william barret - Texas State Historical Association

WILLIAM BARRET
TRAVIS
“Victory or Death”
No. 4 of 7
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 – William Barret Travis
Chapter 2 – Joe
Chapter 3 – Anahuac Disturbances
Chapter 4 – Angelina Elizabeth Dickinson
Chapter 5 – Travis Guards and Rifles
Chapter 6 – Camp Travis
Chapter 7 – Travis: A Potential Sam Houston
1
William Barret Travis
WilliamBarretTravis,Texascommanderattheba#leoftheAlamo,was
theeldestofelevenchildrenofMarkandJemima(Stallworth)Travis.Atthe
?meofhisbirththefamilylivedonMineCreekneartheRedBank
community,whichcenteredaroundtheRedBankBap?stChurchin
EdgefieldDistrict,nearSaluda,SaludaCounty,SouthCarolina.Thereis
someconfusionregardingthedateandcircumstancesofhisbirth.Many
sourcesgivethedateasAugust9,othersasAugust1,1809.Thefamily
Bible,however,recordstheformerdate.Othershaveconfusedthedateof
hisbirthwiththatofhiselder,
andillegi?mate,half-brother,
ToliferroTravis.Thefirst
Travers,orTravis,tosePlein
NorthAmericalandedin
Jamestown,Virginia,in1627.
EdwardTraversbecamea
memberofthehouseof
burgessesandamassed
significantholdingsofland.
TravisFamilyBible.
Subsequentgenera?onsofthefamilydriXedsouthwardtotheCarolinas,
4
whereBarrickorBarrotTraversestablishedafarmintheEdgefieldDistrict.
SomewhereinthejourneyTraversbecameTravis,andBarrotcametobe
spelledBarret.BarrotTravis'ssons,AlexanderandMark,becamefarmers,
andAlexanderalsobecameaprominentclergyman.
Travis'sboyhoodcenteredaroundtheworkofthefamilyfarm,aPendance
attheRedBankchurch,homeschooling,andplayingwitharea
children.JamesButlerBonham,whoalsoservedinthedefenseofthe
Alamo,wasoneofthese,butitisdifficulttoestablishastrongrela?onship
betweenBonhamandTravisintheseearlyyears.AlexanderTravis,the
familypatriarch,traveledtoAlabamain1817anddecidedtomovethe
en?refamilytoConecuhCountythenextyear.Theretheyhelpedfoundthe
TheWilliamB.
TravisHouseat
PerdueHill,
MonroeCounty,
Alabama.
CourtesyofJeff
Reed
Photography.
communi?esofSpartaandEvergreen.TravisaPendedanacademyin
Spartaun?lhelearnedallthatwastaughtthere;thenAlexanderTravis
enrolledhisnephewinaschoolinnearbyClaiborne,Alabama.Travis
eventuallyassistedintheinstruc?onoftheyoungerstudents.JamesDellet
(DelleP,DeleP),the
5
leadingaPorneyinClaiborne,acceptedTravisasanappren?ce.Underhis
instruc?onTravisbecameanaPorneyandpartner,andforabrief?me
operatedajointofficeacrosstheriveratGosport,Alabama.OnOctober
26,1828,TravismarriedRosannaCato,oneofthestudentshehadhelped
toteach,whenhewastwentyyearsold.Theirfirstchild,
CharlesEdwardTravis,wasbornonAugust8,1829.ForayearTravisgave
everyevidencethatheintendedtoremaininClaiborne.Hebeganthe
publica?onofanewspaper,theClaiborneHerald,joinedtheMasonic
orderatAlabamaLodgeNo.3,andacceptedaposi?onasadjutantofthe
Twenty-sixthRegiment,EighthBrigade,FourthDivision,oftheAlabama
Mili?a.Ayearlaterheabandonedhiswife,son,andunborndaughter
(SusanIsabella)anddepartedforTexas.Thestoryhasbeentoldthat
Travissuspectedhiswifeofinfidelity,doubtedhisparenthoodofher
unbornchild,andkilledamanbecauseofit.Thestoryisprobablycorrect,
givenitspersistence,buthardevidenceofitislacking.
TravisarrivedinTexasearlyin1831,aXertheLawofApril6,1830,made
hisimmigra?onillegal.HearrivedatSanFelipedeAus?n,andonMay21
obtainedlandfromStephenF.AusGn.Helistedhismaritalstatusas
single,althoughhewass?llmarried.Heestablishedalegalprac?cein
Anahuac,asignificantportofentrylocatedontheeasternendof
GalvestonBay.Thepurposeofthemovetherewastoestablishhimselfin
anareawheretherewerefewaPorneyswhilehelearnedtheofficial
language,Spanish.Hetraveledthecountrydoinglegalworkandbecame
associatedwithagroupofmilitantswhoopposedtheLawofApril6,
6
1830,Bradburn,aKentuckianintheserviceofMexico.Bradburnenforced
thean?-immigra?onlaw,refusedtoallowstateofficialstoalienateland
toAmericansePlersarrivingaXerthepassageofthelaw,andallegedly
usedmaterialsandslavesbelongingtothesePlerstobuildhiscamp.
