The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-11-11
JAMES BUTLER BONHAM.
A New Chapter of Texas History.
FlOreSuillc (TS.r.l Chronicle.


FloresviNc (Ter) Chronicle.
LA VERN1A, TEXAS, Aug. 81, 1896.
EDITOR CHRONICLE l have receiv
ed from General NJ. L. Bonham, of
South Carolina, letter giving short
sketch of the life of his uncle, James
Butler Bonham, who fell at the storm
ing of the Alamo with Travis, Bowie
and Crockett in defense of Texan
Independence.
The history of the life and character
of the heroes Of that siege-a siege that
vii 60 down to future ages as one of
the bloodiest massacres thatever dark
ened the pages of history-should be
preserved and transmitted to posterity.
No braver men or purer patriots
ever drew sword in defense of liberty
than the defenders of the Alamo, and
it should be the especial pride of Tex
ans to perpetuate their memory. Was
it not Bonham whom Travis relied up
on to bear information Of his condition
to the patriots that they might sue
cor him in the hour of distress; and
was it not he who rode back through
the enemies lines "into the very jaws
of death?" And yet Texas histories
make mention merely of his name
giving no just conception of his su-
perb character to the youth Of the
State. If you think the letter would
be of sufficient interest to your read
ers, it is at your disposal for publica-
tion, and I herewith enclose you
copy. Yours, very truly,
A. N. McCALLUM.
ANDERSON, S. c., June %, 1896.
A. N. McCALLUM, La Vernia, Texas:
Dear Sir Your letter Of June 9th,
addressed to me at Columbia, S. c.,
was forwarded to me here, and reach
ed me just as our Superior Court
convened and I was extremely busy.
My uncle, Col. James Butler Bon
ham, fell with Travis, Crockett and
Bowie at the Alamo. I do not re-
member him. Indeed, he died before
I was born, but I have heard my faith
er, the late ex-Gov. NJ. L. Bonham, Of
this State, speak much of him. There
was very strong tie of brotherly af-
fection between them. James Butler
Bonham was born in Edgetield County
(then called district), in the State Of
South Carolina, on the goth day of
February, 1907. After course Of
study in the best schools then to be
found in the country, he studied law
and settled at Anderson, s. G. He
was engaged in the practice Of his
profession at this place when the news
Of the heroic struggle Of Texas for in
dependen ce fred his heart, and ANNA
ted him with determination to help
achieve that independence. Col. Ira
Wis, who was already in the field, was
likewise native of South Carolina,
and of Edgefeld district, and was an
old neighbor and warm friend Of
James Bonham. His letters to. the
latter filled him with the ardent desire
and determination to take part in the
struggle for freedom. So he laid down
his law and took up the sword, with
what fate in store, you already know.
A few years after the war for Texan
independence my father went to Tex
as and saw some lady, whose name /
have now forgotten, who was one OF
the few survivors of the fearful mas
sacre. From her he learned that Col.
Travis had sent my uncle to obtain
reinforcements, before the Fort was
invested by Santa Anna. On mis- re-
turn with small body Of men he
found the Fort surrounded by the
Mexicans, barring his entry with his
troops; but he had pledged his word
to Travis that he would return at all
events, and bring him news Of the
condition Of things outside, and of the
chances of receiving aid and succor.
So, by means of preconcerted signals.
he, alone, made his way through the
lines of the enemy, and into the Fort,
and lost his life, after having piled up
the dead around him. One story was
that he and few survivors fought
their way into a magazine and were
determined to blow it up rather than
surrender. But lured by the promise
that they would be treated as prison
ers of war, they surrendered and were
massacred after surrendering. think,
however, nv father was of the opin-
ion that his brother was killed while
fighting, and did not surrender.
James B. Bonham never married. He
was the son of Capt. James Bonham,
who came to South Carolina from Vir-
ginia after the war Of the Revolution;
he being the son of Absalom Bonham,
of Maryland, who, at the outbreak of
the war, being in New Jersey, visiting
his brother there, enlisted in the New
Jersey line and became major. After
the war he removed to Virginia and
died there. He was a member Of the
Cincinnati society. James Butler
Bonham, of whom you write, was
named for his maternal granduncle,
Capt. James Butler, who was killed
in the war of the Revolution, by
Bloody Bill Cunningham, famous
Tory officer of this province.
James Butler Bonham was very tall,
six feet two inches, and a powerful
man; straight as an Indian, with black
hair and eyes, and Of engaging man
ners and handsome person. He was
brave, frank and generous. Full of
thoughts of chivalry and patriotic i'm
pulse, his was just the nature to be
fired by the struggle which the gallant
Texans were making forindependence.
My father tried for while to dissuade
him from going, but seeing how ar,
dently he longed to go, he assisted
ht