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Facts about the Victory or Death Letter for kids
The following facts provide information about the
Victory or Death letter:
● The Victory or
Death letter was written by William B. Travis
● The letter was
dated February 24, 1836 (one day into the siege)
● The envelope
was marked with the defiant words "Victory or Death"
● The 4 page
letter was addressed "To the People of Texas and All
Americans in the World"
● The
destination was the closest town community of
Gonzales, where copies of the letter were circulated
● Colonel
William B. Travis gave the letter to Private
Lancelot Smither who passed it to courier Captain
Albert Martin
● Albert Martin
and Lancelot Smither added notes to Travis's letter
● Transcripts of
the letter began to appear in newspapers as early as
March 2, 1836
Text of the Victory or
Death Letter
The original "Victory or Death" letter is located in
the Texas State Library and Archives in Austin, Texas.
The full text of the Victory or Death
Letter is detailed below:
Text of the Victory or
Death Letter
"To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World"
February 24, 1836
Fellow citizens
and compatriots; I am besieged, by 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 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, and 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 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 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
The Victory or Death
Letter for kids: Destinations of letters written by William B. Travis
William B Travis sent several letters during the
Battle of the Alamo. The Victory or Death letter was initially
dispatched to Gonzales, which was the nearest town. The destinations
of letters sent by William B. Travis from the Alamo were the town
communities of Gonzales, Goliad, San Felipe, Nacogdoches and
Washington-on-the-Brazos. These communities made copies of the
Victory or Death letter. By March 2, 1836 transcripts of the William
B. Travis Victory or Death letter began to appear in newspapers
which aroused the patriotism of all it readers.
Response to the
Victory or Death Letter
The town of Gonzales was the first to respond to the
Victory or Death letter. It was the closest town to the Alamo and
responded by sending 32 men of the Gonzales Ranging Company to their
aid. The Gonzales Ranging Company entered the Alamo on the
morning of March 1, 1836. Help was also sent by the other towns but
by the time they reached the Alamo the battle was over.
Victory or Death Letter for kids
The info about the Victory or Death
Letter provides interesting facts and
important information about this important document that
was written during the presidency of the 7th President of the United States of America.
The Note added by Private Lancelot
Smither to
the Victory or Death Letter
Albert Martin and Lancelot Smither both added notes to
the William B. Travis "Victory or Death" letter. The first note
written by Private Lancelot Smither was printed sideways. Its text
was as follows: Nb I
hope that Every One will Rondevu at gonzales as soon poseble as the
Brave Solders are suffering do not neglect this
powder is very scarce and should not be delad one moment L. Smither
It might seem inappropriate now to add a note to a letter but this
was the Battle of the Alamo. 180 men were faced with the
overwhelming forces of General Santa Anna - which according to the
words of Travis would "...no doubt increase to three or four
thousand". Private Lancelot Smither was poorly educated but to took
the opportunity to add his personal plea for help.
Text of the Victory or
Death Letter: Note added by Lancelot Smither
The second note added to the Victory or Death Letter
was written by the courier Captain Albert Martin as an update on the
events that were unfolding at the Battle of the Alamo. Its text was
as follows: Since the
above was written I heard a very heavy Canonade during the whole day
think there must have been an attack made upon the Alamo We were
short of amunition when I left Hurry on all the men you can in haste
When I left there was but 150 determined to do or die tomorrow I
leave for Bejar with what men I can raise [copy here illegible] at
all events — Col. Almonte is there the troops are under the Command
of Gen. Seisma
Albert Martin
Victory or Death Letter for kids - President Andrew Jackson Video
The article on the
Victory or Death Letter provides an overview of one of the Important issues of his presidential term in office. The following
Andrew Jackson video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 7th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1829 to March 4, 1837.
Victory or Death Letter
●
Interesting Facts about Victory or Death Letter for kids and schools
●
Key events
Victory or Death Letter for kids
●
The Victory or Death Letter, a Important
event in US history
●
Andrew Jackson Presidency from March 4, 1829 to March 4, 1837
●
Fast, fun, interesting
timeline
about Important events
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Andrew Jackson
●
Victory or Death
Letter for schools,
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