Eight people lived the fight for Texas. Tap a portrait to hear their story — and see where April 1836 found them. ★ Travis’s tile opens his real letter.
A Real Primary Source
Travis’s Letter from the Alamo
February 24, 1836. Tap the underlined words 📖 to learn what they mean.
Commandancy of the Alamo — Bejar, Feby. 24th, 1836 —
To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World —
Fellow citizens & —
I am , by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna — I have sustained a continual & for 24 hours & have not lost a man — The enemy has demanded a , otherwise, the garrison are to be , 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 retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all — The enemy is receiving 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 Death.
William Barret Travis
Lt. 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 . — Travis
Travis died when the Alamo fell on March 6, 1836 — but these words rode to San Jacinto.