Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers
Encyclopedia
The Immortal 32, the Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers were a group of Texian militia organized as a relief force for the besieged men of the Alamo in early 1836, during the Texas Revolution
.
was named along with Mathew Caldwell
and William A. Mathews
as commissioners to raise a group of volunteers in Gonzales for a ranging company. Though serving in defense of Bexar (San Antonio), Lockhart and Andrew Jackson Sowell were sent from the Alamo
a short time before the Siege of the Alamo
to obtain supplies for the garrison. They were delayed foraging livestock and supplies and were blocked by Mexican troops while trying to return.
and DeWitt's Colony
, who had gathered when the call for support was issued. After receiving Travis's "To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World" appeal on March 25th, the Gonzales Rangers would leave the town of Gonzales on the evening of Saturday, February 27, led by commanding officer Lieutenant George C. Kimble and Captain Albert Martin, who had been the Alamo courier to deliver Travis's appeal at Gonzales. Of the 23 original members who were mustered into the Gonzales Ranger Company on the 23rd, a total of 12 are thought to have entered the Alamo with the final Relief Force on March 1 and all but one died there. Lockhart, Sowell, John William Smith
and others would accompany the 32 Rangers into the Alamo and later depart, at night, as other couriers left.
According to one account, a group of 25 men left Gonzales at two in the evening on the 27th. As they passed through Green Dewitt's Colony toward the Umphries Branch
community and on to the Cibolo Creek, the company would gain 8 more members, increasing the company to 32 men. The youngest member of the Alamo defenders, William Phillip King, only 16 years old, would become a part of this group. Due to family illness, he had substituted in his father's place. On the 29th, the group searched to find a way into the Alamo and through the Mexican lines. Then at three o'clock, in the early hours of March 1st, they made a wild dash into the fort while being shot at by Alamo sentries. One man was slightly wounded and after a few rash words, the Alamo gates flew open for the Gonzales force to enter.
The list of the 32 immortals are:
Isaac G. Baker,
John Cain,
George Washington Cottle
,
David P. Cummings,
Jacob Darst,
John Davis,
Squire Daymon (Damon),
William Dearduff,
Charles Despallier,
William Fishbaugh,
John Flanders,
Dolphin Ward Floyd,
Galba Fuqua,
John E. Garvin,
John E. Gaston,
James George,
Thomas J. Jackson,
John Benjamin Kellogg II,
Andrew Kent,
George C. Kimble
,
William Phillip King,
Jonathan L. Lindley,
Albert Martin,
Jesse McCoy ,
Thomas R. Miller,
Isaac Millsaps ,
George Neggan,
Marcus L. Sewell ,
William Summers ,
George W. Tumlinson,
Robert White,
Claiborne Wright.
Although knowing their chance of survival was slim, the Gonzales Rangers remained in the Alamo, serving as possibly the only reinforcements to make it into the Alamo during the siege. They were all killed on March 6 at The Battle of the Alamo. For their heroic effort to support the besieged and outnumbered Texians, they are remembered as the "Immortal 32".
.
A large granite marker on the Alamo grounds, behind the long barracks depicts the men and honors their contributions.
Also see:List of Alamo defenders
Battle of the Alamo
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
.
Background
On February 4, 1836, Byrd LockhartByrd Lockhart
Byrd Lockhart , was a 19th-century Texas surveyer, Alamo defender, courier, and Texian officer during the Texas Revolution.-Early life and family:...
was named along with Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell, , also spelled Matthew Caldwell was a 19th century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales - Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
and William A. Mathews
William A. Mathews
William A. Mathews was a 19th-century Texas colonist, soldier, courier and quartermaster in the Texas Revolution.-Early life and family:...
as commissioners to raise a group of volunteers in Gonzales for a ranging company. Though serving in defense of Bexar (San Antonio), Lockhart and Andrew Jackson Sowell were sent from the Alamo
Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a battle fought during the Texas Revolution.Alamo may also refer to:-Places:*Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas*Alamo, California*Alamo, Georgia*Alamo Township, Michigan*Alamo, Nevada*Alamo, New Mexico...
a short time before the Siege of the Alamo
Siege of the Alamo
The siege of the Alamo describes the first twelve days of the Battle of the Alamo. On February 23, Mexican troops under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna entered San Antonio de Bexar, Texas and surrounded the Alamo Mission...
to obtain supplies for the garrison. They were delayed foraging livestock and supplies and were blocked by Mexican troops while trying to return.