TheprincipaldisputeatAnahuacoccurredin1832,when
WilliamM.LoganofLouisianaengagedTravistosecurethereturnof
runawayslavesbeingharboredbyBradburn.LoganreturnedtoLouisiana
forproofofownershipandthreatenedBradburnthathealsowould
returnwithhelp.TravisalarmedBradburnwithanotepassedtoasentry
thatLoganhadreturnedwithalargeforce.Bradburnturnedouthisen?re
garrisontosearchforLogan,who,ofcourse,wasnowherenearthearea.
Suspec?ngTravisastheperpetratoroftheprank,Bradburnsentsoldiers
tohislawofficetoarrestTravisandhispartner,PatrickC.Jack.Theywere
heldinaguardhouseandlaterintwobrickkilns.Wordoftheirarrest
spread,andmenassembledtodemandtheirrelease.ThegroupdraXed
theTurtleBayouResoluGons,whichpledgedtheirloyaltytothestates'
rightsConsGtuGonof1824,butnottothecurrentCentralistregime,and
demandedthereleaseoftheprisoners.JohnAus?ntraveledtoVelascoto
obtainacannontoforceBradburntocomply.Col.JosédelasPiedras,
commanderatNacogdoches,hurriedtoAnahuac.Althoughinsympathy
withBradburn,herealizedthattheMexicanforceswereoutnumbered.
HeorderedTravisandJackreleasedtocivilauthori?es,whosoon
releasedthemaltogether.Thisincidentbeganthe
AnahuacDisturbancesof1832,whichresultedinarmedclashesat
VelascoandNacogdocheslaterthat
7
summerandproducedthe
conven?onsof1832and
1833withtheirpe??onsforrepeal
oftheLawofApril6,1830,and
separatestatehood.Travismoved
hislegalprac?cetoSanFelipein
theaXermathoftheclashat
Anahuac.In1834hewaselected
secretarytothe
ayuntamientothereandwas
accepted,despitehisyouth,into
thecouncilsofgovernment.He
alsometRebecca(Rebeca)
Cummings,wholivedatMill
SitesofMajorEventsinthe
TexasRevolu?on.
Creek,andbeganacourtshipthatresultedinadecisiontomarryonce
Traviswasdivorced.RosannaTravisbegandivorceproceedingsagainst
herhusbandin1834,charginghimwithdeser?on.Theyweredivorcedin
thefallof1835,andsheremarriedearlythenextyear.ShehadpermiPed
CharlesEdwardTravistomovetoTexas,wherehelivedwiththefamilyof
DavidAyers,sothathecouldbenearhisfather.Travismaynothave
knownwhenthedivorcebecamefinal,forhebecameembroiledinthe
rapidlymovingeventsoftheTexasRevoluGoninJuly1835,andwas
constantlyoccupiedun?lhisdeath.Inanyevent,hemadenoaPemptto
marryRebeccaCummings.
8
AXerStephenF.Aus?ncarriedthepe??onoftheConven?onof1833to
thegovernmentinMexicoCityandwasincarcerated,fearsforhissafety
cooledpoli?csinTexasun?lthesummerof1835.Bythen
AntonioLópezdeSantaAnnahadassertedfullCentralistauthorityand
reestablishedacustomhouseandmilitarygarrisonatAnahuacunderthe
commandofCapt.AntonioTenorio.Awargroupledby
JamesB.MillermetandauthorizedTravistoreturntoAnahuactoexpel
Tenorio.InlateJune,Travisledsometwenty-fivemenbywayof
HarrisburgandGalvestonBayonanamphibiousassaultonTenorio's
posi?onandcapturedtheMexican
soldierseasily.Theac?on
alarmedthepeaceparty,and
forseveralmonthsTraviswas
regardedbymanyTexansasa
troublemaker.Gen.
MarXnPerfectodeCos,
Mexicanmilitarycommander
inthenorth,movedhis
commandtoSanAntonio.He
brandedTravisandtheother
par?sansatAnahuacoutlaws
anddemandedthattheTexans
surrenderthemformilitary
MarinPerfectodeCos.
trial.
