Many of us remember the Disney television miniseries titled Davy Crockett and the song “The Ballad of Davy Crockett”. While many western characters obtained nearly mythical status, they were no-doubt individuals who lived interesting, active and influential lives. Davy Crockett was one such character.
Crockett was born in 1786, just after the colony won its independence. It was a time when westward expansion was active. Crockett was the son of John Crockett who was one of the Overmountain Men who fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolution. The Overmountain Men were frontiersmen near the Blue Ridge Mountains who took part in the Revolution. Their settlements were west of the Blue Ridge or “Overmountain”. This region was the primary geographical boundary dividing several of the 13 new states from the Native American territory to the west. Davy Crockett no-doubt obtained his interest in the west from his father.
When Davy was 12, his father indentured him as a cowboy in Virginia moving stock over 400 miles. He returned to Tennessee and enrolled in school, but had an altercation with another student and, when his father found out, had to avoid a whipping by his father by running away and soon joined another cattle drive. After this and a few other jobs, Crockett returned to Tennessee. With his father in debt, Crockett was again hired out to help pay the bills.
In 1802, Crockett enlisted as a scout with the Second Regiment of Volunteer Riflemen. Crockett often hunted wild game for the soldiers. During the War of 1812, Crockett re-enlisted and joined the Tennessee Mounted Gunman but saw little action.
In later years, Crockett served in public office as a commissioner assisting in setting the Lawrence County boundaries. He then served as county justice of the peace and, in 1818, was elected lieutenant colonel of the fifty-seventh Regiment of Tennessee Militia. He then won a seat in the Tennessee General Assembly where he leaned to be an exceptional orator. He won a seat in the US House in 1826.
In 1834, Crockett sensed a revolution was imminent in Texas and he went there in 1835 to with 30 well-armed men to explore the territory. According to his daughter, Crockett left for Texas dressed in his hunting suit and wearing a coonskin cap. He arrived at the Alamo Mission in San Antonio on February 6, 1836 just before a Mexican army, led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna arrived. The Mexican army conducted a surprise siege on Crockett and his group, which led to days long battle that ended on March 6th. On that day, the Battle of the Alamo lasted nearly 90 minutes and led to the death of Crockett and all his men.
It is uncertain if Crockett was killed in battle or whether he was executed. The physical and contemporary accounts lead to the conclusion that it was their “last stand” and the men died defending the mission.
What is certain is that Crockett lived up to his reputation as the “King of the Wild Frontier”. From his scouting duties, to his war time service, to his time in Texas, Crockett was the epitome of a western frontiersman who helped shape the wild west. Crockett’s legacy lives on in the popular TV series of the 50’s, many movies and in the many places named after him. Crockett died on this day in 1836 at the Alamo aged 49.
