Fred (Lee at the Alamo)

Fred was a soldier of the U.S. Army stationed in San Antonio, Texas during the secession crisis of early 1861. One night in February, Fred was the more junior of two men assigned to the gate of the Alamo. As Benjamin McCulloch had made plain his intention to seize Federal property by force, and as the US Army's position in San Antonio was a precarious one, security at the city's largest quartermaster depot had recently taken on an increased priority.

During the night, Robert E. Lee arrived at the Alamo at the head of the US garrison in San Antonio. Fred's more senior comrade challenged Lee, and when Lee gave the password, Fred opened the gate to admit the garrison.