VICTORY OR DEATH

Dateline February 24th, 1836 (11 years later my great, great grandfather Christian Wahl Sr. would flee Germany with his five grown children and his impending political assassination because he supported FREEDOM)....


William Barret Travis, age 26, wrote a very short letter that had about as many words as the number of hero's that died in San Antonio during the 13 day siege of the Alamo back in 1836. His men were outnumbered 10 to 1 by Mexican dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna for almost two weeks. Soon he expected to face as many as 4,000 troops and Lt. Col. Travis' small garrison was only manned by approximately 155 men.

The stakes were high...Beyond Texas was the entire southwest... all the way to California. Santa Anna could have taken it all.

Santa Anna demanded surrender and he promised that all would be spared. No surrender meant "no quarters"...Everyone would be killed! Lt. Col. Travis answered with a cannon shot from the largest cannon he could muster. In other words...we shall never surrender nor retreat!

This letter, written by someone so young, is often referenced as the prime example of the virtues of American unyielding courage, heroism and self-sacrifice. William Travis sent out many riders, each with their own copy. HELP! Davy Crockett was in Texas at the time and came running to help the Texians with 32 men...

On March 6, 1836...13 days after the battle had begun...189 hero's died defending the Alamo and it is estimated that 1,600 of Santa Anna's men died.

Soon thereafter, on March 27, 1836, Santa Anna ordered the massacre of 342 troops who had surrendered at Goliad.

Ironically, the war ended when General Houston defeated Santa Anna's army in a brief 18 minute battle at San Jacinta while "rumor has it" that Santa Anna was high on opium (his drug of choice) and he was dallying with Emily Morgan, a high yellow slave, "The Yellow Rose of Texas", and his troops were resting at 4:00 P.M. in the afternoon. Santa Anna, running around in his underwear, surrendered and returned to Mexico and ordered all of his troops that were stationed in large numbers all over the State of Texas to return to Mexico with him.

Of course, this all began with the unwavering spirit of a dedicated 26 year old South Carolinian, Lt. Col. William Barret Travis.

Shannon Burke, a successful author and screenwriter, who is married to my niece, has researched the Alamo while working there a few years ago during a Hollywood remake. He reports that the majority of the men fighting at the Alamo were ne'er do wells, who suddenly found themselves with their backs to the wall and unbelievably, with no personal stake in Texas and heretofore not much chivalry, joined together to put up a heroic defense.

History, Disney and Hollywood have immortalized the names of Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and others.

The state of Texas has immortalized them all. The Alamo is considered a shrine and is the #1 visitor attraction in the State of Texas.

The sacrifices these men made is legendary. Facing certain death, and given one last chance to flee by William Travis...when it is said that Lt. Col. Travis drew a line in the sand with his sword...all but one stepped over the line and chose to stay and fight and die...COURAGE, HEROISM and SACRIFICE..."Victory or Death".

____________________________________________________________________

Dated February 24, 1836


"To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world
Fellow Citizens & Compatriots

I am beseiged 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 ansered the demand with a cannon
shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls.
I shall never surrender nor retreat.

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & of
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 and 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