9
ReplicaofGonzalesCannonattheGonzalesMemorialMuseum
WhenCosdemandedthesurrenderofthe
Gonzales"comeandtakeit"cannoninOctober1835,Travisjoinedthe
hundredsofTexanswhohastenedthere,butarrivedtoolatetotakepart
intheac?on.Heremainedwiththemili?aandaccompaniedittobesiege
Bexar.Heservedasascoutinacavalryunitcommandedby
RandalJonesandlatercommandedaunithimself.Hedidnotremainat
SanAntoniothroughthefinalassaultinearlyDecember,butreturnedto
SanFelipe.HeadvisedtheConsulta?onontheorganiza?onofcavalryfor
thearmybutturneddownacommissionasamajorofar?llery.Helater
acceptedacommissionasalieutenantcolonelofcavalryandbecamethe
chiefrecrui?ngofficerforthearmy.GovernorHenrySmithorderedTravis
torecruit100menand
10
reinforceCol.JamesC.NeillatSanAntonioinJanuary1836.Traviswas
abletorecruitonlytwenty-ninemen,andbecausehewasembarrassed
herequestedtoberelieved.WhenSmithinsisted,TravisreportedtoNeill
andwithinafewdaysfoundhimselfincommandofaboutfiXymenwhen
Neilltookleave.WhenJamesBowiearrivedwith100volunteers,heand
Travisquarreledovercommand.Theywereabletoeffectanuneasytruce
ofjointcommandun?lBowie'sillnessandinjuryfromafallforcedhimto
bed.
Travisdirectedtheprepara?onofSanAntoniodeValeroMission,known
astheAlamo,forthean?cipatedarrivalofSantaAnnaandthemain
commandoftheMexicanarmy.WithengineerGreenB.Jamesonhe
strengthenedthewalls,constructedpalisadestofillgaps,mounted
cannons,andstoredprovisionsinsidethefortress.HealsowrotelePers
toofficialsreques?ngreinforcements,butonlythethirty-fivemencame
fromGonzalestohisrelief,thusraisingthenumberoftheAlamo's
defenderstoapproximately183.Travis'slePeraddressed"TothePeople
ofTexasandAllAmericansintheWorld,"wriPenonFebruary24,two
daysaXerSantaAnna'sadvancearrivedinSanAntonio,broughtmore
thanenoughhelptoTexasfromtheUnitedStates,butitdidnotarrivein
?me.WhenSantaAnnahadhisforcesready,heorderedanassaultonthe
Alamo.ThisoccurredjustbeforedawnonMarch6,1836.TheMexicans
overpoweredtheTexanswithinafewhours.TravisdiedearlyinthebaPle
fromasinglebulletinthehead.Hisbodyandthoseoftheother
defenderswereburned.ThenatureofTravis'sdeathelevatedhimfroma
11
LayoutoftheAlamomissionpriortothe
BaPleoftheAlamoonMarch2,1836.
merecommanderofanobscuregarrisontoagenuineheroofTexasand
Americanhistory.
12
2
Joe
Joe,slaveofWilliamB.TravisandoneofthefewTexansurvivorsof
theba#leoftheAlamo,wasbornabout1813.Hewaslistedasaresident
ofHarrisburginMay1833.JoeclaimedthatwhenGen.AntonioLópezde
SantaAnna'stroopsstormedtheAlamoonMarch6,1836,hearmed
himselfandfollowedTravisfromhisquartersintothebaPle,firedhisgun,
thenretreatedintoabuildingfromwhichhefiredseveralmore?mes.AXer
thebaPle,MexicantroopssearchedthebuildingswithintheAlamoand
calledforanyblackstorevealthemselves.Joedidsoandwasstruckbya
pistolshotandbayonetthrustbeforeaMexicancaptainintervened.Sam,
JamesBowie'sslave,wasalsoreportedtohavesurvivedthebaPle,butno
furtherrecordofhimisknowntoexist.JoewastakenintoBexar,wherehe
wasdetained.HeobservedagrandreviewoftheMexicanarmybefore
beinginterrogatedbySantaAnnaaboutTexasanditsarmy.Accountsofhis
departurefromtheAlamodiffer,buthelaterjoined
SusannaW.Dickinsonandherescort,Ben,SantaAnna'sblackcook,on
theirwaytoGen.SamHouston'scampatGonzales.OnMarch20,Joewas
broughtbeforetheTexasCabinetatGroce'sRetreatandques?onedabout
eventsattheAlamo.WilliamF.GrayreportedthatJoeimpressedthose
presentwith
themodesty,candor,andclarityofhisaccount.AXerhisreporttothe
TexasCabinet,JoewasreturnedtoTravis'sestatenearColumbia,where
heremainedun?lApril21,thefirstanniversaryofthe
ba#leofSanJacinto.Onthatday,accompaniedbyanuniden?fied
Mexicanmanandtakingtwofullyequippedhorseswithhim,heescaped.
