William Barrett Travis'
Report and Appeal for Aid
3 March 1836
| In the present confusion of the political authorities of the country,
and in the absence of the commander in chief, I beg leave to communicate
to you the situation of this garrison. You have doubtless already seen
my official report of the action of the twenty fifth ult. made on that
day to Gen. Sam Houston, together with the various communications heretofore
sent by express. I shall therefore confine myself to what has transpired
since that date. From the twenty-fifth to the present date the enemy has
kept up a bombardment from two howitzers—one a five and a half inch, and
the other an eight inch and a heavy cannonade from two long nine-pounders
mounted on a battery on the opposite side of the river at a distance of
four hundred yards from our wall. During this period the enemy have been
busily employed in encircling us with entrenched encampments on all sides,
at the following distance, to wit: In Bexar, four hundred yards west; in
Lavileta[sic], three hundred yards south; at the powder house, one
thousand yards east of south; at the ditch, eight hundred yards northeast,
and at the old mill, eight hundred yards north. Notwithstanding all this,
a company of thirty-two men from Gonzales made their way in to us on the
morning of the first inst. at three o'clock, and Colonel J. B. Bonham (a
courier from Gonzales) got in this morning at eleven o'clock without molestation.
I have fortified this place, so that the walls are generally proof against
cannon balls and I will continue to entrench on the inside, and strengthen
walls by throwing up the dirt. At least two hundred shells have fallen
inside our works without having injured a single man; indeed we have been
so fortunate as not to lose a man from any cause, and we have killed many
of the enemy. The spirits of my men are still high although they have had
much to depress them. We have contended for ten days against an enemy whose
numbers are variously estimated at from fifteen hundred to six thousand
men, with General Ramirez Sesma and Colonel Batres, the aides-de-camp of
Santa Anna, at their head. A report was circulated that Santa Anna himself
was with the enemy, but I think it was false. A reinforcement of about
one thousand men is now entering Bexar, from the west, and I think it more
than probable that Santa Anna is now in town, from the rejoicing we hear.
Col. Fannin is said to be on the march to this place with reinforcements,
but I fear it is not true, as I have repeatedly sent to him for aid without
receiving any. Colonel Bonham, my special messenger, arrived at La Bahia
fourteen days ago, with a request for aide and on the arrival of the enemy
in Bexar, ten days ago, I sent an express to Colonel F. which arrived at
Goliad on the next day, urging him to send us reinforcements; none have
yet arrived. I look to the colonies alone for aid; unless it arrives soon,
I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms. I will, however, do the
best I can under the circumstances; and I feel confident that the determined
valor and desperate courage heretofore exhibited by my men will not fail
them in the last struggle; and although they may be sacrificed to the vengeance
of a Gothic enemy, the victory will cost the enemy so dear, that it will
be worse to him than a defeat. I hope your honorable body will hasten on
reinforcements ammunition, and provisions to our aid as soon as possible.
We have provisions for twenty days for the men we have. Our supply of ammunition
is limited. At least five hundred pounds of cannon powder, and two hundred
rounds of six., nine, twelve and eighteen pound balls, ten kegs of rifle
powder and a supply of lead, should be sent to the place without delay
under a sufficient guard. If these things are promptly sent, and large
reinforcements are hastened to this frontier, this neighborhood will be
the great and decisive ground. The power of Santa Anna is to be met here,
or in the colonies; we had better meet them here than to suffer a war of
devastation to rage in our settlements. A blood red banner waves from the
church of Bexar, and in the camp above us, in token that the war is one
of vengeance against rebels; they have declared us as such; demanded, that
we should surrender at discretion, or that this garrison should be put
to the sword. Their threats have had no influence on me or my men, but
to make all fight with desperation, and that high souled courage which
characterizes the patriot, who is willing to die in defense of his country's
liberty and his own honor. The citizens of this municipality are all our
enemies, except those who have joined us heretofore. We have but three
Mexicans now in the fort; those who have not joined us, in this extremity,
should be declared public enemies, and their property should aid in paying
the expenses of the war. The bearer of this will give your honorable body
a statement more in detail, should he escape through the enemy's lines.
God and Texas—Victory or Death.
P.S. The enemy's troops are still arriving, and the reinforcements will probably amount to two or three thousand. |