posted on February 24, 2001 08:19:12 AM new
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 solder 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.
posted on February 24, 2001 10:07:16 AM new
Dubya would have solved the problem. He would have given all Santa Anna's men green cards and invited them to a barbeque.
[ edited by december3 on Feb 24, 2001 10:09 AM ]
posted on February 24, 2001 12:47:02 PM new
It's interesting to read "The Other Side".
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/alamex.htm
I can't help but think...if the right
side had won, Mexico...would George be here today?
Helen
Edited to remove a surperfluous word.
[ edited by HJW on Feb 24, 2001 12:50 PM ]
posted on February 24, 2001 08:00:05 PM new
Hi there, stusi I have no idea...I get it from many different addresses, and report it all to SPAMCOP, AW lurker or not...
******** Gosh Shosh!
posted on February 26, 2001 11:16:58 AM new
First of all, the "right" side was not Mexico. Mexico obtained Texas after it got independence from Spain and announced to the Texans (who were already there) that they had to pledge allegiance to Mexico AND become Roman Catholics if they wanted to stay in Texas. They allowed no new folks who would not convert to Catholicism into Texas; however, they DID want settlers so they allowed people into Texas under certain conditions. Of course, many illegal immigrants moved to Texas but the appeal was in legally immigrating to get land.
Mexico only flew its flag over Texas for 14 years. Spain and France each flew Flags over Texas for about 100 years. Much of the Native American population was killed when the Spaniards moved in in the 1500s -- some by the attacks of the Spaniards, but many by disease. The Texans finished off the Indians who were prone to fight in the the 1800s.
Santa Anna was one of the most unusual and eccentric people in history, bar none -- however, he was also one of the bloodiest. He was responsible for wiping out entire Indian populations in Mexico (Native Americans weren't just here, you know) and his general policy was to take no prisoners. I do believe he brought some Indians he had enslaved to his Texas campaign, but they all died because they had never been in cold weather and had no clothes. He was the leader of Mexico on ELEVEN separate occasions, and was nutty as a fruitcake. However, he was a fascinating character and was fearless in battle, which made him a national hero (on several occasions).
When he was captured by Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto, he wanted to save his own hide and bargained off over HALF of Mexico so he wouldn't be killed. This is why Texas is not part of Mexico today -- Mexico pre-1836 went almost to present-day Oregon, not just through Texas. It included most of California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and New Mexico as well as parts of Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Santa Anna gave this all away so he wouldn't be shot.
I know the fact that I am a Texan makes me a little prejudiced; however, if we think the Mexicans had any "right" to Texas and Texas was some kind of horrible war-monger we should remember that originally Texans were happy to be part of Mexico and had no reason to want independence (in fact for awhile they only wanted to be an independent Mexican state). The oppressive government created the desire for full independence.
Sam Houston and Santa Anna are both incredibly fascinating characters and worth reading about, even if one has no interest in Texas history. A fiction book that is very interesting is "The Eagle and the Raven" by James Michener. There are also many non-fiction books from both perpectives.
)
[ edited by december3 on Feb 24, 2001 10:09 AM ]
