William Barret Travis
When
rebellion ignited in 1835, Alabama native William Travis received a commission
as lieutenant colonel — at only 26 years of age. On February 3, 1836, he
reached the Alamo with thirty mounted reinforcements. He accepted command of
the post when Colonel James C. Neill left on furlough. Thus, when Santa Anna’s
Mexican army arrived on February 23, Travis again found himself in charge. The
following day, he penned a dispatch to the “People of Texas and All Americans
in the World.” During the final assault on March 6, Travis was among the first
defenders to fall. In his celebrated letter he pledged to “never surrender or
retreat.” He did neither.