Dr. Robert McAlpine Williamson This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Member Area - Gonzales, Texas - Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture

   www.gonzalestexas.com/members/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/14/2008   Last Visited: 6/14/2008

   Dr. Robert WilliamsonP.O. Box 1840

2. 2. Alamo Forum

   alamo-de-parras.welkin.org/cen - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/8/2000   Last Visited: 2/24/2003

   ..."for God's sake hold out until WE can assist you..."I'd like to understand how, if additional reinforcements arrived, Williamson was not among them, i.e., how close did he/his troops get to Bexar? Also, how could someone obtain the text of Thomas Ricks Lindley's hypothesis on heretofore unknown additions to the garrison? THANKS...it's very exciting to have access to this resource.
   
   ...
   Williamson, who had been on the frontier, (the Colorado River) moved down to Gonzales when word of the Alamo siege arrived. The Gonzales relief force had already moved out, so Williamson began to gather intelligence about other groups heading his way and for the Alamo. These included Jesse Billingsley's Company from Bastrop and Sidney Sherman's Kentucky Volunteers who were marching down from Washington-on-the-Brazos with others.
   
   ...
   I imagine that Williamson probably over estimated the number of volunteers that would be on hand in Gonzales to march to the relief of the Alamo.
   
   J.H. Kuykendall's Recollections, published in the April 1901 issue of the Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association (The San Jacinto Campaign issue) detail the movement of the volunteer companies heading for the relief of the Alamo. It is not known if Williamson was including Fannin in his estimate or not. Since Fannin had given up his attempt to relieve the Alamo on 25 February, it is possible that Williamson had learned that Fannin was not on the March. However, Fannin had sent an advance force under Captain Chennoworth's Company as far north as the Cibolo crossing of the San Antonio River.
   
   Who constituted this possible unknown reinforcement into the Alamo toward the end is open for discussion. Williamson would have remained in Gonzales organizing things until the commander-in-chief, Sam Houston, arrived, which he did on 11 March (and that is a whole different story).
   ...
   Robert McAlpine Williamson during the Revolution was the Commanding officer of the Ranging Corps.(Texas Rangers now). Before the Alamo came under seige the Rangers were engaged in protection of the frontier up towards Bastrop. They were newly formed unit and recruitment was a problem. It did not stop Captain John J. Tumlinson's new command to rescue the Hibbons boy from the Commanche. Indian "depredations" were on the main focus of Texas until the Alamo came under seige. It would also be a real concern to Texas during, and after the Texas revolution. Williamson expressed his concerns about recruitment and increasing contact with Hostiles in San Felipe in early Feb 1836. The Advisory Commitee issued a series of orders to the Commitee of Safty of all districts and Major Williamson specific orders, dated 14 Feb 1836. He was in Gonzales talking with the Safty Commitee and finding out rumors of Mexican army movemnts when the messengers of the Alamo arrived. He was already responding by forming the Gonzales Rangers on the 24th. and ordering Militia Companies to Rally to Gonzales.
   
   This authority is stated in order #4 of his orders. When the Gonzales Rangers left for the Alamo, no doubt he briefed them to give up-dated intelligence to his friend Buck Travis. Maj. Williamson also would perform the role as gathering intelligence for the Rallying Texas Army by interviewing refugees and Messengers from the Alamo on Mexican Army movements and Organization.