Jim Bowie as reenacted by Boyd Harrison, San Antonio.

From John J. Bowie, brother of James Bowie:

My brother, Jim, was 6 feet high, of fair complexion with small blue eyes, not fleshy, but well proportioned; he stood quite erect and had a rather fierce look; was not quarrelsome, but mild and quiet, even at the moment of action. He was quite sociable and somewhat disposed to intemperance, but never drunk. He had a wonderful art in winning people to him and was extremely prodigal of his money. His muscular power was as great as his daring. He used to rope and ride alligators!

Jim went to Texas in the 1830s, where he met and married Ursula Veramendi, the daughter of wealthy businessman Juan Martín de Veramendi. She died of cholera within the first two years of their marriage, and after that Jim traveled and speculated in land deals until Austin issued a call for volunteers. He was in the battle of Concepción and very active in the Texian cause.

My brother was 40 when he died at the Alamo. He held the rank of colonel and shared command with Travis until he became too ill to lead his men. He had several broken ribs that happened in a fall while he was positioning one of the cannons. They say Jim was sick in his bed when the battle occurred and that he was butchered and mutilated in his room along the south wall near the main gate. Some say he killed two Mexicans with his pistols and used his "Bowie" knife on others before he was shot in the head.

Jim had his slave, Sam, with him in this sickness, and after the battle Santa Anna set Sam free.

8. H. Yoakum, History of Texas from Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846 (New York: Redfield, 1855; reprint, Austin: Steck-Vaughn, n.d.), p. 271.

9. William R. Williamson, "James Bowie," in The New Handbook of Texas, vol. 1 (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1996), p. 669.

10. Alwyn Barr, Black Texans: A History of Negroes in Texas 1528-1971, 2^nd ed.^. (Austin: Jenkins Publishing, 1996), p. 6.

 

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