But a majority of the reason this book was written was to lose the myths of the story behind the Alamo, and to let the facts shine.
In the beginning of the book, Long describes the features of Texas. He describes the land and rivers with rich description allowing the reader to see Texas's nature by using one's imagination. He then goes on to describe the political background and the conflict that occurs between the Anglos and the Mexicans that leads to the war. Long gives then gives the reader a look at the side of the story that people don't often hear about. He goes into detail about the laws that Anglos were breaking that provoked that tension between both the Mexicans and the Anglos. For example, one of the conflicts that created tension was the fact that Anglos wanted slaves despite the Mexican law that forbade it. Long then goes on to discuss the major character's lives that will later be a large part of the story. For example, he goes into depth about Sam Houston and his visit to Mexico to negotiate a price to purchase Texas. But on his way back, an offensive letter toward the Mexicans being sent to Texas is discovered. Consequently, Houston in placed in solitary confinement and not released until the time that the war is beginning. He then gets to the battle at the Alamo in which the Mexicans are slaughtering the Texans. Long includes a scene in the battle in which Davy Crockett is begging for his life. Davy claims that he had nothing to do with the revolution and that he was a traveler who was mixed into the fighting. By chapter 21 Texas has been won by the Texans. Sam Houston sends documents with Ethan Allen Hitchcock to General Gaines confirming that Texas had indeed been conquered. Although most seemed excited of the winning of Texas, again in chapter 21, John Quincy Adams states his opinion. He goes on to say that granting support to Texas would only trigger tension between Americans and Mexico.