Ano?ceofferingfiXydollarsforhisreturnwaspublishedbytheexecutor
ofTravis'sestateintheTelegraphandTexasRegisteronMay26,1837.
PresumablyJoe'sescapewassuccessful,fortheno?ceranthreemonths
beforeitwasdiscon?nuedonAugust26,1837.Joewaslastreportedin
Aus?nin1875.
14
3
Anahuac Disturbances
TwomajoreventsatAnahuac,in1832and1835,upsetthosewhowanted
tomaintainthestatusquowithMexicanauthori?esandthushelpedto
precipitatetheTexasRevoluGon.Bothdifficul?escenteredaroundthe
collec?onofcustomsbythena?onalgovernmentofMexico.
Col.JuanDavisBradburnandapproximatelyfortyofficersandmenlanded
atthebluffoverlookingthemouthoftheTrinity,calledPerry'sPoint,on
October26,1830,withorderstoestablishagarrisonandatown.The
garrisonwasoriginallychosenasaprotected,strategicpointfromwhichto
preventsmugglingontheTrinityandSanJacintorivers;accordingly,italso
aidedthecollectorofcustoms,GeorgeFisher,aXerhearrivedinNovember
1831,tocollectna?onaltariffsandpreventsmuggling.Bradburnwasalso
chargedwithpreven?ngtheentranceofimmigrantsfromtheUnitedStates
inaccordwiththerecentlypassedLawofApril6,1830,whichwas
designedtoencourageMexicanandEuropeansePlementofTexasandto
restrictAnglo-AmericansePlement.
ThefirsttroubleforBradburncameinJanuary1831,whenastateappointedlandcommissioner,JoséFranciscoMadero,arrivedtoissue
?tlestothoseresidentsofthelowerTrinitywhohadsePledpriorto1828.
Althoughboththestateandna?onalgovernmentshadpreviously
approvedgran?ng?tles,BradburnbelievedthattheLawofApril6,1830,
hadannulledtheearliergrants.ThemaPerwascomplicatedbypoli?cs
becauseBradburnrepresentedtheCentralistadministra?on,which
believedinastrongcentralgovernmentandweakstates,andMadero
stoodfortheopposi?on,thestates'-rights-mindedFederalistsofnorthern
Mexico.BradburnarrestedMadero,buthewassoonreleasedbythe
stateauthori?es,whoappealedtoBradburn'ssuperiors,andtheland
commissionerquicklyissuedmorethanfiXy?tlestolocalresidentsbefore
hereturnedtohishomeneartheRioGrande.Maderoalsoorganized
anayuntamientoattheAtascositoCrossingoftheTrinityandnamedit
VilladelaSanisimaTrinidaddelaLibertad,shortenedtoLibertybyAnglo
sePlers(seeLIBERTY,TEXAS[LibertyCounty]).Althoughthiswasanact
withinhispowers,itrousedtheireofBradburnandtheCentralists,who
sawitasachallengetothena?onalgovernment'scontrolofthearea.
AnothercrisisfollowedthevisitofGen.ManueldeMieryTerán,the
commandantoftheeasterninteriorprovinces,inNovember1831.Hedid
notwanttheayuntamientoatLibertyandordereditmovedtoAnahuac.
BecausehedidnotapproveofAnglo-Americanlawyersprac?cingbefore
thecourtwithoutcer?fica?onfromMexicanauthori?es,heordered
16
Bradburntoinspecttheirlicenses.Thegeneralalsoorderedaninspec?on
ofland?tles.Buthisgreatestoffense,asfarasthecolonistswere
concerned,wasorderingGeorgeFishertobegincollec?ngdu?esfromall
shipsalreadyintheBrazosRiverandGalvestonBay.Theshipcaptains
complainedaboutretroac?velaws.Moreover,theassistantcollectorfor
theBrazoshadnotyetarrived,andallvesselswouldhavetocleartheir
papersatAnahuacforthe?mebeing.Thisarbitrarydecisionwas
inconvenientforBrazoscaptains.SeveralleXtheriverwithoutstopping
forclearanceatthemouth,whereasmallnumberofsoldierswere
garrisoned,andshotswereexchangedbetweentheshipsandthetroops.
