Peter James Bailey III

Peter James Bailey III (1812 - March 6 1836), a Private, was one of the between 180 and 250 men who died defending the Alamo.

Background

Peter was born in Kentucky to Gabriel Bailey and Sabra Rice. He graduated from Transylvania University with his degree in law.

Arrival and the Alamo

In early 1836 Bailey came with Daniel W. Cloud and a company of men to Texas. He took the oath of allegiance before John Forbes in Nacogdoches on January 14 1836, and signed up for the army. Bailey was a member of the Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, with David Crockett. Peter with the Tennessee Mounted Volunteers arrived in early February in San Antonio de Bexar. It wasn't until February 23 did any military action by the Mexicans occur. Santa Anna would attack almost every day by bombardment or his army's force between February 23 and March 6.Bailey and Crockett both were assigned to defend the palisade. As the legend goes between March 3 and March 5 before the final Mexican assault, Travis assembled all of the Alamo's defenders in the main plaza of the Alamo. Stating that reinforcements would not be coming, Travis withdrew his sword and drew a line in the dirt. He then told those men who were willing to stay and die with him to cross the line; those who wanted to leave could do so without shame, Bailey crossed the line. On March 6, 1836, following a thirteen-day siege, Peter along with Travis, Bowie, David Crockett, and James Bonham were killed in a night attack along with about 180-250 other defenders during the Battle of the Alamo. The Mexicans overran the Alamo, surrounded it, used ladders to climb over the walls and broke down the fort's defenses. When Santa Anna came into the Alamo he ordered the deffenders burned. Later that year Juan Seguin would come back and bury his fellow deffenders.

Bailey County

Bailey County in the Panhandle of Texas was named in honor of Bailey.

ources

* [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/BB/fbach.html Peter James Bailey III]

ee also

*Battle of the Alamo
*Texas Revolution
*Transylvania University
*Bailey County