The Traveler… Gen. Lee’s wagon train… Davy Crockett makes a monkey…

May 19, 2014 by · 2 Comments 

This week I traveled back to New York City by the means of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper of May 21, 1864. There I found on the front cover the illustration of “Rebel Attack on Gen. Lee’s Wagon train at Mansfield, LA., April 8”.  Davy Crockett Quote“In the late reverses in Louisiana one of the most disgraceful points was the loss of the wagon train of Gen. Lee’s cavalry, which had been sent so far forward that it became impossible for the defeated cavalry to retreat. This led not only to the disgraceful rout of the men but also the capture of the train…”

Also in the issue was the following: “The celebrated David Crockett, on visiting a menagerie, was comparing the countenance of a monkey to that of one of his fellow-members of Congress. Turning, he saw the gentleman had overheard his remarks; so, to make matters pleasant, he said, ‘I do not know which to apologize to, you or the monkey.'”

~The Traveler

Davy Crockett survived the Alamo?

May 16, 2009 by · 1 Comment 

crockettThe report shown appeared in the “Staunton Spectator” newspaper of Virginia, May 5, 1836. Accuracy in reporting the news certainly wasn’t any better back in 1836.  Have you ever found similar inaccurate reporting?