FurthertroublestemmedfromAnglo-Americananimosityagainst
Bradburnandhistroops,someofwhomwereformerconvictssenttothe
fron?ertodoheavyconstruc?onworkinordertoearntheirfreedom.At
peakstrength,Bradburnhadfewerthan300menunderhiscommand
bothatAnahuacandatFortVelascoontheBrazos,andoftheseprobably
fewerthantwentywereconvicts.ButAngloneighborsaPributedpePy
thieveryandanaPackagainstawomantothepresenceofprisoners
amongthemilitary.Bradburnhadalsoincorporatedtwoorthree
runawayslavesfromLouisianaintohisgarrison.Mexicoallowed
noslaverybuthadpermiPedAus?n'scoloniststobringblacksinas
indenturedservants;thusBradburnactedcorrectlywhenthefugi?ves
appliedforasylum.Aslavecatcherarrivedbutwasunsuccessfulinhis
effortstorecovertheLouisianarunaways,andhehired
WilliamB.TravistoaPempttorecovertheescapedslaves.Travisandhis
lawpartner,PatrickC.Jack,hadalready
17
antagonizedBradburnbystar?ngacivilmili?a,contrarytoMexicanlaw,
tofightthe"Indians,"aeuphemismforMexicansoldiers.Bradburnbriefly
incarceratedJackforparadingthismili?a.LaterTravisdecidedtotrick
Bradburnintoreleasingtherunawayslaves.Aman,perhapsTravis,
wrappedinaconcealingcloak,deliveredanotepurportedlyfroman
acquaintanceofthecommanderwarningthataforceofLouisiananswas
onthemarchtorecoverthefugi?veshewasharboring.Whenherealized
thathehadbeengivenfalseinforma?on,BradburnarrestedJackand
Travis;becausethejailwasnotadequatelysecureheplacedtheminan
emptybrickkiln.Brazosvalleyhotheadsorganizedarescueforceof
perhaps200men,whoreachedTurtleBayou,sixmilesnorthofAnahuac,
onJune9,1832.Ontheirway,theycapturedBradburn'sen?recavalry
forceofnineteenmenandheldthemhostage,planningtoexchangethem
forTravisandJackandacoupleofothersBradburnhadarrested.AXera
dayofskirmishing,anexchangewasarrangedbytherebels,mostof
whomwithdrewtoTurtleBayou,wheretheyreleasedthecaptured
cavalrymen.WhenBradburndiscoveredthatnotalltheinsurgentshad
evacuatedastheyhadpromised,herefusedtoreleasehisprisonersand
insteadannouncedthathewouldfireonthetown.AXeraskirmish
betweenBradburn'smenandtheremainingAnglos,thelaPeralsofell
backtoTurtleBayoutoawaitthearrivalofar?llery.Alargepartybringing
theordnanceupfromtheBrazossePlementsmetMexicantroopsina
majorengagementattheba#leofVelasco.Meanwhile,thepartyon
TurtleBayoucomposedandsignedtheTurtleBayouResoluGons,which
explainedtheirrebellionagainstBradburnaspartofthereform
18
movementofFederalistgeneralAntonioLópezdeSantaAnna,whohad
recentlywonavictoryoveradministra?onforcesatTampico.ThemaPer
wasresolvedwhenCol.JosédelasPiedras,Bradburn'simmediate
superior,arrivedfromNacogdochesand,thinkinghewasoutnumbered,
bowedtothewishesoftheinsurgents.HeremovedBradburn,reinstalled
theayuntamientoatLiberty,andturnedovertheAnglo-American
prisonerstothisbody.Theprisonersweresoonreleased,andaXer
PiedrasleX,Travis,Jack,andtheothersreturnedtoAnahuac,wherethey
incitedthegarrisontorebelagainstitsCentralistofficers.AFederalist
officer,ColonelSubarán,assumedcommandofthetroopsand,withina
month,boardedthegarrisononshipsandmovedtotheRioGrande.
MerchantsreturnedtoAnahuac,andbusinesscon?nuedwithoutna?onal
tariffsun?l1835,whenthegovernmentsentcollectorsandsupport
troopsbacktoTexas.Thena?onalgovernmentdependeden?relyupon
customsdu?esforrevenue,andTexashadtopayitsshare.
AndrewBriscoe,alocalmerchant,complainedthatthedu?eswerenot
collecteduniformlyinalltheportsandrefusedtocooperateatAnahuac.
