Moses Rose of the Alamo!

The 1836 Battle of the Alamo is steeped in myth, rich in history, and a source of many unsolved puzzles.  Countless written words and hours of debate have centered on the battle and its major figures, David Crockett, Jim Bowie, and commander William Travis.  

The Alamo battle quickly ascended into myth and legend.  Fictionalized and glorified images of the defenders, as well as the demonization of their Mexican adversaries, particularly General Santa Anna, have been preserved in poetry and fiction; on stage, screen and television; and in a considerable amount of music.  Nearly all of these artistic representations reflect the traditional image of the Alamo heroes as brave martyrs who went down fighting for Texas independence from Mexico.  Little negative is ever said about them, but on rare occasions some bold wag has held a more cynical or comical lens up to the Alamo myth.  Take Moses Rose for example, whose name may actually have been Louis Rose, who may or may not have been French, but who certainly fought at the Alamo and, unlike his fellow defenders, lived to tell about it. 

At some point during the siege, so the story goes, Colonel Travis gave the garrison the option of leaving the fort with honor or remaining with him to fight to the death, which was a certainty by the time he made the offer.  Legend has it that only one man, Rose, chose to bolt over the wall and attempt escape through Mexican lines.  Although the story has met with some skepticism, Rose does appear to have fought at the Alamo and managed to escape before the final battle.  Thus, no stigma of cowardice should haunt Rose’s memory (after all, Travis did give the garrison permission to leave with honor) but,  nonetheless, history has sometimes judged him to be “less-than-heroic”. 

Rose has also been commemorated in Alamo songs.  “Rose of the Alamo,” a 1946 ditty written by George Lomas and Sophie & Julie Murray and recorded by Dick Thomas with the Sante Fe Rangers, mentions Rose.  “Coward of the Alamo,” a comic/novelty song written by Don Bowman, does not actually mention Rose but, as the title suggests, focuses on a not so heroic Alamo defender.  Both Bowman and Dave Gardner recorded versions of the song in 1961.  

“Moses Rose of Texas,” penned by Stephen L. Suffent in 1995 and recorded by Carl Peterson for his CD Scotland Remembers the Alamo in 2001, is the cleverest of all Rose songs. The following excerpt from Music of the Alamo: From 19^th Century Ballads to Big-Screen Soundtracks includes the song’s wry lyrics.

“Moses Rose, the Alamo defender who, according to legend, left the mission-fortress when given the opportunity by William Travis, was acknowledged in the 1995 song: “Moses Rose of Texas.”  Written by Stephen L. Suffet and sung to the tune “Yellow Rose of Texas,” Rose gets a celebratory boost of sorts because of his survivor status:

“When gallant Colonel Travis,

Drew a line down in the sand,

Everyone stepped over,

But one solitary man.

They called him Rose the Coward,

And they called him Yellow Rose,

But it takes bravery to stand alone,

As God Almighty knows.

“He said, ‘I’m not a coward,

I just think it isn’t right,

For me to throw my life away,

In someone else’s fight.

I have no quarrel with Mexicans,

Nor with the Texans, too,’

So Moses Rose of Texas,

He bid the men adieu.

“Whenever you are up against it,

Pressure from your peers,

Or a challenge to your manhood,

Or frightened by the jeers,

Remember that discretion,

Is valor’s better part,

And let the life of Moses Rose,

Put courage in your heart.

“So shed a tear for Travis,

And Davy Crockett, too,

And cry for old Jim Bowie,

They saw the battle through.

But when you’re finished weeping,

And you’re finished with your wail,

Then give a grin for Moses Rose,

Who lived to tell the tale!

(By Stephen L. Suffet ©1995.  Used by permission)”

For more information about how the Alamo has been remembered in music, see Music of the Alamo: From 19^th Century Ballads to Big-Screen Soundtracks by William R. Chemerka and Allen J. Wiener.  The book can be purchased from Amazon.com at this link:  http://tinyurl.com/m6lhld2

Allen J. Wiener's books can be found on Amazon.com at this link:  http://tinyurl.com/po638bd