Remember the Alamo – 175th Anniversary
One hundred and seventy-five years ago today a letter was written pleading to the people of Texas and the United States to send aid and reinforcements to the small band of men, women, and children hold up in the Alamo Mission.
Most of us know at least a little of the story of the Alamo but many of you have probably never read the now famous letter written by Lt. Colonel William Barret Travis, commander of the Alamo. When the letter was written Travis had just 150 men to defend the mission against Santa Anna’s vastly superior Mexican army consisting of thousands of trained soldiers. The letter was written on the second day of the siege, February 24, 1836. It was then carried to Gonzales by Captain Albert Martin. There it was copied and forwarded to populations centers in the province.
The Travis Letter is considered on of the most powerful and awe inspiring battle field letter ever written. Here is the text of that letter:
Commandancy of the Alamo -
Bejar, Fby. 24th 1836
To the People of Texas and all Americans in the world
Fellow citizens and compatriots. I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained and continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and 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 on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt in four thousand in for 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 to his own honor and that of his country.
Victory or Death
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt
Very little help came. Outside of a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales, all other troops were held in reserves. The men of the Alamo held the Mexicans for 13 days, giving General Sam Houston the precious time needed to set the stage for the Battle of San Jacinto where Houston would defeat Santa Anna and win independence for Texas.
Travis along with the legendary Jim Bowie, David Crockett and nearly 200 hundred brave men died in the battle.
On this day, 175 years later, I humbly ask you to Remember the Alamo.
