I came across a qoute the other day that was amusing when one considers how recent revisionist “historians” (maybe I should say “alleged historians”)now claim the firearm was unimportant to the frontiersman.

“If we succeed the country is ours. It is immense in extent, and fertile in its soil and will amply reward all our toil. If we fail, death in the cause of liberty and humanity is not cause for shuddering. Our rifles are by our side, and choice guns they are. We know what awaits us, and are prepared to meet it.”

Daniel Cloud of Kentucky
December 1835

Mr Cloud wrote this in a letter to his brother, while traveling to The Mission San Antonio de Valero in San Antonio de Bexar, in the Mexican province of Texas.

You might notice that Cloud linked the concepts of liberty and humanity to a fine and deadly firearm-his Kentucky Long Rifle, which was the “sniper weapon” of the day. He also asserted his willingness to die for his freedom.

This was something more than an idle threat…The Mission San Antonio de Valero is better known as “The Alamo.” Cloud stood with 182 defenders for 13 days before being butchered by 6000 Mexican soldiers at approximately 6:30 AM on 6 March 1836. During the seige, couriers came and left The Alamo at will, taking messages to other military commanders, government officials and even letters to and from business partners. No one is recorded as having attempted to leave and was prevented from doing so, yet they faced an Army of thousands led by a dictator. The dictator flew a red banner from a highly visible church some 800 yards away, signaling “no quarter.” His military band played “Deguello”: the cut-throat song. Everyone in that mission knew that they would die if they failed to repulse the enemy.

Yet their rifles weren’t important?