I hope they show the real truth this time.

All charges on final day between 4 and 6 AM
three separate charges
Bonham and Travis were childhood friends-Bonham came back the last time to the Alamo because of his friendship to Travis when he could have kept going
"Moses" Louis Rose-left Alamo just before final battle-supposedly lived until 1880s and died in Nacogdoches. He was in Napoleon's Army in Russia and at Waterloo.

at least two other messengers did not get back in time-a teen who left three days before end, and Dr. Sutherland who was on the way back when he heard it had fallen.

Santa Anna was almost killed twice during the siege-once when he was inspecting a cannon emplacement on the side where the Tennesseeans were located. One of them fired at him from long range. He scurried for safety. The other time at end of battle around 545-600 AM he and the band were approaching the north wall thinking all were dead in mission. ONe man on north wall still alive, able to get up and fire one shot. It whistled over his head. He turned and retreated and waited awhile longer.

Tennesseeans, Crockett or one of his men, picked off two Mexicans from long range getting water from a stream during the siege. They were about 200-300 yards from the mission when shot.

5-7 were found hiding in the Long Barracks at end of battle. Some of them were Tennesseeans. One claimed to be Crockett and had a coonskin hat. This could of been one of his men pretending to be him. They were slaughtered. One general and colonel argued that they should be spared. Santa Anna would have none of that. They were torn apart by the men standing by when Santa Anna said "kill them."

the diary is supported by letters of other officers there who wrote about some of the incidents later on.

the book is called "In Texas with Santa Anna" published in 1975 University of Texas Press

BEst, John. A Texan. History and geography teacher and I have read much since a kid on this. With all these poor Alamo movies over the years lets hope this one is more accurate.

That's been the big problem with making an Alamo movie. People squawk if it relies too much on the myth and other people squawk if no myth at all is included. John Wayne did much to promulgate "The Myth" and as "The Myth," I really love his movie. I would like to see as historical a representation as possible this time around. As was said on the other topic on this movie, the people and event itself lend themselves to a great story without including the myth.

I would be hesitant to base a movie on De La Pena's work, though. As you know, that diary hasn't yet been accepted as fact yet. There's still a lot of controversy over it.

I would be interested to see if Alamo historian Stephen Hardin is involved in the project in any way. He could help keep them on track, historically.

I read "Gates of the Alamo" last year. I thought then, and still think now, that it would make an excellent basis for a movie.

I would hope that they include the Battle of San Jacinto. The one in the mini-series "James Mitchner's Texas" was horrible. To me, a movie about the Texas Revolution that focuses just on the Alamo is like a movie about Jesus that ends with the crucifiction.

If they follow the diary it will include San Jacinto. It covers the entire campaign in Texas. John Wayne's Alamo is fairly good. I have always liked it, but most people don't realize how far it is from the truth. Since the majority of Americans know little of what happened there and could care less.

Some of the letters of other people in Santa Annas army do support parts of the diary. For example, others mention the capture and killing of a few defenders at the end. One of them was the officer who tried to get Santa Anna to spare them. A letter was found in his family's records which supported the claim in the diary.

The key to a good film on this time around will be story and the actors chosen. The majority of older Americans have seen plenty of Alamo movies so I am assuming this will be aimed at the younger generation that has not seen those.

Last Command, 13 Days of Glory, Man from the Alamo, Davy Crockett at the Alamo are among some already in past on this.

What might make a better film is to follow Louis "Moses" Rose from his time in Napoleon's army in Europe, to the Mexican REvolution, and ending up at Alamo, leaving the Alamo and the rest of his life(of which little is known-so would be highly fictionalized-he would not want people to know he left there), dying an old man in Nacogdoches. This would span from early 1800s to 1883.

That would be interesting. Maybe more than another Alamo film.

J. Also read Gates of Alamo last year. I recommended it to my friend Cary in Ft. Worth.

take care

Hope they don't foul this one up. J.

Maybe it's just the way he talks, but it sounds like he's making a "politically correct" version of the Alamo, leaning more toward the warts than the heroism.