George C. Kimble
Encyclopedia
George C. Kimble defender and officer of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio
, was born in 1803 and died at the Battle of the Alamo
on March 6, 1836. Kimble County in the hill country of Texas is named in his honor.
to Chester Kimble and Lucy Satterlee Kimble. In 1825 at the age of 22, he moved to Texas as a member of the Green DeWitt Colony
. There he met Prudence Nash, who was widowed from her first husband and had three children, and they married on June 26, 1832. They moved to Gonzales, Texas
, and together with his business partner Almaron Dickinson
started a hat factory on Water street. His son Charles C. Kimble was born in 1834.
for aid to the surrounded Alamo garrison in San Antonio. Among them were business partner Almeron Dickinson and his wife and child. His parting words indicated that he felt he probably would not return.
On February 23, 1836, Kimble was mustered into the Gonzales Ranging Company as a lieutenant and commander of the unit. After learning that James Fannin
was not going to the Alamo as reinforcements, and that there would likely be no other reinforcements, George Kimble and Albert Martin lead a group of 25 men from Gonzales at 2 pm on Saturday, February 27. The party would number 32 upon its arrival at the Alamo. As they approached the Alamo in the early morning hours of March 1, a rider appeared in front of them and asked, in English, if they wished to go into the fort. When they said yes, he turned and told them to follow him. When one of the men became suspicious, the rider bolted away. The volunteers were afraid they had been discovered and galloped towards the Alamo. In the darkness, the Texians thought this was a party of Mexican soldiers and fired. One man was wounded, and his English curses convinced the defenders to open the gates. These Texian reinforcements were later dubbed the Immortal 32.
Kimble died at the Alamo on 6 March 1836. His body was burned with those of the other Texas soldiers. Kimble County, Texas is named in his honor.
Alamo Mission in San Antonio
The Alamo, originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero, is a former Roman Catholic mission and fortress compound, site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, and now a museum, in San Antonio, Texas....
, was born in 1803 and died at the Battle of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
on March 6, 1836. Kimble County in the hill country of Texas is named in his honor.
Early life
George C. Kimble was born on March 6, 1803 in Beech Woods, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to Chester Kimble and Lucy Satterlee Kimble. In 1825 at the age of 22, he moved to Texas as a member of the Green DeWitt Colony
Dewitt Colony
The Dewitt Colony was a settlement in Mexican Texas founded by Green DeWitt. From lands belonging to that colony, the present Texas counties of DeWitt, Guadalupe and Lavaca were created...
. There he met Prudence Nash, who was widowed from her first husband and had three children, and they married on June 26, 1832. They moved to Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...
, and together with his business partner Almaron Dickinson
Almaron Dickinson
Almaron Dickinson was a Texan soldier and defender during the Battle of the Alamo, fought during the Texas Revolution. Dickinson is best known as having been the artillery officer of the small garrison, and for being the husband of one of the only three non-Mexican survivors to live through the...
started a hat factory on Water street. His son Charles C. Kimble was born in 1834.
Battle of the Alamo and death
His pregnant wife was washing clothes in a creek with 2-year old Charles Chester nearby when George announced the plans of the Gonzales Ranging Company to answer Travis’ appealTo the People of Texas & All Americans in the World
To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World is an open letter written on February 24, 1836, by William B. Travis, commander of the Texian forces at the Battle of the Alamo, to settlers in Mexican Texas...
for aid to the surrounded Alamo garrison in San Antonio. Among them were business partner Almeron Dickinson and his wife and child. His parting words indicated that he felt he probably would not return.
On February 23, 1836, Kimble was mustered into the Gonzales Ranging Company as a lieutenant and commander of the unit. After learning that James Fannin
James Fannin
James Walker Fannin, Jr. was a 19th-century U.S. military figure on the Texas Army and leader during the Texas Revolution of 1835–36...
was not going to the Alamo as reinforcements, and that there would likely be no other reinforcements, George Kimble and Albert Martin lead a group of 25 men from Gonzales at 2 pm on Saturday, February 27. The party would number 32 upon its arrival at the Alamo. As they approached the Alamo in the early morning hours of March 1, a rider appeared in front of them and asked, in English, if they wished to go into the fort. When they said yes, he turned and told them to follow him. When one of the men became suspicious, the rider bolted away. The volunteers were afraid they had been discovered and galloped towards the Alamo. In the darkness, the Texians thought this was a party of Mexican soldiers and fired. One man was wounded, and his English curses convinced the defenders to open the gates. These Texian reinforcements were later dubbed the Immortal 32.
Kimble died at the Alamo on 6 March 1836. His body was burned with those of the other Texas soldiers. Kimble County, Texas is named in his honor.