The Common Man: Davy Crockett

By Wade Dillon

David Crockett. A name many of us know, but many Americans do not. For a lifetime the image of Davy Crockett was in our minds, thoughts, and in the playset we all had of the Alamo and still is. We've read books, watched movies, argue about who this man was. But all he really was was a common man who led an incredible life who found himself in the most unlikely of places. And this is why so many of us can relate with him, David Crockett. A man who had his flaws and his dissapointments just like the rest of us.

It was at the Alamo, that Crockett found himself yet again on the war front. Having fought in the Creek War and witnessing the horrific events at Tallasuhatchee, war had been one thing he didn't want to see again. But here he was after having been sworn into the Volunteer Auxiliary Corps of Texas, with a garrison of nearly two hundred men in a small spanish mission about to fight the Mexican Army, a force of around two thousand soldiers led by Mexico's Dictator General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Perez de Lebron.

After a thirteen day siege, the Mexican Army attacked the Alamo around 5:30 a.m on March 6th, Sunday. After a battle that lasted anywhere from thirty to ninety minutes all of the defenders of the Alamo were dead, including David Crockett. But not without striking a deadly blow into the Mexican forces, taking with them around 600 soldiers.

From the moment that battle ended a legend was created. That legend was of David Crockett and the men who died at the Alamo. But like many historical events, there is some sort of controversy or arguement behind it. The Alamo has many. One of them being the way David Crockett met his fate that Sunday morning.

The Journal of Jose Enrique Dela Pena describes David Crockett as having survived the battle, but was executed with six others soon after by the orders of General Santa Anna. But thanks to the latest research done by Alamo Historians today...the diary is proven to be a forgery as the handwriting is different in many of the documents. But most accounts describe David Crockett as having died in battle, swinging his rifle towards the Mexican onslaught. Could this be true? Possibly. One thing we can say is that David Crockett died at the Alamo. Whether being executed, died fighting like a tiger, or unceremoniasly shot as he retreated towards the church. In my opinion, it doesn't matter. Whichever way Crockett did die it was at the Alamo with Travis, Bowie, Bonham and all the others who gave their life for Texas Independence.

Now, Hollywood has given an image of all of our heroes as taking down half of the enemy as they pour through. But in Crockett's case, it may not be so. Crockett was forty nine years old and in 1836, being forty nine was considered old. If he did anything at the Alamo, he would've mostly fired his rifle and boosted the spirits of the men. I believe his death was as glorious and probably as horrific as the other defenders that morning. I believe he died fighting, but then again everyone has their own opinion. But if you read The Narrative of David Crockett in which he wrote, the accounts, the stories of this common man, then I am sure you will get a better picture at how this man met his fate and lived this great and interesting life. This is why, even today, with all of the controversies in our world, with all of the new entertainment opening up to kids, that David Crockett is still an American Symbol. This is coming from a fifteen year old student from Florida who grew up with the story of Davy Crockett his entire life.

The discussion continues in The Alamo Film Site's Forum...