A historic letter, popularly dubbed as "Victory or Death" letter, written by William Barret Travis returned to Alamo on February 22, 2013 to mark the 177th anniversary this year (2013) of Alamo's fall to the invading army of Mexican General Santa Anna. The letter was written by Travis on February 24, 1836, and sent by a courier asking fellow Americans for more reinforcement at the start of the siege. The famous letter was addressed to "the people of Texas and All Americans of the World". Two weeks after the letter was written, 180 badly outnumbered defenders--including Travis, David Crockett and James Bowie--were killed by the army of Mexican President Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. However, following month, Texans inspired by Alamo Battle and led by Gen. Sam Houston defeated Mexican troops under Gen. Santa Anna in an 18-minute battle to win independence for Texas. The letter written by Travis reads like this:
Commandancy of the Alamo Bejar, Feby. 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 a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and 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 canon 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 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 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.
Source: The Dallas Morning News
Commandancy of the Alamo Bejar, Feby. 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 a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and 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 canon 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 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 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.
Source: The Dallas Morning News
