On February 24, 1836, Colonel William Barret Travis, commander of the Texian forces at the Alamo, penned one of the most famous documents in Texas history. Addressed “To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World,” Travis’s letter was a plea for reinforcements in the face of an overwhelming Mexican siege.
It is best remembered for its dramatic closing declaration, which he triple-underlined: “Victory or Death.” This came to symbolize the resolve of the Alamo defenders and the broader cause of Texan independence.
Written under duress and delivered by courier, the letter was one of several sent during the siege but quickly gained mythic status. Though reinforcements would not arrive in time, the words of Travis helped galvanize support for the revolution and were widely reprinted in newspapers across Texas and the United States. This document is a cornerstone of Texas revolutionary memory and serves as both a military dispatch and a rhetorical call to arms.
Travis wrote the letter less than 24 hours after Mexican forces first encircled the Alamo. At that point, the siege had only just begun, but the Texians were already isolated, outnumbered, and facing sustained artillery fire. Bowie had fallen ill the night before, leaving Travis in full command, supported by Davy Crockett, a Tennessee frontiersman and former Congressman, who was highly respected by the other defenders, but had declined a formal position of command.
Readers may also be interested in Texapedia’s articles about the Texas Revolution and Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Mexican commander at the battle of the Alamo.
Text of the Letter
Commandancy of the The Alamo
Bejar, Feby. 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 & 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 and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis
Original Letter
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Manuscript Information
The original manuscript of Travis’s February 24, 1836 letter is held by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) in Austin, where it is part of the State Archives’ permanent collections. The letter consists of two pages written in iron gall ink and has been preserved under controlled archival conditions due to its age and significance. It is not on permanent public display but is occasionally exhibited for limited periods with environmental protections. High-resolution digital scans of the letter are available on the TSLAC website, providing full public access to the original handwriting and layout.
Over the years, the document passed through various hands before entering state custody, with early versions reproduced in newspapers and government correspondence. The letter has undergone professional conservation and remains one of the most heavily requested documents in the State Archives for educational, scholarly, and ceremonial use.
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