Letter From The Alamo

At the Alamo in Bexar on Feby. 24th, 1836, William Barrett Travis wrote that he was besieged by a thousand or more Mexicans under Santa Anna, had endured a continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours without losing a man, and had refused a demand for surrender by answering with cannon shot while the flag still waved from the walls. Declaring that he would never surrender or retreat, he called on the people of Texas and all Americans to come to the garrison’s aid with all dispatch in the name of liberty, patriotism, and everything dear to the American character. He warned that the enemy was receiving reinforcements daily and might increase to three or four thousand within four or five days, and he resolved to hold out as long as possible and die like a soldier faithful to his honor and his country. In a postscript, he added that the Lord was on their side and reported that although they had not had three bushels of corn when the enemy first appeared, they had since found 80 or 90 bushels in deserted houses and brought 20 or 30 head of beeves inside the walls.

San Antonio, Texas · United States