What swords might have been used at the Alamo battle?

[Jim McDougall]

One of the most notable events in the history of Texas is the 13 day siege of the Alamo mission from Feb. 23 to Mar. 6, 1836, and the story of this conflict has been debated, analyzed and retold pretty much endlessly ever since.

While having a personal interest in this fascinating topic myself since watching the Disney series with Fess Parker as Davy Crockett as a kid in the mid 1950s (no I did not wear a coonskin cap)...as a sword enthusiast, I have often wondered....were there swords there? What kinds would they have been?

In the naturally huge corpus of literature on the Alamo topic, at the fore is often the depiction of bristling lines of the famed 'Kentucky long rifles', and mountain men skillfully wielding them in pitched battle with overwhelmingly numbered Mexican forces.

This scenario has long since been 'readjusted' as the numbers of both 'mountain men' and the 'long rifle' have been found to have been far less than portrayed.

However, despite the tenacious revisions and study of the battle, including well documented examination of the cannon there, the guns actually used, especially the powder.......but aside from the legendary Bowie knife, NO edged weapons are noted, let alone described.

That is until Phil Collins (who many of us know from his musical fame) who has always been an avid 'Alamo' collector (afflicted by the Disney TV series contemporary to myself), wrote a book on his amazing collection. ..."The Alamo and Beyond" (Buffalo Gap Texas, 2012). In his book he illustrates 4 swords, 3 of which were to Mexican figures, but the espada ancha at top in pages shown was found at the Alamo in 1878.

The suggestion was that perhaps used by Juan Seguins contingent of Mexicans fighting on the Texian side there. It must be remembered that this was not a war between America and Mexico, but a Texian rebellion wishing for the restoration of Mexico's 1824 Constitution. The independence issue evolved during the rebellion. Texas was being ruled by the dictator Gen. Santa Anna.

My question is, while there clearly may have been espada anchas there as speculated, could there have been other types with the Texians?

My guess would be the most likely candidate would be the relatively little known US M1812 Nathan Starr saber. These were from an 1812 contract to this Connecticut maker, who had been supplying some swords responding to the Militia Act of 1808. While there were early contingents of dragoons in US military for which these were intended, the larger volume of the 5000 on order went to local and state militias.

Two of these were in New Orleans and Tennessee, which are important as these two places furnished a number of the volunteers comprising the defenders at the Alamo. These sabers, well used during the War of 1812, remained in stores and private holdings of course and were still notably present when units were forming to go to Texas in the uprising in 1835.

I know of one example with provenance to that effect, belonged to an individual from Kentucky who had gone to Texas to fight and had returned there. While the numbers of the Alamo defenders are relatively small to the entire forces fighting overall in Texas, it would be hard to imagine that swords would not have been part of the outfitting. Much of this may have been of course to exuberance at the outset, but still, there is plausible notion that some may have actually had and used these.

Another remote contender is the British M1796 light cavalry saber, whose surplus after Waterloo resulted in many being exported, of those many to US trading networks (they were known in use in numerous Indian tribes in limited degree).


This is what I have found, and I am hoping will give perspective to the question in the heading,
So what do you guys think?

Anyone else with interest in the Alamo who has encountered any mention of swords there?
Also, I cannot recall discussion anywhere here on the Starr sabers.......any insights on their distribution and use (I have heard of them even in the Civil War).

s

[fernando]

Jim, how long ago have you visited that museological space in the Alamo premises ?
Are these disatrous pictures any useful ? .


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[Jim McDougall]

EXCELLENT Fernando! great pictures, and surely suggest the presence of some swords there, though many donations there are simply 'of the period'.....still IMPORTANT , always possibilities.

Its been TOO long since Ive been there, I always dread San Antonio traffic. Definitely due for a trip so hopefully soon, hope to see the Collins collection.
Last summer I went berserk building a model of the Alamo....6 weeks of work in 100 degree heat...neighbors figured me for nuts. Mostly done, as seen here.
Far from exact or scale, but OK for yard art.

Thank you so much Fernando,
Jim

[urbanspaceman]

Hey Jim, you can always be relied on to keep us intrigued.
The only memory I have of the Alamo is of navy blue uniformed mounted soldiers with your sword at their side. I do not know where this memory comes from... maybe the John Wayne movie that I have not seen since the 1800s.
Keep us stimulated Jim

[urbanspaceman]

ps, the model looks great

[M ELEY]

I agree! Love that dioramic model you created of the Alamo! Also love this subject matter as to whether the Nathan Starr swords made it to the battle field. Unfortunately, I've nothing to add. Perhaps there are other opinions out there on these unique pattern swords...

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

...Its been TOO long since Ive been there, I always dread San Antonio traffic. Definitely due for a trip so hopefully soon, hope to see the Collins collection....

I have been there in 2018. Pehraps in your next visit you find the Alamo site rather touristy ... read plastified!



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[Jim McDougall]

LOL Fernando! At least they havent put in rides!
Still for Texans, we look through all the 'stuff' as this is still sacred ground, not only toward the defenders, but ALL the men who fell there.
Even the museums are as often the case, a bit 'embellished' , but again, for those deeply aware of Texas history, we see things accordingly.
Again, GREAT photos! I feel another visit coming, soon!

[Jim McDougall]

In post #2, with the excellent photos of some swords displayed at the Alamo museum, the bottom one is listed as a 'dragoon saber'.

While unclear on the intent of that classification, or any implication, I wonder if there was in mind the M1833 US Dragoon saber. There is of course a notable similarity, however the US M1833 was with brass hilt. While there were about 280 of these specifically to Texas (plus 18 to officers) they were not issued until after 1836 (when Texas became the Republic of Texas).

Then there is the more likely case that this is a Mexican 'dragoon' saber, with the distinctive langet with the branched guard, which was a French affectation favored in both US and Mexican swords.

Pages from "the American Sword 1775-1945", H.L.Peterson, 1973, the hilt is in brass, the rest of detail not relevant as the key point is the hilt with same kind of branched guard and langet in the museum example in post #2.

The 2nd image of the M1833 US Dragoon sword, in brass, no langet.

3rd, a Mexican (?) dragoon sword c. 1820s with Toledo blade....langets on branched guard, iron mounts.
* This is the most likely 'dragoon ' sword possible in Alamo context, but more likely with Mexican forces.