Most men are not heralded for their accomplishments in life, much less their death, but William Barret Travis is one who is remembered throughout the world and reminded of on a daily basis in many locales. Travis is primarily remembered for commanding the soldiers and men at the Alamo, and for dying there. He has been memorialized with Travis County, Texas, and Travis Park in San Antonio, Texas. Both were named after him for being the commander of the Republic of Texas at the Battle of the Alamo where he died during the Texas Revolution.
William Barret Travis went to Texas from Saluda, SC via Alabama.
Brief Genealogy
The Daniel Travis family had arrived at Albemarle, Upper Chowan-Perquimans Precinct, NC, traveling from Munster, Cork, Ireland sometime between 1669 and 1691. He had a son named Edward Travis who entered the medical profession as a doctor and died at Beaufort, NC in 1739.
His son John D. Travis, I, was born in 1715 at Perquimans County, North Carolina, and died March 25, 1809 at age 93-94, in the Edgefield District of South Carolina. Berwick ‘Barret’ Travis, was one of fourteen children born to John D. Travis and his wife on Travers Creek, Alamance County, NC, and died in 1812, at Mine Creek, Edgefield County, SC, and being buried in Saluda County, SC.
His son was Mark Butler Travis, I, born February 02, 1783 at Edgefield County, SC and died September 04, 1836, Conecuh County, Alabama. He was buried at Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama. He was the father of William Barret Travis.
William Barret Travis was born August 9, 1809, at Red Bank, Edgefield District, Saluda County, SC, and was killed at the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, March 06, 1836. He was 26 years old. His body was burned by Mexican General Santa Anna along with the other Alamo defenders.
“To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World”
Just prior to his death at the Alamo, Travis penned a letter, February 24th, 1836, requesting help from other Texians and Americans throughout the world. Travis revealed his faith, his patriotism and his love of Liberty in the letter that is now in the Texas archives in Austin.
‘Victory or Death’
Travis ended his letter of appeal to ‘Americans everywhere’ for help in the battle for Liberty against tyrannical oppressor Santa Anna, with a paraphrase of Patrick Henry’s appeal in 1775. Travis signed his letter ‘Victory or Death’!
The precious gift of Liberty if not fully protected must be won back at the cost of blood and suffering from time to time. This is evident throughout history where people tolerated wrong legislation and behavior until Liberty was gone and they suffered death and deprivation. It was only when the tyranny became intolerable that they ever resisted, often too late to be effective, thus creating death amongst themselves and sometimes war. Think of the American Revolution and Hitler’s Nazi Germany where the people suffered but ultimately regained liberty. There are many places where once the tyranny gained power, and Liberty was lost, the people remained oppressed for decades as in China and the Soviet Union.
Fortunately, America has had many heroes, men like Travis, and Patrick Henry who made a stand for Liberty sixty years before him. These knew the cry for Freedom must arise in each generation to resist tyranny and be willing to sacrifice all to preserve it. These understood of what Thomas Jefferson spoke when he said the tree of Liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants and patriots.
THE TRAVIS 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
The Travis letter is in the Texas Archives at Austin Texas.
We at The Standard salute William Barret Travis, and all the Alamo defenders, along with Patrick Henry, and all who have stood for Liberty in our great country since it’s inception. We also salute all who will dare stand for Liberty in our day at all hazards.
Michael Reed is Editor of The Standard
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