In February 1836, a small group of Texian colonists gathered at the Alamo in San Antonio to defend their settlements against Mexican forces. The rebels held out for thirteen days, during which time one of the co-commanders, twenty-six-year-old William Travis, wrote several letters appealing to supporters in the United States for reinforcements, including his last appeal, which was sent on March 3.
I hope your honorable body will hasten on reinforcements, ammunition, and provisions to our aid, as soon as possible. We have provisions for twenty days for the men we have: our supply of ammunition is limited. At least five hundred pounds of cannon powder, and two hundred rounds of six, nine, twelve, and eighteen pound balls—ten kegs of rifle powder, and a supply of lead, should be sent to this place without delay, under a sufficient guard.
If these things are promptly sent and large reinforcements are hastened to this frontier, this neighborhood will be the great and decisive battle ground. The power of Santa Ana is to be met here, or in the colonies; we had better meet them here, than to suffer a war of desolation to rage in our settlements. A blood-red banner waves from the church of Bejar, and in the camp above us, in token that the war is one of vengeance against rebels; they have declared us such, and demanded that we should surrender at discretion, or that this garrison should be put to the sword. Their threats have had no influence on me, or my men, but to make all fight with desperation, and that high souled courage which characterizes the patriot, who is willing to die in defence of his country’s liberty and his own honor.
The citizens of this municipality are all our enemies except those who have joined us heretofore; we have but three Mexicans now in the fort: those who have not joined us in this extremity, should be declared public enemies, and their property should aid in paying the expenses of the war.
The bearer of this will give your honorable body a statement more in detail should he escape through the enemies lines.
God and Texas—Victory or Death!!
Your obedient ser’t
W. Barrett Travis, Lieut. Col. Comm.
P.S. The enemies troops are still arriving and the reinforcement will probably amount to two or three thousand.
Source:Telegraph and Texas Register, March 12, 1836, 3.