Heinten?onallytrickedthenewcommander,Capt.AntonioTenorio,by
loadinghisboatinsuchamannerastoexcitecuriosity,whilestowing
bricks,notsmuggledgoods,inthehull.Tenorio,muchaggravated,
arrestedBriscoeandhisassociate,DeWi#ClintonHarris,onJune12,but
Tenorio'sforceofsomefortytroopswasnomatchfortheAnglo
response.WhenTravislearnedofBriscoe'sarrest,heraisedvolunteers
whomarchedtoHarrisburgfromtheBrazosandcommandeeredavessel
tosailforAnahuac.TenoriosurrenderedonJune20,totwenty-fiveAnglo
19
insurgents,whodisarmedthegovernmenttroopsandreturnedwiththem
toHarrisburg.ButTravishadactedwithoutrealcommunitysupport.He
feltthenecessitytomakeapublicapologyforhisrashac?onsinorderto
keepfromendangeringStephenF.AusGn,whowasinMexicoCity.
20
4
Angeline Elizabeth
Dickinson
AngelinaDickinson,calledtheBabeoftheAlamo,daughter
ofAlmeronandSusanna(Wilkerson)Dickinson(alsospelledDickerson),
wasbornonDecember14,1834,inGonzales,Texas.Byearly1836her
familyhadmovedtoSanAntonio.OnFebruary23,astheforcesof
Gen.AntonioLópezdeSantaAnnaenteredthecity,Dickinsonreportedly
caughtuphiswifeanddaughterbehindhissaddleandgallopedtothe
Alamo,justbeforetheenemystartedfiring.IntheAlamo,legend
saysWilliamB.Travis?edhiscat's-eyeringaroundAngelina'sneck.
AngelinaandSusannasurvivedthefinalMexicanassaultonMarch6,1836.
ThoughSantaAnnawantedtoadoptAngelina,hermotherrefused.Afew
daysaXerthebaPle,motherandchildwerereleasedasmessengersto
Gen.SamHouston.
Attheendoftherevolu?on,AngelinaandhermothermovedtoHouston.
Between1837and1847SusannaDickinsonmarriedthree?mes.Angelina
andhermotherwerenot,however,leXwithoutresources.Fortheir
par?cipa?oninthedefenseoftheAlamo,theyreceivedadona?on
cer?ficatefor640acresoflandin1839andabountywarrantfor1,920
acresoflandinClayCountyin1855.In1849,aresolu?onby
Representa?veGuyM.Bryanforthereliefof"theorphanchildofthe
Alamo"toprovidefundsforAngelina'ssupportandeduca?onfailed.At
theageofseventeen,withhermother'sencouragement,Angelina
marriedJohnMaynardGriffith,afarmerfromMontgomeryCounty.Over
thenextsixyears,theGriffithshadthreechildren,butthemarriage
endedindivorce.Leavingtwoofherchildrenwithhermotherandone
withanuncle,AngelinadriXedtoNewOrleans.Rumorsspreadofher
promiscuity.
BeforetheCivilWarshebecameassociatedinGalvestonwithJimBriPon,
arailroadmanfromTennesseewhobecameaConfederateofficer,andto
whomshegaveTravis'sring.SheisbelievedtohavemarriedOscar
Holmesin1864andhadafourthchildin1865.Whethersheevermarried
BriPonisuncertain,butaccordingtoFlake'sDailyBulle1n,Angelinadied
as"EmBriPon"in1869ofauterinehemorrhageinGalveston,whereshe
wasaknowncourtesan.
22
5
Travis Guards and
Rifles
SeveralmilitaryunitsinTexashistoryhavebeennamedfor
WilliamB.Travis.TheTravisGuardswereorganizedatAus?nonMarch1,
1840,forhomeprotec?onandspeedycampaignsagainsttheIndians.
Officerswereelectedannually,andthefirstrosterlistedasofficersa
captain,twolieutenants,foursergeants,fourcorporals,asecretary,anda
treasurer.In1840,thegroupwascalledtoSanAntoniotorepelIndians.On
December8,1841,theGuardsescortedSamHoustonintoAus?nforhis
secondinaugura?onaspresidentoftheRepublicofTexas.InAugust1851,
aXerdisintegra?onoftheoriginalunit,avolunteerinfantrycompanycalled
theTravisGuardswasorganizedatAus?ntoprotectthefron?er.
JohnS.Fordwasitscaptain.DuringtheCivilWar,inNovember1861,an
infantrycompanycalledtheTravisRifleswasrecruitedinTravisCounty
bySamuelRhoadsFisherandwasmusteredintotheConfederateArmyat
Victoria.ThegroupformedCompanyGoftheSixthTexasInfantry.Itwas
sta?onedinArkansasin1862,wascapturedinJanuary1863,andwas
imprisonedinOhioandIllinoisun?lMay1863,whentheTexanswere
exchangedandaPachedtoPatCleburne'sdivision.Theywereagain
capturedand
imprisonedfromNovember1864un?lJuly1865.Duringthe
Coke-DaviscontroversyatthecloseoftheReconstrucGonperiod,the
TravisRifles,organizedatAus?ninJanuary1873,underM.D.Mathew,
werecalledouttoprotectEdmundJ.Davis,whorefusedtoconcedethe
elec?ontoRichardCoke.Thecompanyrefusedtoobeytheorderto
protectDavisandinsteadcapturedthelegisla?vehallsandprotectedthe
inaugura?onofCokeasgovernor.Anothergroup,organizedonJuly4,
1876,formedCompanyAoftheSecondRegimentofInfantry,Texas
VolunteerGuard,in1890.InthatyearitwasknownastheTravisRifles,
thoughtheprecedingyearithadbeenknownastheAus?nGreys.
