The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 14
330 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Iistorical Quarterly
visions. Send them to us. We have 150", men and are determined
to defend the Alamo to the last. Give us assistance.
W. B. Travis-Col. Commanding
P. S. Send an express to San Felipe with news night and day.
Travis."5
On the next day he sent out another letter which Dr. Garrison has
called the most heroic document in American history. It briefly
but graphically describes conditions at the Alamo:
Commandancy of the Alamo,
Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836.
To the People of Texas and All Americans in the world-Fellow
Citizens and Compatriots: I am besieged with a thousand or
more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a
continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and 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, and our
flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or'
retreat. Then, I call upon you in the name of Liberty, of patriot-
ism, and every thing dear to the American character, to come to
our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements
daily and 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 and die like a soldier who never forgets
what is due his own honor and 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 to 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of
Beeves
Travis37
"It is evident that in his reports Travis never counted any except
efficient men. See letters from Jameson to Houston, January 18, 1836,
"Army Papers," Archives of Texas State Library. There Jameson says,
"There are 114 men at the fort but only 80 efficient ones." All official
reports of the time give only 80. But even counting by official reports,
Neill's 80, Bowie's 30, Travis's 25, Patton's 6, and Crockett's 13 or
more, would aggregate 154 or 156, exclusive of commanders.
"John Henry Brown, History of Texas, I, 550.
"TTravis to the Citizens of Texas, Army Papers, Texas State Library;
G. P. Garrison, Texas, 207.
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Texas State Historical Association & Barker, Eugene C. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934, periodical, 1934; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101094/m1/22/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.