I have found that my passion is History. This encompasses Texas History, U. S. History, and of course Family History. I've had this yearning, this itch, if you will, to see, experience, read about, document, and share history, especially family history. (That sharing thing is much to the chagrin of the family sometimes - in other words I tend to go on and on and on ....... but I digress.)
Now that I am retired, I am finding more time available for my passion. Last year I made a visit with some of the family to our grandparent's home in Concho County. I've been to Virginia with Kay and her cousin Tom to visit the place where their great-grand parents lived and I visited Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown and other historical sites while in Virginia. I've been to Washington-on-the-Brazos and other historic places in Texas. I'm starting to really pursue my passion or "scratch the itch".
Last February 22, 2013, I was reading the newspaper and came across an article about the letter Lt. Col. William Barret Travis wrote at the Alamo, Feb 24, 1836. Travis sent the letter out by a courier, Albert Martin, who slipped through the Mexican Army lines that encircled them. Travis addressed the letter to "The People of Texas & All Americans in the World". He then asked for reinforcements and concluded the letter with his now famous "Victory or Death". Of course sufficient help did not come. On March 1st, John Smith led 32 brave men from Gonzales into the fort but the large numbers hoped for and needed by Travis never came. On March 6, 1836, the fort was overrun by the Mexican army and all the brave defenders of the Alamo were killed.
Now, here it is, the letter was was going to be returning to the Alamo for the first time in 177 years. It was to be on display for a very short time. My first thought was "I've got to see this letter! If I don't go see it now I may never get another chance." Since we were traveling to California to see Wes and Jeoffery and the grandchildren the next weekend, I only had a limited window of opportunity, March 4th - 7th, to go. I asked Kay if she wanted to go to San Antonio. She said she was working that week, so I started my plans to go alone.
I set out early on Tuesday, March 5th, heading to San Antonio. We had just gotten back from California on Sunday and the exhibit ended on Thursday. I didn't want to go on the last day and Wednesday, the 6th was the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo, so I thought those two days might be really busy. That left Tuesday the 5th as the day to go.
As I drove closer and closer to San Antonio I got more and more excited. I found my way downtown and cruised into the parking lot behind the Alamo. Kay would have been shocked to know I made it there so easy. The lot was not packed and I quickly found a place to park, so I was feeling good about my prospects. As I walked around the corner to the front of the Alamo, my heart sank a little seeing the long line. My first thoughts were to hit the restroom, skip lunch, grab a candy bar, and get in line. I took care of that as quickly as I could (or as quickly as a 62 year old man can, if you know what I mean) and got in the line around 1:00 pm and was ready to go.
Waiting in Line in front of the Alamo Church, March 5, 2013. The really long part of the line is off to the right side and not in view in this photo.
It took a few minutes standing there chatting with other people in line and looking around before I fully grasped the situation regarding the length of the line. I had not paid close enough attention to where the line actually went. This long line I thought I was in was only a small part of the actual line. Instead of going straight ahead and then turning toward the door, the line traveled to the edge of the Alamo Church and disappeared back into the deep recesses of a covered area, where it wound like a snake, back and forth, back and forth, before re-emerging to head toward the door. Okay, add at least another hour to my 30 to 45 minute estimated wait time. (A guide later said the wait was more like 2 to 2 1/2 hours.) I wasn't sure the old bladder could hold out that long. Just as I was starting to despair about getting half way through the line and then needing to go to the restroom, thus losing my spot in line and having to start all over, I caught a lucky break. A man standing by a small kiosk was explaining to the lady in front of me that if you were a member of "Allies of the Alamo" you received expedited entrance to all Alamo exhibits, including this one. "How much?", I asked. "Forty dollars," he said. I handed him my credit card, became a member, and headed to the front of the line. Within 10 minutes I was inside. Man, best 40 bucks I ever spent! I went through the exhibit, toured the grounds, spent money at the gift shop, and was heading to the parking lot, all before the time that it would have taken me just to get through that long line. It was a fantastic deal!!
Next in line at the door with mounting excitement, March 5, 2013.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. I was excited as I stood before the door, waiting behind only a couple people, for my turn. Finally, I was ushered through that big wooden door that leads into the Alamo Church. I got that same feeling I get every time I go there. It is a feeling of pride mixed with a sense of recognition of the ultimate sacrifice that brave men made there. There is even a feeling of reverence for what this shrine means to Texas, and many more feelings that are just too hard to explain with my limited writing ability. When you walk in, there is a quietness that overtakes you. People are asked to remove their hats. Everyone speaks in hushed tones. You are not allowed to touch the walls or any part of the structure, and of course there are no photographs allowed.
Most of us think of this building as "The Alamo", but this is really only one small part of what the Alamo Fort actually consisted of in 1836. This iconic building, that is so widely recognized, is the Alamo Church. This and the long barracks are all that are left of the original Alamo which consisted of the outer walls and cannon placements, the men's quarters, Travis' quarters, the low barracks, cattle pens, the long barracks, and the church.
Source: "The Alamo". The Portal to Texas History. http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth30285/. Accessed January 20, 2014.
I added the location of Lt. Col. William Barret Travis' headquarters and the location where he was killed.
Once inside the Alamo Church, there was an exhibit of various period artifacts as well as some of Lt. Col. William Barret Travis' personal items. I couldn't help but be transported back in time as I tried to imagine things as they were then. It was all very interesting and my excitement increased until at last I was in front of "The Travis Letter". If you don't like history it's okay to tune out now, because you will think I am crazy when you read what I have to say next.
Standing a couple feet away from this 177 year old letter, I tried to let my mind imagine the scene on Feb 24, 1836. Lt. Col. Travis was sitting in the Alamo with a hand full of men surrounded by Santa Anna's Mexican army of one thousand or more. Santa Anna had sent Travis a command to surrender or be put to the sword There would be no surrender, no survival if he lost the battle. Col. Travis had this very piece of paper on his desk in front of him, pen in hand. What thoughts must have been racing through his mind? Did he realistically think they would be able to survive this siege and fight their way out? Did he believe help would come? I think he new exactly what was going to happen, though I do believe he held on to a small glimmer of hope by writing the letter.
As I stood and looked at this creased, faded, aged, and fragile, 177 year old piece of paper, I could feel a presence that is hard to describe. This is the very place, the Church, where the women and children found safety in the Sacristy, the very place where the last defenders of the Alamo made their last stand and died. How can one not feel their lingering presence? Realizing Travis had handled this paper, as well as other great men of that time in Texas history who would handle it later, and that Travis had written these words that would be read and quoted for 177 years, by thousands of people, these words that would take on such deep meaning for Texans. Travis' letter to the world, along with the martyrdom of the men at the Alamo, became the catalyst that ignited the people of Texas to fight and eventually win Texas' freedom.
I only took a few minutes to read and ponder the letter before I moved on outside the church into the bright sunshine that greeted me. I walked around but my mind was still inside the Alamo Church, inside with the subdued lighting and quiet stillness, reflecting on Travis' words. His words took on so much greater and deeper meaning to me as I stood there reading, inside the Alamo Church, 177 years after Travis wrote:
Commandancy of 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
William Barret Travis' letter from the Alamo, Febuary 24, 1836. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
https://www.tsl.texas.gov/exhibits/texas175/travisletter-2.html
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I will continue with day two of my trip in another post.
