The Alamo siege begins

OK, quick Texas history lesson here….don’t worry, no tests involved.

After the battle of San Antonio ended on December 5, 1835, some enthusiastic Texans thought they had easily whipped Santa Anna’s army and the Texas revolution was won. Many who fought in those early days drifted on back home convinced of victory.

However, those enthusiastic Texians, brave as they were, had it all wrong. The truth is, all the Texans had managed to do was to embarrass the dictator by handily defeating General Cos, who just happened to be Santa Anna’s brother-in-law. Now I don’t know how it is in your family, but if you were to embarrass my family, and I was the local dictator, I would be ticked.

Even though it meant a very harsh winter march from Mexico to San Antonio, by this date of February 23 in 1836, Santa Anna had been

wearing out horses and men to get to San Antonio to exact his revenge and uphold the family honor against the upstart Texians.

Davy Crockett had already arrived at the Alamo on February 8, but he had only about a dozen men. It was yesterday, February 23, 1836 that Santa Anna and his army first arrived in San Antonio and the 13 day siege of the Alamo has now begun. It was today and on into the evening that Travis was forming the now famous letter in his mind. He posted that letter on February 24, 1836
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Commandancy of the Alamo
Bejar, Fby. 24th 1836

To the People of Texas &
all Americans in the world—

Fellow citizens & compatriots—I am besieged, 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 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 & every thing 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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAMZQlAQAyQ