James Clinton Neill could be the unsung hero of the Alamo and the battle for Texas Independence. It was his failure to obey Sam Houston's command to abandon the Alamo that left Texians in the mission and gave Texans their cradle of liberty. Neill was on leave when the Alamo fell to Santa Anna, William B. Travis and James Bowie having assumed temporary command. Was he away because of illness in the family-as rumor has it-or to investigate the disappearance of $5,000 that Harry Hill of Tennessee had donated to the cause of Texas Independence? Colonel Neill soon joined Sam Houston as commander...