From The Alamo
by William Barret Travis
I am besieged by a thousand or more of the
Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained
a continual bombardment and cannonade for
twenty-four 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 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,
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 fQur 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 our country. Victory
or death.
Alamo Inscription
San Antonio, Texas
In memory of the heroes who sacrificed their
lives at the Alamo, March 6, 1836, in the defense of Texas. They chose never to surrender nor retreat. These brave hearts, with
flag still proudly waving, perished in the
flames of immortality that their high sacrifice
might lead to the founding of this Texas.
From the fire that burned their bodies rose
the eternal spirit of the sublime, heroic sacrifice which gave birth to an empire state.
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