Travis Letter

Commandancy of the Alamo San Antonio, February 24th 1836

To the people of Texas and all the Americans in the world

Fellow citizens and compatriots

I am besieged with a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna

And I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade for twenty-four hours

And have not lost a man

The enemy has demanded a surrender of 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 and of patriotism

And of everything dear to the American character

To come to our aide 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 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 Barrett Travis, Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant

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 eighty or ninety bushels

And got into the walls twenty or thirty head of beeves

-Travis