Hopewell (1994), pp. 28, 30. [85] Chariton (1992), p. 96.
[32] Edmondson (2000), pp. 97–98. [86] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 116.
[33] Hopewell (1994), p. 31. [87] Groneman (1990), p. 114.
[34] Edmondson (2000), pp. 99–101. [88] Edmondson (2000), p.300.
[35] Hopewell (1994), p. 32. [89] Hopewell (1994), p. 118.
[36] Hopewell (1994), pp. 33–34. [90] Edmondson (2000), p.321.
[37] Hopewell (1994), pp. 35–36. [91] Hopewell (1994), p. 119. Groneman (1996),
[38] Hopewell (1994), p. 41. pp. 72, 182.
[39] Hopewell (1994), pp. 37, 39. [92] Hopewell (1994), p. 119.
[40] Edmondson (2000), p. 123 [93] Lindley (2003), p. 94.
[41] Hopewell (1994), p. 55. [94] Hopewell (1994), p. 117.
[42] Hopewell (1994), p. 56. Edmondson (2000), p. 122. [95] Hopewell (1994), p. 121.
[43] Hopewell (1994), pp. 40, 42. [96] Hopewell120 (1994), p.120.
8
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
[97] Hopewell122 (1994), p.122. • Kennedy, William (1841), Texas: The Rise, Progress, and
[98] Edmondson (2000), p.320. Prospects of the Republic of Texas, R. Hastings,
[99] Hopewell117 (1994), p.117. http://books.google.com/
[100] Hopewell (1994), p. 126. ?id=s3cFAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22the+grass+fight%22
[101] Groneman (1996), pp. 122, 150, 184. • Kirchner, Paul (2010), Bowie Knife Fights, Fighters, and
[102] ^ Chariton (1992), p. 195. Fighting Techniques, Boulder, CO: Paladin Press,
[103] Edmondson (2000), p. 407. ISBN 1-58160-742-3
[104] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 124. • Lindley, Thomas Ricks (2003), Alamo Traces: New
[105] Hopewell (1994), p. 80. Evidence and New Conclusions, Lanham, MD: Republic
[106] Hopewell (1994), p. 125. of Texas Press, ISBN 1-55622-983-6
[107] Groneman (1996), pp. 83–87. • Nofi, Albert A. (1992), The Alamo and the Texas War of
[108] Groneman (1996), p. 214. Independence, September 30, 1835 to April 21, 1836: Heroes,
[109] ^ Hopewell (1994), p. 127. Myths, and History, Conshohocken, PA: Combined
[110] Hopewell (1994), p. 128. Books, Inc., ISBN 0-938289-10-1
[111] Hopewell (1994), pp. 128–129. • Peatfield, Joseph Joshua; Hubert Howe Bancroft,
[112] ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 119. Henry Lebbeus Oak, William Nemos (1889), History of
[113] Edmondson (2000), p. 118. the North Mexican States, A.L. Bancroft and Company,
[114] "Bowie Inducted into the Hall of Fame", Blade http://books.google.com/
Magazine, 1998-01-08 ?id=IdENAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22the+grass+fight%22
[115] Briley, Ron (April 19, 2004), Remember the Alamo:The • Sears, Edward S. (2000), "The Low Down on Jim
Persistence of Myth, George Mason University Bowie", in Boatright, Mody C.; Day, Donald, From Hell
History News Network, http://hnn.us/articles/ to Breakfast, Publications of the Texas Folklore
4750.html, retrieved 2007-10-01 Society Number XIX, Denton, TX: University of North
[116] The Adventures of Jim Bowie, Classic TV & Movie Hits, Texas Press, ISBN 1-57441-099-7
http://www.classictvhits.com/show.php?id=397, • Vazquez, Josefina Zoraida (1997), "The Colonization
retrieved 2007-10-12 and Loss of Texas: A Mexican Perspective", in
[117] Adventures of Jim Bowie, FiftiesWeb.com, Rodriguez O., Jaime E.; Vincent, Kathryn, Myths,
http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/jim-bowie.htm, Misdeeds, and Misunderstandings: The Roots of Conflict in
retrieved 2007-10-12 U.S.–Mexican Relations, Wilmington, DE: Scholarly
[118] Buckley (2000), p. 33. Resources Inc., ISBN 0-8420-2662-2
References External links
• Buckley, David (2000) [1999], Strange Fascination – Media related to James Bowie at Wikimedia Commons
David Bowie: The Definitive Story, London: Virgin,
Persondata
ISBN 0-7535-0457-X
• Chariton, Wallace O. (1992), Exploring the Alamo Name Bowie, James
Legends, Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press, Alternative Bowie, Jim
ISBN 1-55622-255-6 names
• Edmondson, J.R. (2000), The Alamo Story-From History Short descrip- pioneer, soldier
to Current Conflicts, Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press, tion
ISBN 1-55622-678-0
Date of birth April 10, 1796
• Groneman, Bill (1990), Alamo Defenders, A Genealogy:
The People and Their Words, Austin, TX: Eakin Press, Place of birth Logan County, Kentucky, United
ISBN 0-89015-757-X States
• Groneman, Bill (1996), Eyewitness to the Alamo, Plano, Date of death March 6, 1836
TX: Republic of Texas Press, ISBN 1-55622-502-4 Place of death San Antonio, Texas United States
• Hopewell, Clifford (1994), James Bowie Texas Fighting
Man: A Biography, Austin, TX: Eakin Press,
ISBN 0-89015-881-9
• Jennings, Frank W. (1998), San Antonio:The Story of an
Enchanted City, San Antonio, TX: San Antonio
Express-News, ISBN 1-890346-02-0
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Bowie&oldid=466965801"
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Bowie
Categories:
• 1796 births
• 1836 deaths
• Alamo defenders
• American folklore
• Military personnel killed in action
• People from Logan County, Kentucky
• People from Opelousas, Louisiana
• People of the Texas Revolution
• American people of Scottish descent
• American people of English descent
• American slave traders
• Converts to Roman Catholicism
• Survivors of stabbing
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