Alamo Traces: New Evidence and New Conclusions

Alamo Traces: New Evidence and New Conclusions is an excellent read that looks for the truth about the siege and fall of the Alamo, and on a bigger scale, the Texas Revolution. Author Thomas Ricks Lindley takes on many of the myths and legends that have become accepted as fact over the years. Did Sam Houston really want to blow up the Alamo? How many Mexican casualties were there? Did Colonel William Barrett Travis, commander of the Alamo garrison, really draw a line in the sand allowing Moses Rose to slip over the wall and escape before the final assault? In great detail, Lindley tries to prove many of these accepted truths as either true or false. Not everyone will agree with all of his conclusions, but it is a highly entertaining. Highly recommended for anyone trying to learn more about the famous siege and fall of the Alamo in 1836. What makes this book interesting is the fact that there are so many unknown things about the battle of the Alamo in February and March of 1836. It is almost certain that we will never know for certain what transpired during those thirteen days. Was David Crockett executed or is it just something made up by Jose Enrique de la Pena? Everyone has their own opinions about what they believed happened during the siege and battle, and that is what makes it fun to read and discuss things just as Thomas Ricks Lindley has done with this book. Highly worthwhile book that will make you think twice about your knowledge of the Alamo.

Thomas Ricks Lindley is the best kind of historian - a person whose passion is evident by the detail of his research. Many books have been written about the Alamo and the Texas Revolution, but none are as replete with indepth, primary source material as Alamo Traces. Lindley has obviously spent many hours - perhaps a lifetime - in the obscure, out of the way archives of backwoods Texas so many academic historians avoid. Lindley's work is controversial. It shatters cherished myths and supports others. His chapter on the "fictional" Louis Moses Rose is absolutely brilliant and should be the subject of a standalone manuscript. No myth of Texas history - excepting Travis' line - is more accepted, only to be based on absolutely no evidence. This chapter is a model for the emerging "science" of forensic history and should be studied in detail by all aspiring researchers.The only drawback to the work is occasional problems with the author's prose. Important paragraphs are often confusing. However, the professional editorial staff of a more established publishing house could easily correct this problem. If Lindley continues to write - which he should - he would greatly benefit from a stearn editor that can provide constructive criticism on style.Otherwise, this little book is certainly worth adding to one's library and is recommended over more cursory works such as H.C. Brands' almost cartoonish treatment of the revolution. Alamo Traces is for the serious enthusiast.

This book goes beyond the usual scope of history books by shedding light into the dark corridors of the Alamo's past. As an avid history buff, and an author on Texas history myself, I can appreciate the great amount of research and concern over telling the TRUTH for a change! So much fiction has been written in the past few years that it has "muddied the waters" over what actually happened. People start believing the fiction as fact, and some textbooks have not been much better other than to apply a revisionist's history to the facts and the important details to be more "politically correct." "Alamo Traces" sheds the light on the truth, and gives us an under the microscope view of the details and events that make the Alamo story so riviting to even nonTexans. As a fifth generation Texan I am alittle put out by some authors that have written fictional books using the names of real historical places to add credence to their fictional work. (Many times without the permission of the historical commission set up to protect it.) These fictional accounts have blurred the line between fact and fiction. This dedicated author went back to the state archives. He looked carefully at the story to explain the many important details and events properly. It sets the stage and tells the story from an understandable perspective. Well done! A must for any true history buff!

I am impressed with the amount of primary sources researched for the writing of this book. Most books rely on secondary sources to a grest extent and fail to examine the accuracy of the primary accounts, but not Mr. Lindley. He got his information for this book "straight from the horses mouth". In some cases he even investigated the accuracy of the horse. It is not a book of shared opinions, but rather the evidence comes the first hand accounts of the individuals involved and the governmental records of this period of history. His exhaustive search of the governmental records is obvious. This tireless research of many years makes him uniquely different in this regard.

Mr. Lindley has obviously spent years at the State Archivesresearching this book. The book contains 676 references, manydating back to the 1830's. The list of references alone is wellworth the price of the text.Without a doubt, some scholars are going to feel very uncomfortable since some of Mr. Lindley's conclusions do not agree with the accepted version we were taught in school. Especially since the author backs up his assertions with documentation that dates back 160 years in some cases.This book is a must for anyone with even a casual interest inTexas history. We will certainly be hearing more about Mr. Lindley and his book Alamo Traces: New Evidence and New Conclusions.