With Texas Independence Day and Fall of the Alamo Day coming up....

[Armybrat]

.... we drove down to the Texas State Library to see the famous (to Texans anyway) Travis Letter From the Alamo - it is rarely on display:

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/7b935d40483ddeec1002be810e38957cd1169c4.jpg

State Troopers patrolling the grounds:

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http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/9e63555e47acd54e10daba270424137f618c5ed.jpg

[Armybrat]

I got the chills just looking at that precious artifact of Texas History. Written by a young man age 26. God Bless Texas.

On February 24, 1836, during Santa Anna's siege of the Alamo, Travis wrote a letter addressed "To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World":


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 and 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 and that of his country. VICTORY or DEATH. William Barret TravisLt. 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


He gave this letter to courier John William Smith to deliver. The envelope that contained the letter was labeled "VICTORY or DEATH".[22] The letter, while unable to bring aid to the garrison at the Alamo, did much to motivate the Texian army and helped to rally support in America for the cause of Texan independence. It also cemented Travis's status as a hero of the Texas Revolution.

[mr surveyor]

Thanks for the posts and the reminder. March 2 has always been a "National Holiday" in my house.

jd

[Bawanna]

How cool is that. The keep it locked up someplace dark most of the time?

Place must just ooze history.

Iffen that's you in the pic, your gosh durn near good lookin as me. Thanks for the pics.

[MW surveyor]

I guess I'll have to go to the San Jaciento monument being how it is closer to me than Austin.

[Armybrat]

How cool is that. The keep it locked up someplace dark most of the time?

Place must just ooze history.

Iffen that's you in the pic, your gosh durn near good lookin as me. Thanks for the pics.
Yes, they keep it in a climate-controlled vault most all the time. The original Texas Declaration of Independence will go on display soon (after the Travis Letter is put up next week).

Yep, that's me. That State Library contains just about all the government archives from the Lone Star State and also the Republic of Texas, plus the Colonial period - pre-1835.

The Republic of Texas Archives have an interesting story in themselves - Google up the "Texas Archives War". Sam Houston didn't quite get his way in that one.

I'm not a native Texan, but the rich history of this state has long had a strong grip on my deeper interests. Part of the wife's family lineage dates from pre-Civil War Texas though. You couldn't pay me to live anywhere else.

[Bawanna]

Well I got me a couple hats already, maybe I should oughta mosey on down and be your neighbor.

[rjt123]

There's always room in Texas for more good folks like you, Colonel! At least come visit some time so you'll know what you're missing. ;)

[Armybrat]

Betcha the Colonel might be a little taken aback by this at first, but hey, he'll get used to it - and besides, we have A/C & indoor plumbing...

(On my back patio a couple years ago - in the shade of course)

http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w349/ScoPro/Patch.jpg

[CPTKILLER]

Yep. I live here in Central Austin.

[Bawanna]

But it's a dry heat right?

And yall got indoor plumbing now? Who knew?

That's plumb some kind of warm though, how hot was it, it was damn hot!

I hope to maybe some day road trip around, make a big loop and say howdy to a bunch of folks here.
Clocks a ticking, need to get rolling soon.

A new chariot might definitely be in order too. Always something ya know.

[Armybrat]

But it's a dry heat right?

And yall got indoor plumbing now? Who knew?

That's plumb some kind of warm though, how hot was it, it was damn hot!

I hope to maybe some day road trip around, make a big loop and say howdy to a bunch of folks here.
Clocks a ticking, need to get rolling soon.

A new chariot might definitely be in order too. Always something ya know.
No, it's not a dry heat, but come on down in the spring or fall when the Yankees can tolerate the weather.


Yep. I live here in Central Austin.

Then we could have a meet-up with the Colonel for a local craft brew or two and maybe a taste of bad boy John Mueller's BBQ.

Something to think about seriously.

[Bawanna]

Missouri born and bred bawanna and you call me a Yankee? Why iffen I was around I would have been Stonewall Jacksons right hand man.

Yankee he calls me. Gonna take a bit to get over this.

[Armybrat]

Anyone who lives north of the Red River is considered a yankee. Some even draw the line at the Brazos. :D

http://www.apriliaontheroad.com/forum/images/smilies/bluboomteamenforcer.gif

[muggsy]

Texas is what the rest of America should be. You can always tell a Texan, but ya can't tell em much. :)

[marcinstl]

how's that separatist/secession thing going? people up here in the north wish you well and good luck.

[Bawanna]

Anyone who lives north of the Red River is considered a yankee. Some even draw the line at the Brazos. :D

http://www.apriliaontheroad.com/forum/images/smilies/bluboomteamenforcer.gif

So I'm either a Texan or a Northern Aggressor? No happy medium?

[mr surveyor]

Anyone who lives north of the Red River is considered a yankee. Some even draw the line at the Brazos. :D

http://www.apriliaontheroad.com/forum/images/smilies/bluboomteamenforcer.gif


I draw the line at the Sabine .... historically pretty true in earlier Mex-Tex history (I live about 10 miles South of the Sabine :) )


jd

[Armybrat]

how's that separatist/secession thing going? people up here in the north wish you well and good luck.
Funny thing about that last batch of "secede" idjits - most of them were carpetbaggers. lol

And no, our former Governor Rick Perry never said Texas should secede - that was a media fabrication of what he was referring to.

[Armybrat]

Texas is what the rest of America should be. You can always tell a Texan, but ya can't tell em much. :)
Oh so true.

[Armybrat]

So I'm either a Texan or a Northern Aggressor? No happy medium?
We can make you an honorary Texan.

After all, Stephen Austin, Sam Houston, William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Ben Milam, Bigfoot Wallace, Deaf Smith, Three-legged Willie Williamson, Lorenzo de Zavala, Mirabeau Lamar, David Burnet, Jack Hays......... not a one of 'em born in Texas.

[Bawanna]

We can make you an honorary Texan.

After all, Stephen Austin, Sam Houston, William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Ben Milam, Bigfoot Wallace, Deaf Smith, Three-legged Willie Williamson, Lorenzo de Zavala, Mirabeau Lamar, David Burnet, Jack Hays, bawanna......... not a one of 'em born in Texas.

Well not as unique a name as the rest but it does sort of fit in don't cha think?

[Armybrat]

Happy 179th Birthday!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbH60wCO-Yw

[Armybrat]

Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos:

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