Name
Professor
Course
Date
Jim Bowie
Each and every place in the world has a history, whether it is a country, region or a State. There are some unique events that may have happened in a particular place and had some very significant effect. At times there are some people whose contribution to a certain area or region was immense that it affected many people either positively or negatively.
The State of Texas also has had very unique events and even people whose contribution towards building of the state can not be forgotten. One person whose contribution during the Texas Revolution can not be assumed is Jim Bowie. Born in Kentucky in the year 1796, his family moved to Missouri and later to Louisiana in the year 1802. It is in Louisiana that Bowie gained the reputation of being a bold and brave young man an attribute he was to show later in life (Parker, pg 250).
Even though Bowie was known as an adventurer, his participation in the revolution in Texas is commendable. From a personal view Bowie played a major role in ensuring that the Texans lived their life as they wished. He displayed immense skills and leadership qualities he was able to rally just a handful of men and managed to hold off large numbers of the Mexican army that had taken over Texas. During the Grass Fight that took place on the 28th of November in year 1835, Bowie portrayed immense courage when he tried to intercept a train of mules that he had thought had the pay for the Mexican soldiers. Attacking a convoy carrying any army’s payroll is suicidal as it is bound to be heavily guarded; the attack on the convoy ignited a fight that enabled the Texans to drive out the enemy. During the fight the Texans lost one man while another two were injured, however Mexicans lost a large number of their men (Parker, pg 251).
Another incidence that Bowie displayed courage was during the Siege at Alamo. After being defeated and made to flee, the Mexican general by the name of Santa Anna resolved to take San Antonio Texas back. On the 23rd of February 1836, the general brought about 2,000 troops with merely about 145 men, Bowie who was in charge of the volunteer fighters and William Travis in charge of the Army resolved to stand their ground. Travis managed to get some reinforcement bringing the total number of the Texan defenders to 189 (Parker, pg 255).
In an immense display of bravery, with just a hand full of men under their command Bowie and his counterpart were able to keep the Mexican army at bay forcing the Mexicans to call for reinforcement to over 2,000 troops. Even though the siege finally ended with the Mexicans overrunning Alamo killing all the 189 defenders the determination of the defenders was ascertained by the number of soldiers the Mexicans lost. It is estimated that the Mexicans lost about 1,600 men. For a group of volunteer fighters and just a handful of trained soldiers that was unimaginable (Parker, pg 250).
Conclusion
The contribution that Bowie made towards ensuring that Texas was not taken over by the Mexican army is exemplarily. Without any skills as a trained soldier, Bowie was able to display such courage and leadership qualities. For the commander of the army to agree to share the command with a “civilian” proves that Bowie’s contribution was vital in ensuring that Texas remained to the Texans.
Work Cited
Parker, Janice. Texas: the Lone Star State. New York: AV2 by Weigl, 2012. Print.
