Jim Donovan (1) (1954–)

The story of the last stand at the Alamo is a prime example of history being written by the winners.

Obviously, the doomed defenders didn't win, but in time Texas did. As did the United States. I love this story because it's one of the great real life Greek tragedies of American history, but let's not ignore the fact that if we switched the POV, if in fact Mexico had prevailed and retained control of Texas, it's unlikely they'd be celebrating this assault as anything more than a senseless slaughter of misguided insurrectionists.

Another reason I prefer James Donovan's examination of The Alamo is because I tire of media pundits, and far too many armchair non-historians, who prefer their history to be more storybook and less reality. The battle of the Alamo in 1836 was the result of the Texas settlers' desire for independence coming into conflict with the Mexican government's desire for sovereignty. The battle was bloody and often senseless, though let's not forget that history is full of skirmishes like this. Maybe many of the Texans fortified there acted heroically or maybe not? Or maybe it was both? Let's ask these questions and not insist the outcome be glorified or condemned by our shifting standards of hindsight. Though I concede it's possible, because we're only human, history will always be a story and never be real.

Lastly, one of my favorite accounts from the story of the Alamo, also unverifiable to this day, is the story of Louis "Moses" Rose. He was among a group of likely volunteers, but not soldiers, who on the eve of battle were given a chance by the battle commander to stay and fight or leave. Moses was the only one who chose to go. He escaped passed the Mexican garrison and eventually made his way about 300 miles away to Nacogdoches, Texas. There the old grump set up a butcher's shop and reportedly lived a couple more decades. The story goes, when asked about the Alamo he would reply, unashamed, that yes, he was there and that yes, he left when offered the choice. "My god, I just wasn't ready to die."… (meer)

Chief Sitting Bull-The General who outgeneraled Custer. General George Armstrong Custer-The slain General who went down in history.

'A Terrible Glory' is a study in juxtapositions situated against the historic twilight of the Manifest Destiny hysteria which witnessed America urbanize its Westward frontier. General George Armstrong Custer was tasked by the United States Government under incumbent President Rutherford B. Hayes to acquire the mineral rich Black Hills for American territory. On the opposing end of the paradigm were the Sioux Tribes under the stewardship of Chief Sitting Bull who opposed attempts made at conquering their sacred lands.

'A Terrible Glory' charts how Custer sat out to confront the Sioux and rid the Black Hills of their presence. Custer had his eyes set on history feeling that he would earn a glorious niche within its annals if he expelled the troublesome Sioux from their homelands. Sitting Bull, fired by the cry of his faith, and the Sioux prepared to defend the 'temples of their forefathers' to the death and court martyrdom in doing so.

Custer's bid for glory blinded him and heightened his arrogance. As Donovan establishes, he made critical strategic errors; entrusted tactical arrangements to military officers wanting in such affairs and ignored the advise of his contumacious Captain Fredrick Benteen to avoid regular stratagems against the Sioux. The ultimate result was that Custer stumbled into an ambush of herculean proportions. He had divided his forces too far and was easily outflanked by the Sioux on their swift moving horses. Ultimately, he and 268 soldiers under his command perished under a savage hale of arrows and bullets unleashed by the fearsome Sioux.

Donovan's prose is exceptional and avoids the specialized terms otherwise used for military histories. If anything, he is highly critical of Custer but this is no biased vilification. Where he is found wanting is in his narrative which is at times tedious and highly steeped in military lore; to the degree it digresses from the history at hand and goes into a deep exploration of how a certain gun came into being. Otherwise, this is a very critical study of how human error contributes to military catastrophe.… (meer)