Project 1421

LIVE from Houston, TX, it's with Charli K. Matthews and Empowering Women In Industry! We're so excited to be a part of this amazing event! 🎥

Today in 1836, during the second day of the siege at the Alamo, Commander William B. Travis wrote an impassioned plea for help saying "I shall never surrender or retreat" and exclaimed "VICTORY OR DEATH!"

Full Letter:

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

The Alamo