James Bonham

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James Butler Bonham (20 February 1807–6 March 1836) was a 19th century American soldier who died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution.

1 Early life
2 Texas and the Alamo
3 Heritage
4 Sources
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Early life

James Butler Bonham was born near Red Bank (now Saluda), South Carolina, on February 20, 1807, the son of James and Sophia Butler {Smith}. His parents went to South Carolina from Maryland just after the American Revolution and settled down to become planters. Recent evidence does indicate that he was related to Alamo commander William B. Travis as a second cousin. Even if they were not related, they certainly knew of each other during their childhood years. They grew in the same South Carolina county and attended the same church as Bonham's family. James 1st cousin once removed was Andrew Pickens Butler.

Bonham entered South Carolina College in 1824. In 1827, during his senior year, he led a student protest over harsh attendance regulations and poor food being served at the school's boardinghouse. He was expelled along with the entire senior class. In 1830, Bonham practiced law in Pendleton, but was found in contempt of court after caning another attorney who had insulted one of Bonham's clients. When ordered to apologize by the sitting judge to the offended lawyer, he refused the offer and to which Bonham then threatened to tweak the judge’s own nose. Bonham was promptly sentenced to ninety days for contempt of court.

Bonham served as an aide to Governor James Hamilton Jr. during the Nullification Crisis in 1832. Bonham’s fiery temperament resulted in his brandishing a sword and pistol condemning Andrew Jackson and the Washington politicians. His bold and outspoken position brought him the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the same time he served as captain of a Charleston artillery company.

In October of 1834, he moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where other members of his family had previously settled. He then went to Mobile where he helped organize a company of militia cavalry known as the Mobile Greys. The small force traveled to San Felipe, Texas in late November 1835, where Bonham was commissioned a lieutenant in the Texian Cavalry on December 3.

[edit] Texas and the Alamo

On 17 October 1835, Bonham led a rally of support for the Texian cause of independence. Three days later he was elected by citizens of Mobile to personally carry their resolutions of support to Sam Houston. Bonham reached Texas in November 1835. On 1 December he wrote to Houston from San Felipe volunteering his services for Texas and declining all pay, lands, or rations in return. On 20 December he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Texas cavalry. On 11 January 1836, Houston recommended to James W. Robinson that Bonham be promoted to the rank of major. Bonham accompanied legendary frontiersman Jim Bowie to San Antonio de Bexar, site of the former Catholic mission known as the Alamo that was being re-fortified by the Texians. Bonham became a trusted messenger for Alamo commander Lt. Col. William B. Travis.

Bonham departed the Alamo on 16 February for Goliad in an effort to convince the local commander, James Fannin, to send some of his troops to San Antonio as rumors persisted that General Antonio López de Santa Anna was approaching with a large Mexican army. Fannin refused and some sources suggest that Bonham may have returned to the Alamo. These accounts state that on 20 February, Bonham again left to seek more troops, traveling to Victoria and other towns, including Gonzales where he learned that their volunteers had already left for the Alamo. Other accounts combine these two trips into a single mission.

By early March, after nearly two weeks of siege warfare by Santa Anna's army, Bonham eluded Mexican cavalry patrols and lines and arrived back at the Alamo on 3 March, with a final message for Travis from Robert McAlpin Williamson assuring Travis that help was on its way and urging him to hold out. Bonham is often mistakenly remembered as bringing the news that Colonel Fannin was not coming to Travis's aid. Bonham died on 6 March 1836, when Santa Anna's army assaulted the Alamo compound. Bonham reportedly died while crewing a cannon in the interior of the chapel. His body is presumed to have been burned in a pyre along with most of the fallen defenders.

[edit] Heritage

The town of Bonham, Texas, is named for him. Ironically, Bonham is the county seat of Fannin County, named for the commander who Bonham tried to enjoin for assistance at the Alamo.

"Flat Grove," Bonham's home in Saluda, is the only known birthplace of an Alamo defender still in existence. It is maintained as a museum.

His younger brother, Milledge Luke Bonham was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, as well as Governor of South Carolina from 1862 – 1864.

A school in the town of Midland, TX is named after him.

In World War II the United States liberty ship SS James B. Bonham was named in his honor.