photo #8017874

I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited The Alamo. It was an amazing day. How they held out so long is beyond my comprehension. But… and it’s a very BIG but… the old adage of ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ comes to mind. The story of The Alamo is taught in Texas schools, for sure. Think it’s taught in the rest of the states? If you don’t know the story, your education is lacking. ~ ~~~~~~~ Victory or Death! Today in Texas History -- On today’s date 186 years ago, Wednesday, February 24, 1836, whilst besieged at the Alamo during the Texas Revolutionary War, Colonel James “Jim” Bowie (1796 - 1836), commander of the volunteers & co-commander at the Alamo, fell ill & relinquished his share of command to Colonel William Barret Travis (1809-1836). On the same day, Colonel Travis (1809-1836) wrote his famous letter, which was addressed: To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World: Fellow citizens & compatriots, I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Méxicans 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 & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves. Travis Travis gave the letter to courier John William Smith (1792-1845) to deliver to Washington-on-the-Brazos. The envelope that contained the letter was labeled “Victory or Death.” The letter was unable to bring the requested aid to the garrison at the Alamo, but it did much to motivate the Texian army & it helped to rally support in the United States for the cause of Texas Independence. It also cemented Travis’s status as a hero of the Texas Revolution. The photograph depicts an undated Victorian-Era cabinet-card photograph of a painted portrait of Colonel William Barret Travis by noted American artist Henry Arthur McArdle (1836-1908).