175 years Ago Today... (Alamo, Liberty, Howe: houses, elementary school, store)

[ScoPro]

William B. Travis sent out his famous Letter From The Alamo:


Commandancy of the Alamo—Bejar, Fby. 24th 1836—

To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world—

Fellow citizens & compatriots—I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna—I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken—I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch—The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. comdt

P.S. The Lord is on our side—When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn—We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis

[doctorjef]

Just wondering how that bottle can carry the title "Texas Bourbon Whiskey". Bourbon to my understanding is specific to Kentucky and is a controlled designation. Hence, whiskey produced in Tennessee carries the designation "Tennessee Sour Mash".

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Just wondering how that bottle can carry the title "Texas Bourbon Whiskey". Bourbon to my understanding is specific to Kentucky and is a controlled designation. Hence, whiskey produced in Tennessee carries the designation "Tennessee Sour Mash".

No, Bourbon is not exclusive to Kentucky, no more than Vodka is to Russia.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Just wondering how that bottle can carry the title "Texas Bourbon Whiskey". Bourbon to my understanding is specific to Kentucky and is a controlled designation. Hence, whiskey produced in Tennessee carries the designation "Tennessee Sour Mash".

DocJ, I remember reading some years back that "bourbon whiskey" originated with a Baptist preacher as a "cure" for a cough and/or sore throat. Not sure when or where I read it, but kinda funny in light of that Southern Baptists (of which I am one...who loves cold beer!), are the bunch most known for anti-drinking attitudes! LOL

On a personal note, there is that old family tale about one of my great-grandmothers. She was a "hard-shell" Southern Baptist and would have nothing to do with liquor or drinking. In her eyes, drinking should be a hanging offense (that is a bit of an exageration, but not by much!).

But anyway, the story goes that she caught a severe cold or something and the doctor finally convinced her that a dose of whiskey would help. She reluctantly agreed to try it. And sure enough, it seemed to work.

In fact, it worked well enough that -- supposedly -- she was never without a bottle in the house. BUT...she always took it with a spoon. Because THAT way, it was "medicine"...not actual *gasp* drinking!

Some of the older kinfolk -- in relating this bit of family lore -- said the size of the spoon increased over the years...until it because a ladle! LOL

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

William B. Travis sent out his famous Letter From The Alamo:

Commandancy of the Alamo—Bejar, Fby. 24th 1836—
[indent]To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world—

Fellow citizens & compatriots—I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna—I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken—I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch—The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. comdt

P.S. The Lord is on our side—When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn—We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis

Thanks for posting that, ScoPro!

I remember back in elementary school when we were required to memorize and recite it!

God Bless Texas!

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

DocJ, I remember reading some years back that "bourbon whiskey" originated with a Baptist preacher as a "cure" for a cough and/or sore throat. Not sure when or where I read it, but kinda funny in light of that Southern Baptists (of which I am one...who loves cold beer!), are the bunch most known for anti-drinking attitudes! LOL

On a personal note, there is that old family tale about one of my great-grandmothers. She was a "hard-shell" Southern Baptist and would have nothing to do with liquor or drinking. In her eyes, drinking should be a hanging offense (that is a bit of an exageration, but not by much!).

But anyway, the story goes that she caught a severe cold or something and the doctor finally convinced her that a dose of whiskey would help. She reluctantly agreed to try it. And sure enough, it seemed to work.

In fact, it worked well enough that -- supposedly -- she was never without a bottle in the house. BUT...she always took it with a spoon. Because THAT way, it was "medicine"...not actual *gasp* drinking!

Some of the older kinfolk -- in relating this bit of family lore -- said the size of the spoon increased over the years...until it because a ladle! LOL

How funny!

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

DocJ, I remember reading some years back that "bourbon whiskey" originated with a Baptist preacher as a "cure" for a cough and/or sore throat. Not sure when or where I read it, but kinda funny in light of that Southern Baptists (of which I am one...who loves cold beer!), are the bunch most known for anti-drinking attitudes! LOL

On a personal note, there is that old family tale about one of my great-grandmothers. She was a "hard-shell" Southern Baptist and would have nothing to do with liquor or drinking. In her eyes, drinking should be a hanging offense (that is a bit of an exageration, but not by much!).

But anyway, the story goes that she caught a severe cold or something and the doctor finally convinced her that a dose of whiskey would help. She reluctantly agreed to try it. And sure enough, it seemed to work.

In fact, it worked well enough that -- supposedly -- she was never without a bottle in the house. BUT...she always took it with a spoon. Because THAT way, it was "medicine"...not actual *gasp* drinking!

Some of the older kinfolk -- in relating this bit of family lore -- said the size of the spoon increased over the years...until it because a ladle! LOL

LOL!!! I think this was true across the board of a lot of Baptist families. We were not Southern Baptist and my grandfather was a Baptist preacher. However, he knew exactly where the liquor store was so that he could get the family "medicine" for colds, flu, cough, etc. They always bought the cheapest nasty stuff (YUCK). They would mix it with a bit of honey and lemon and drink it to heal whatever was the illness they had. They frowned on drinking be it wine or beer and no hard liquor for sure. But this was different....... it was medicine and it was only used when one needed it and sometimes that bottle would last YEARS!

Oh, they also used it to rub on a babies gums w/ their finger when the baby was teething.