Travis's Letter from the Alamo

 Posted on May 26, 2011 in Uncategorized

Send this to San Felipe by Express night & day To The People of Texas and All AmericansCommandancy of the Alamo-Bejar, Fby. 24th 1836- To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world- Fellow citizens & compatriots-I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna-I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man-The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken-I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls-I shall never surrender or retreatThen, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid,with all dispatch-The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days.If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country-Victory or DeathWilliam Barret TravisLt. Col. comdt P.S. The Lord is on our side-When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn-We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves-Travis

William Barret Travis was the commander of Texas troops at the Alamo. I reprint his letter here because my readers outside Texas have probably never read it, and because, well, you know...