Sandra Kay Jennings Vaughn, a proud member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, would like to tell you a little bit about Gordon Cartwright Jennings. He is her great-great-great-great grandfather. The reason he is historically important is because he was one of the heroes at the Alamo, and actually, he was the oldest hero killed at the battle of the Alamo, at the age of 53.
Gordon was born on May 14, 1782 in Windham Connecticut to Joseph Jennings, Jr. and Ruth Cartwright Jennings. Joseph served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Gordon had three siblings, Joseph III, Samuel and Lydia. Their father died when Gordon was only 8 years old. He had to learn at a young age what it took to survive. It was his determination and desire for independence that brought him to Texas and the Austin Colonies.
Later in this story you will see that there was also a connection with Lampasas County, near where my grandparents lived and near San Saba County where we live.
In 1820 at the age of 38, Gordon married Catherine Overton who had two sons from previous marriages, Willis Avery and William McCutcheon, Jr. Catherine’s first husband died and was buried at sea, and she was divorced from her second husband.
Gordon and his wife, Catherine had four children, Abigail born in 1822, Joseph born in 1824, Catherine “Katy” born in 1825 and Samuel born in 1828. Gordon and Catherine loaded their children and all their belongings into ox wagons and left Missouri giving up what they considered “civilization” for the promise of free land in wide open country and the dream of owning land in Texas. They, along with Gordon’s brother and his family moved near Bastrop, Texas. Gordon’s stepsons had come to Texas ahead of the family and built a cabin where they could live until they found the land that they wanted to settle on and apply for homestead rights. It took three months for the families to travel from Missouri to Texas.
When volunteers were needed to defend Texas land against Mexico, Gordon enlisted in the Texas Militia. He enlisted on July 25, 1835 under Capt. R.M. Williamson. On December 13, 1835 Gordon re-enlisted under Col. William B. Travis. Gordon was of course a private when he started in the army, but was soon promoted to Corporal and is believed to have manned cannons at the Alamo and was probably at that position when Santa Anna’s army arrived on February 23rd and surrounded the church and the outer buildings. After the thirteen day siege, at daybreak on March 6th, 1836, four thousand Mexican infantry started their final assault. They attacked in three columns, simultaneously hitting a breach in the north wall, the chapel and by scaling the west barrier. Santa Anna’s army was pushed back by strong artillery and rifle fire, but the Mexicans were finally able to storm the garrison with ladders and overran those 189 brave Texas militiamen. The Mexicans went room to room in the brutal hand-to-hand battle with guns and bayonets and when the 90 minutes of fighting subsided, all of the 189 brave defenders of the Alamo lay dead. Santa Anna and his commanders were stunned by the strength of the Texans resistance. The Mexican army suffered more than 1600 casualties in the battle.
Another member of the Jennings family, Charles B. Jennings who historians believe is a cousin or possibly a brother of Gordon C. Jennings was killed later that month (March 27, 1836) at the Goliad massacre.
When news reached Gordon’s wife Catherine of the fall of the Alamo, she and a few of her neighbors stood their ground. But on April 12, 1836 a division of the Mexican army reached the Colorado River at Bastrop and the settlers had to evacuate. Word was that the mission of the Mexican army was to wipe out every man, woman and child in their path. Luckily for the Jennings family and other families north of the Colorado River, the army’s crossing was delayed because of flood conditions and the lack of boats. But everyone knew that could change quickly. Catherine put her 10 year old daughter, Katy, on a bareback horse. Catherine told Katy to ride west, even though everyone else was fleeing to the east. This became known as “The Ride of Katy Jennings”. She rode west warning everyone possible of the advancement of the Mexican army. This ride has been compared to the ride of Paul Revere. She was instructed when her mission was complete to not return to Bastrop as everyone would be gone. She should find another family fleeing east and try to reunite with her family later. Little Katy rode 40 miles west to a settlement at Barton Creek near Waterloo which is currently Austin warning those along the way that the Mexican army was near and they should flee for their lives. At this same time, Catherine joined a group of settlers headed east in what is known as the Runaway Scrape. After hearing news of the fall of the Alamo, Sam Houston decided to retreat to the Colorado River and ordered all area inhabitants to accompany him. It is said that it was total chaos and panic as people were fleeing for their lives as they ran from the Mexican Army and having to avoid Indian encounters as well. Many people died during the hasty retreat from accidents, disease, drowning, cold rain, hunger and other perils along the way, and they were buried where they fell. The retreat continued until they received news of the victory in the battle of San Jacinto.