- Commandancy of the Alamo Bexar, Fby 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
surrender at
discretion,
otherwise, the garrison
are 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 over the
wall. I
shall
never surrender or
retreat.
Then, I call on you
in the
name of Liberty, of
patriotism, &
of
everything 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 deter-
mined to sustain myself as long as
possible and die
like a solder
who never forgets
what is to
due his honor and
that of his
country. Victory or death
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comd't
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