The following is a letter written by Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis. It was written on the second day of fighting at the Alamo. Lt. Col. Travis's son was six years old when this letter was written. Please discuss how Travis’s son possibly reacted to this letter when he became old enough to understand what the battle was all about.
(Please look up any words you may not know so that you can fully understand the letter.)
Commandancy of the Alamo
Bexar, Feby 24th, 1836
To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World—
Fellow Citizens and Compatriots
I am besieged with a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison is 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 over the wall. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, of 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 four 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 his honor and that of his country.
VICTORY OR DEATH
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comd’t
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.
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ReplyDeleteI think this passage is saying that the Alamo is not giving up. They have been in war for 1 day and have not lost anyone. They keep on killing people but they keep getting more reinforcements. I think his son would be in shock I think he would be happy becuase his dad is winning the war. He probaly thinks his dad is a hero. He thinks his dad is okay because no one on his war side has died. The Alamo has lots of food. His son might be afraid because they keep getting more reinforcements.
ReplyDeleteI think that once his son is old enough to understand what this letter says, he may think his dad is a hero, because he stood his ground for what they believed in, and if his dad died, he might be angry at the country for not sending help to the Alamo.
ReplyDeleteYou all make good points. Here is another question: how many died at the Alamo?
ReplyDeleteI think his son would have reacted shockingly about what his dad went through and how his dad was a hero because he fought for what he belived in also
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ReplyDeleteThe letter, writeen byLieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis, says that the Americans will not surrender the battle. It's already been 2 days since the battle has begun and nobody on the American side has been killed. It also says how the enemy is getting more reinforcements. If Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis's son was able to read this, I would think he would be proud of his dad for leading the Americans into a successful couple days in the battle. Like Patty said, the son might be a little worried because of the reinforcements the enemy is getting.
ReplyDelete~~~Sonia
I agree with what everyone has said, I think Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis was a good solider and that his son, once he read this letter, must have felt very proud of his dad for staying so strong and brave. His son would have understood that in the situation his father was in, he was in a disadvantage yet stayed to fight and never retreated.
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for the number of people that have died in the Alamo battle and have been unsuccessful does anyone know the answer?
ReplyDeleteI think that his son would be very proud of his father for putting up a great battle against the people from Mexico. Even though they are getting reinforcements, if I was his son I would be very confident with the decisions that he had been making. I have found one answer for the number of people that died defending the Alamo and that was 600, I was wondering if that was close to correct anybody know?
ReplyDelete- Yllib
I think his son should realize like Billy said that his father did do great things but he also, should realize that there were other men fighting along his dad during the fight, probalby knowing they won't survive.
ReplyDeleteI think that he would have be happy that his dad was doing so good. that would have made feel good to be the of such a great man to fight for the US.
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ReplyDelete400-600 mexicans died, 257 Texans died.
ReplyDelete268 people died at the Alamo. 189 Texans, Tejanos 9, Mexicans 70. The orignal number of 521 included all casualties, wounded and killed.
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