James Butler Bonham

..... is remembered for having ridden back into the Alamo to inform his fellow defenders of the hopelessness of the situation, and to join them in their gallant stand. His significance as an historical figure may be measured by the historical importance of the Alamo epic itself. The loyalty and courage represented by his actions gave life to the ringing words of Travis, and embodied the spirit of all the defenders who stood fast in the face of an overwhelming enemy.

During the last part of January and the first two weeks of February in 1836, James Bonham was toiling with his fellow defenders to build up the fortifications and to increase the size of the garrison at the Alamo. As word reached them that Santa Anna would soon be on the march, Travis and Bowie who at that time were in joint command, sent Bonham for help. Seeking aid from Fannin and then from others, he had gone forth from the Alamo on the 16'th of February (before the siege began) and returned on March 3'rd, three days before the fall. It has always been an open question as to whether he returned in the interim, only to go out once again before finally returning on the 3'rd. I believe he made but one trip, as is set forth in my book Messenger of Defeat.

When Bonham appealed to Fannin for reinforcements on the 18'th of February, he received a flat refusal. He was never to see Fannin again, and went on to other places seeking aid, finally arriving at Gonzales at the end of the month. In the interim, the Alamo had been invested, and Fannin had changed his mind and made a half-hearted attempt to mount a relief column. This was aborted almost before it began, and when Bonham reached Gonzales, he learned of Fannin's successive changes of mind.

Thus, when Bonham rode back into the Alamo from Gonzales on March 3'rd, he brought with him only bad news. He had to tell Travis that Fannin would not be coming, nor was it likely that timely help could be expected from any other quarter. From the time of Bonham's arrival, about 11:00 that morning, Travis' worse fears were confirmed.

But there is a school of thought which believes that Travis remained hopeful almost to the end, and it is based on the postulation that Bonham also brought with him from Gonzales a letter to Travis from R. M. Williamson, Three-legged Willie. The original letter, apparently taken from Travis' body and brought back to Mexico, has never been found. But a translation of it, taken from a Mexican publication of the time was discovered by Thomas Ricks Lindley, and it seems to be authentic. In this letter, dated March 1'st, 1836, Williamson urged Travis to hang on, telling him that help was on the way.

You cannot conceive my anxiety: today it has been four whole days that we have not the slightest news relative to your dangerous situation and we are therefore given over to a thousand conjectures regarding you. Sixty men have left this municipality, who in all probability are with you by this date. Colonel Fannin with 300 men and four pieces of artillery has been on the march towards Bexar three days now. Tonight we await some 300 reinforcements from Washington, Bastrop, Brazoria, and S. Felipe and no time will be lost in providing you assistance. As to the other letter of the same date, let it pass, you will know what it meant: If the multitude gets hold of it, let them figure it out ...

Your true friend R. M. Williamson

P.S. ... For God's sake hold out until we can assist you ... I remit to you with major Bonham a communication from the interim governor. Best wishes to all your people and tell them to hold on firmly by their "wills" until I go there. Williamson ... Write us very soon

This letter is cited as proof that Bonham could not have been in Goliad after February 26'th when Fannin had taken the decision to remain there. Otherwise, it is expected that he would have corrected Williamson's mistaken impression that Fannin was on the march. On this same basis it is also claimed that Bonham would have been unable to inform Travis of Fannin's decision to remain in Goliad, and to be able to deliver the news that all was virtually lost. However, this argument is fundamentally flawed. Bonham's whereabouts just prior to his arrival in Gonzales is of no consequence to this question. It is only necessary to read Fannin's letter of February 27'th to J. W. Robinson to see why this is so. Relevant portions of Fannin's letter (emphasis mine) read as follows:

I have to report, that yesterday, after making all the preparations possible, we took up our line of march, (about three hundred strong, and four pieces of Artillery,) towards Bexar, to the relief of those brave men now shut up in the Alamo ... Within two hundred yards of town, one of the wagons broke down .... It was expedient to return to this post and complete the fortifications, &c. &c.... I sent an express to Gonzales to apprise the committee of Safety there of our return ...

This letter reached Gonzales on Saturday, February 27'th, and its arrival was specifically confirmed by Dr. John Sutherland in his earliest draft of the FALL OF THE ALAMO. Surely its contents were common knowledge in Gonzales by the time Williamson wrote his letter on March 1'st, and Bonham's departure on March 2'nd. It is also probable that Bonham would have received news of Fannin's decision from Ben Highsmith whom he encountered on the way to Bexar as Highsmith was returning from Goliad.

Moreover, Travis, in his famous letter of March 3'rd to the President of the Convention, seemed to confirm that he had received something other than good news, when he wrote

... Col. Fannin is said to be on the march to this place with reinforcements; but I fear it is not true, as I have repeatedly sent to him for aid without receiving any. Col Bonham, my special messenger, arrived at Labahia fourteen days ago, with a request for aid; and on the arrival of the enemy in Bexar ten days ago, I sent an express to Col F. which arrived at Goliad the next day, urging him to send us reinforcements ... none have arrived. I look to the colonies alone for aid; unless it arrives soon, I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms. I will however, do the best I can under the circumstances, and I feel confident that the determined valour and desperate courage, heretofore evinced by my men, will not fail them in the last struggle, and although they may be sacrificed to the vengeance of a Gothic enemy, the victory will cost the enemy so dear, that it will be worse for him than a defeat. .........

Not exactly the words of a man who has just received word that help is imminent!

Looking again at the Williamson letter, the question arises, how would Williamson have known the strength of Fannin's force (300 men and four artillery pieces) if he had not seen Fannin's express to the Committee in Gonzales? Assuming the Williamson letter is authentic, why then did he write it when he almost certainly knew it to be untrue? One can only speculate, but a plausible explanation may be that Williamson, understandably, was engaging in some wishful thinking, doing his best to keep hope alive among the defenders. Perhaps he believed that he or someone else could yet prevail on Fannin to change his mind, and that by the time Bonham delivered the letter, Fannin would indeed be on his way. And if not Fannin, then perhaps others. Whatever the case, it seems a certainty that when Bonham returned to the Alamo on March 3'rd, he knew well the state of things, and particularly that Fannin was not coming.

From that time forward Travis also knew that they could expect no help from Fannin "... I look to the colonies alone for aid ..." and it was James Bonham who told him.

by Wm. N. Bonham 19 Oct 1999