Travis' Letter from the Alamo

Commandancy of the Alamo –
Bejar, Feby. 24th, 1836 –
To the people of Texas & all Americans in the world –

William Travis

Fellow citizens & compatriots –

I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna – I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & 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, & 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 & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch – The enemy is receiving reinforcements 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 and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves – Travis

Texas History Links

These sites also provide information on Texas history:

The New Handbook of Texas online – one of the best one-stop electronic sources for Texas history.

The Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin

Lone Star History Links: Selected Texas History Primary Source Documents

The Texas State Historical Association

The Texas Historical Commission

Texas State Library and Archives – for government records and historic documents

General Land Office – for Texas land archives and records

Texas Historic Sites Atlas – Information on more than 150,000 historic sites throughout the state, including state historic markers, museums, sawmills, bridges and more.

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection – includes Texas maps from many periods.

The Alamo and Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library

Texas State Cemetery, final resting place of many of the makers of Texas history

La Salle Shipwreck (La Belle) Project, Texas Historical Commission

Texas A&M Conservation Research Laboratory – which is doing the conservation of the La Belle artifacts.

Historic sites in the state parks system

Lone Star Junction, an interesting and well-researched Texas history site:

Lubbock Lake Landmark

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

Rock Art Foundation, for information about prehistoric rock art in Texas.