RTA114 - William E. Summers, Gonzalez Mounted Ranger Company - In the early hours of March 1, 1836 a small, mounted force of 32 men picked their way carefully through the Mexican lines and then made a mad, wild dash for the main gate of the little beleaguered mission. All of them knew their chances of survival were slim but they remained with their fellow defenders and fought to the bitter end in the final battle. William E. Summers came from Tennessee and had originally been a trapper and still wore his buckskin jacket.