24
6
Camp Travis
ShortlyaXertheUnitedStatesenteredWorldWarI,thewardepartment
orderedtheestablishmentofthirty-twodivisionaltrainingcamps-sixteen
tentcampsfortheNa?onalGuardandsixteencampswithwooden
buildingsfortheUnitedStatesArmy.SincetheSouthTexasclimatewas
favorabletouninterruptedtraining,andsinceCampWilsoncouldeasilybe
preparedtohandleadivision,SanAntoniowaschosenasoneofthesites.
CampWilsonwasfivemilesnortheastofdowntownSanAntonioonthe
northeasternadjacentboundaryofFortSamHouston.InMay1916,it
becamethemobiliza?onpointfortheTexasNaGonalGuardduringthe
Mexicanbordercrisis.OnJuly15,1917,aXeritsselec?onasthetraining
sitefortheNine?eth(Texas-Oklahoma)Divisionofthearmy,itwas
renamedCampTravis,inhonorofAlamoheroWilliamB.Travis.Thecamp
wasreadyforoccupancyonAugust25,1917.Addi?onallandwas
subsequentlyacquiredforvitaltrainingfacili?es,andnumerousstructures
wereerectedbythesoldierwelfareagencies.CampTraviscomprised
18,290acres,ofwhich5,730wereonthemaincampsiteadjoiningFortSam
Houston.
TheNine?ethDivisionwasorganizedatCampTravisinSeptemberand
Octoberof1917.Therankingofficers,includingMaj.Gen.HenryT.Allen,
thedivisionandcampcommander,wereregulararmyofficers.Thejunior
officerswereprimarilyTexasandOklahomagraduatesoftheofficertrainingcampatCampFunston.TheenlistedpersonnelconsistedofTexas
andOklahomadraXees.HispanicsandIndianswereintermixedwith
CaucasiansinthenewdraXdivision,butblackswereassignedtothe
campdepotbrigade.Bymid-October1917,theNine?ethDivision
numberedmorethan31,000officersandmen.Equipmentshortages,
illness,andtransferstoothercommandsinterferedwithtraining,
however.Atthe?methedivisiondepartedforEuropeinJune1918,it
wascomposedinconsiderablepartofrecentconscripts,manyfromstates
otherthanTexasandOklahoma.DuringGeneralAllen'sabsenceinthe
latefallandwinterof1917–18,thedivisionandcampwerecommanded
successivelybybrigadiergeneralsJosephA.GastonandWilliamH.
Johnston.
Duringthesummerof1918,CampTravisservedasaninduc?onand
replacementcenter,withanaveragestrengthinJulyofabout34,000
whiteandblacktroops.InAugustandSeptembertheEighteenthDivision
wasformedofoldandnewunitsatthepostunderthecommandofBrig.
Gen.GeorgeH.Estes.TheEighteenthwass?llintrainingwhenthewar
endedonNovember11.OnDecember3,CampTraviswasnamedasa
demobiliza?oncenter.Thefacilitywasalsodesignatedalocalrecrui?ng
sta?onandaregionalrecruitdepotinMarch1919.Some62,500troops
26
weredischargedatCampTravisinabouteightmonths.Thecampthen
becamethehomesta?onoftheSecondDivision.Itsserviceasaseparate
en?tywasterminated,however,uponitsabsorp?onbyFortSamHouston
in1922.
27
SPECIAL BONUS ARTICLE FROM THE
“Travis: A Potential Sam Houston”
Written by Robert H. William Jr.
