David Crockett Went Down Fighting  How We Know It 

By Phil Guarnieri with Richard L. Range

Review by Pat Haddock

Published by Red River Press, Dallas, Texas 

ISBN: 978-0-692-03801-7 

Pages: 192 

David Crockett Went Down Fighting: How We Know It by Alamo history researchers Phil Guarnieri and Richard L. Range delves into the ongoing controversy about how David Crockett died at the Alamo Battle on March 6, 1836. Some rely on evidence indicating that he was executed by order of General Santa Anna following the battle. Others, like the authors, insist that Crockett died much as he lived—fighting. 

This book differs from others in that it approaches the subject in a way that examines the same evidence that other researchers have, but from a different perspective. To what result? In the book’s Foreword, Jerry Patterson, former Texas Land Office Commissioner (the state agency responsible for oversight of the Alamo), states, “If you believe Crockett surrendered, I promise you will at least have very serious doubts about the surrender narrative, and more likely conclude as I did, ‘I was wrong, Davy Crockett died fighting.’ ” 

The authors are very clear about the purpose of the book in the Preface: “. . . the goal of this book is to determine if there is a valid, supportable way to ascertain the true circumstances of the death of David Crockett.” They then go on to say in the Prologue: “. . . when viewed as a whole, the evidence convincingly weighs in favor of the conclusion that the famous frontiersman was slain sometime during the battle.” 

Early in the book, the authors provide a personal background for David Crockett, giving a good feel for the man's nature and what drove him. Understanding that grants the reader a better perspective from which to evaluate the case evidence presented. This evidence is the same as that examined by every other researcher, both for Crockett’s death in battle and by ordered execution. The approach is what makes this treatment of the evidence so different.  

In their analysis, the authors do not tiptoe around the execution evidence, nor do they avoid suspect evidence in defense of his fighting to the death. Rather, they put all the evidence in light of the timing of events and then subject it to the rigors of cold case murder investigation techniques. 

I have critically examined the case presented in this book, and I am convinced, as is Jerry Patterson, that the evidence strongly points toward David Crockett dying as he defended himself against a myriad of Mexican soldiers. 

Some might criticize this book because it does not include footnotes or endnotes. However, the authors quote the source of statements in the text, and all the sources are listed in a comprehensive bibliography, negating the necessity for formal reference formats that many readers find distracting. 

I would rate this book somewhere between 4.5 and 5.0/5.0. It is thorough, thought provoking, and convincing. Read it. See for yourself if you move to side with the authors, Jerry Patterson, and those who believe the evidence is more substantial for Crockett’s death in battle than it is for him dying as a result of Santa Anna’s ordered execution.