From County Tyrone to the Alamo, Lieutenant Robert McKinney

A siege that over thirteen days in a blood sacrifice helped to buy precious time for General Sam Houston to ready the Texican army to face the army of General Antonio López de Santa Anna.

Many of the defenders were decedents of Ulster-scots but it is not widely known that surprisingly ten or more of the defenders had actually been born in Ireland, United Kingdom. Emigrating to the new world in search of a better life with the chance of fame and fortune.

One of them was defender Lieutenant Robert McKinney, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth McKinney who was born in 1809 at County Tyrone. Within one year of leaving Ulster for America he would have given his life as part of that blood sacrifice at the Alamo.

In 1835 Robert emigrated from the United Kingdom to America and arrived on the ship Delaware at New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. From New Orleans he quickly moved onto Tennessee. While there he heard of a revolution in Texas that had begun on the 2nd of October, 1835 and joined the Volunteers of Tennessee to take part. Many of those living in Tennessee would volunteer due to the promise of free land grants by the provisional government of Texas. As someone from Ulster the offer of free land must have been very attractive to Robert as was the chance to defeat Dictator Santa Anna while helping to gain freedom and liberty for Texas. It is estimated that over 80 percent of the defenders that totalled around 200 men were like Robert either born in Ulster or of Ulster-Scots heritage.

Robert was with one of the volunteer troops that arrived in Texas with Colonel Jim Bowie, arriving at the Alamo, San Antonio, Bexar Colony, Texas during January, 1836.

When Jim Bowie became too ill to command the Volunteers, Robert McKinney served for the rest of the siege under Colonel William Travers as a Lieutenant. At the early part of the siege the Volunteers could have opted to leave at any time as they knew by staying they were all going to die. This was evident to the defenders after Santa Anna ordered the Deguello played which is commonly known as the “cut throat” song to inform the defenders no quarter would be given.

However the sense of loyalty and duty particularly of the Ulster-Scots that included the leadership of Jim Bowie, David Crockett and in particular overall commander William Travers hardened that resolve to fight and die at the Alamo by his famous “Victory or Death” letter, that he penned on the 24th February, 1836 as follows:

“Commandancy of The Alamo

Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836

To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World-

Fellow Citizens & compatriots-

I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna - I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man - The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken - I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls - I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch - The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country - Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis.

Lt. Col.comdt.

P. S. The Lord is on our side - When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn - We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.

Travis.”

The renowned spirt of the Ulster-Scots would be so crucial at the Alamo and the defenders did indeed exact a high price on the forces of Santa Anna.

Sadly on the morning of the 6th March, 1836 Lieutenant Robert McKinney like his fellow defenders would all be killed or executed in the Battle of the Alamo that ended the siege. The bodies of the brave defenders after the battle were unceremoniously piled up and burned in funeral pyres by the victorious Mexican army. That victory would be short lived as General Sam Houston with the famous battle cry “Remember the Alamo!” would in an 18 minute battle at San Jacinto on the 21st April, 1836 defeat Santa Anna and his Mexican Army and finally gain independence for Texas.

The promise of a land grant was honoured and posthumously awarded to Robert’s family including his then widowed mother and siblings who were still living in County Tyrone as he never married.

Stevan Patterson, Castlederg, County Tyrone.