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1836.]
ERA OF REVOLUTION
137
First Day of the Siege.--The following letter from
Travis to his people gives us an account of the first day:
X' COMMANDANCY OF THE ALAMO,
"BEXAR, February 24, 1836.
FE,LOW-CITIZENS AND COMPATRIOTS :-- am besieged by a thousand
or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a
strong bombardment for twenty-four hours, and have not lost a mai.
The enemy have demanded a surrender at discretion, otheriwise the
garrison is to be put to the sword, if the place be taken. I have
answered with a cannon shot, and our flag* still waves proudly from
the walls I shall never surrender nor retreat. Then I call on you
in the name of liberty, of patriotism, and of everything dear to the
American character, to come to our aid with all despatch. The enemy
are receiving reinforcements daily, and will no doubt increase to
three and four thousand in a few days. Though this call may be
neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible, and
die like a soldier, who never forgets what is due to his honor and
that of his country. VICTORY OR DEATH I
"Wv. BARRET TRAVIS,
"Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding.
"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
de-erted houses, eighty or ninety bushels, and have gotten into the
walls twenty-nine or thirty beeves. T."
Succeeding Days of the Siege.--Eloquent, indeed, was
this death cry from Travis, but alas! it brought no such
response as he and his men hoped. Day by day Santa
Anna drew his lines closer about the Alaimo; day by
day the Mexican forces increased, until they numbered
* As Texas had not yet declared herself independent of Mexico, they still fought
under the Mexican flag. This design was a tri-colored banner bearing two stars,
which were to represent the "Twin States," Texas and Coahuila. This was
called the federal flag of 1824.
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Pennybacker, Anna J. Hardwicke. A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination, book, 1895; Palestine, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2388/m1/153/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.