Alamo Service
They promptly headed for Gonzales and on February 23, the 23 member Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers were mustered into service by Lockhart. The company primarily consisted of family men from GonzalesGonzales
Gonzales is a variant spelling of the common Spanish González . It may refer to:-People:*Alberto Gonzales, former U.S. Attorney General...
and DeWitt's Colony
Green DeWitt
Green DeWitt was an empresario in Mexican Texas. He founded the DeWitt Colony, one of the most successful.-Early years:...
, who had gathered when the call for support was issued. After receiving Travis's "To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World" appeal on March 25th, the Gonzales Rangers would leave the town of Gonzales on the evening of Saturday, February 27, led by commanding officer Lieutenant George C. Kimble and Captain Albert Martin, who had been the Alamo courier to deliver Travis's appeal at Gonzales. Of the 23 original members who were mustered into the Gonzales Ranger Company on the 23rd, a total of 12 are thought to have entered the Alamo with the final Relief Force on March 1 and all but one died there. Lockhart, Sowell, John William Smith
John William Smith
John William Smith was a Texas political figure and the first mayor of San Antonio, Texas. He supported and served Texas during the struggle for Texas Independence.-Early life:...
and others would accompany the 32 Rangers into the Alamo and later depart, at night, as other couriers left.
According to one account, a group of 25 men left Gonzales at two in the evening on the 27th. As they passed through Green Dewitt's Colony toward the Umphries Branch
Seguin, Texas
Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
community and on to the Cibolo Creek, the company would gain 8 more members, increasing the company to 32 men. The youngest member of the Alamo defenders, William Phillip King, only 16 years old, would become a part of this group. Due to family illness, he had substituted in his father's place. On the 29th, the group searched to find a way into the Alamo and through the Mexican lines. Then at three o'clock, in the early hours of March 1st, they made a wild dash into the fort while being shot at by Alamo sentries. One man was slightly wounded and after a few rash words, the Alamo gates flew open for the Gonzales force to enter.
The list of the 32 immortals are:
Isaac G. Baker,
John Cain,
George Washington Cottle
George Washington Cottle
George Washington Cottle was a Republic of Texas soldier who died at the Battle of the Alamo.Cottle was born in Missouri and arrived in Texas with his parents, Jonathan and Margaret Cottle, several siblings, and three cousins July 6, 1829 where he settled in DeWitt's Colony on the Lavaca River...
,
David P. Cummings,
Jacob Darst,
John Davis,
Squire Daymon (Damon),
William Dearduff,
Charles Despallier,
William Fishbaugh,
John Flanders,
Dolphin Ward Floyd,
Galba Fuqua,
John E. Garvin,
John E. Gaston,
James George,
Thomas J. Jackson,
John Benjamin Kellogg II,
Andrew Kent,
George C. Kimble
George C. Kimble
George C. Kimble defender and officer of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, was born in 1803 and died at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. Kimble County in the hill country of Texas is named in his honor....
,
William Phillip King,
Jonathan L. Lindley,
Albert Martin,
Jesse McCoy ,
Thomas R. Miller,
Isaac Millsaps ,
George Neggan,
Marcus L. Sewell ,
William Summers ,
George W. Tumlinson,
Robert White,
Claiborne Wright.
Although knowing their chance of survival was slim, the Gonzales Rangers remained in the Alamo, serving as possibly the only reinforcements to make it into the Alamo during the siege. They were all killed on March 6 at The Battle of the Alamo. For their heroic effort to support the besieged and outnumbered Texians, they are remembered as the "Immortal 32".
Aftermath
Gonzales losses at the Alamo would amount to about 20 percent of the casualties suffered there by the Texian forces. The grief and loss of the Gonzales participants would contribute to the ensuing panic that would initiate the Runaway ScrapeRunaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight and subsequent hostilities that occurred, as Texan, Tejano, and American settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836....
.
Legacy
A Centennial Monument on the Gonzales Memorial Museum grounds was placed to honor these men in 1936.A large granite marker on the Alamo grounds, behind the long barracks depicts the men and honors their contributions.
Also see:List of Alamo defenders
Battle of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...