Volume 40, No. 2, October 1936
28
7
Travis: A Potential
Sam Houston
Inves?gatorsintothehistoryoftheTexasRevolu?onduringrecentyears
havewriPenvoluminouslyabouttheAlamoanditsleader,WilliamBarret
Travis;butanextensivesearchofhistoryshelveshasfailedtorevealany
introspec?vestudyofTravis,morethananoccasionalparagraph.Thislack
iseasilyexplained:Travis,thoughat?mesfieryandimpulsive,apparently
kepthisowncounselonpersonalmaPers,exposingsuchemo?onsas
ambi?onanddisillusionmentonlytothemoresilentBonham,iftoanyone
atall.Furthermore,Traviswasscarcelytobecalledanoutstandingfigure
?llthelastfewdaysofhislife-andwhowastheretogatherhistoricaldata
abouthiminperturbedrevolu?onaryTexas?RubyMixon,inher
unpublishedthesisintheTexasUniversityLibrary,didahighly
commendablejobofgatheringshredsofper?nentdataandcompiling
themintoabiographyfromwhichthecarefulreadermayreconstructfor
himselfasketchydrama?za?onofTravisduringhisfewyearsinTexas.
AmeliaWilliams'admirablesearchintoAlamoannalslikewisepresents
salientfactsaboutTravis.Butnotmuchhasbeenfoundthatdirectly
exposestheaims,ambi?onsandemo?onsofTravis.
Fromtheabovemen?onedsourcesandothersitismypurposeto
aPemptbrieflytodefineTravis'ambi?onandprobablereasonsforhis
coursesofac?ontomeetrapidlychangingcondi?onsduringthelastfew
monthsofhismeteoriccareer.Itishopedthatthelimitedinforma?on
availablewillnotbeconsideredinadequateforthededuc?ons,though
somededuc?onsdependoninterpola?on.InspeakingofTravis'selfish
ambi?onnoconflictisfoundwithhispatrio?sm,andnoin?ma?onof
suchconflictisintended.
Amuchpublishedmanuscriptcalled"CrockeP'sDiary"quotesColonel
WilliamB.Travisassaying,whenthehandsomeyoungBeeKeeperwas
presentedtohimattheAlamo,"Givemefivehundredmenlikehimand
I'llmarchtoMexicoCity."Whilethelastpartofthisso-calleddiaryis
rathergenerallyconsideredspurioustheremarkneverthelessisworth
inves?ga?ng,partlybecauseagoodcasecanbemadeoutinsupportof
suchanambi?ononthepartofTravis,andpartlybecausethe
manuscript,ifspurious,musthavebeenwriPenwithinafewyearsaXer
Travis'death,tobemarketedinEuropewhileAlamocopywass?llin
demand,and,showingevidenceofresearchbytheauthor,maybe
accurateastoTravis'militarydreams.
DidTravis,alongwithAaronBurrandSamHouston,dreamoflibera?ng
TexasandtherebyestablishinghimselfastheGeorgeWashingtonofa
newcountry?Somedataareper?nent.Oneofthefewavailable
commentsonthecharacterofTravisbyapersonalacquaintancesayshe
wasveryambi?ousbutputTexasbeforeself.Thecommentatordoesn't
30
say
1
whetherTravisambi?onwaspoli?calorfinancialorsocial;butmuchof
theman'sac?vi?esinTexasdealtwithmaPersofcolonialpoli?cs-andit
washemorethananyotherTexanwhobroughtabouttheriseofthewar
party.ThathelookedforwardtowealthisindicatedinhislePertoa
friendregardingthecareofhisliPleson,"Ifthecountryshouldbesaved,I
maymakehimasplendidfortune...."ThereisliPleindica?onthathe
hadanysocialambi?onotherthanthataPendingagoodname.
AsearchofhislePersshowsthathediploma?callyconcealedselfish
ambi?on,ifsuchhehad;butaglimpseofhismanoeuvresduringthe
Revolu?onleadstoaplausibleconclusion.Traviswasapeacefulyoung
lawyerinAus?n'scolony,rapidlyclimbinginclienteleandinfluence,but
speakinghismindmoreandmoreforcefullyinopposi?ontoMexican
tyranny.InMay,1832,ColonelBradburn'simposi?onsirritatedhimtothe
pointofoutspokenopposi?on;andfromthe?meofhisarrestand
imprisonment,astheprobable"tallman,coveredwithacloak,"hewasa
militantleaderofthewarparty.Inthespringof1835therewasagain
fric?onatAnahuac.Onhisownini?a?veTravisraisedasmallcompanyof
volunteersandtookthefort.Heunhesita?nglyassumedauthorityto
demandandacceptthesurrenderofthemilitaryforces,totaketheir
armsandsendthembacktoMexicoonparole,likeadulyappointed
general.
Forafewweekscolonistswereloudindenuncia?onofhis"rash"act,
whileTravisquietly,diploma?callywentaboutreestablishinghimselfin
thegoodgracesofimportantmen,without,however,compromisinghis
standformilitaryopposi?on.
1
31
RubyMixon,"LifeandLePersofTravis."Manuscript,UniversityofTexas.
InthiscolorfulcoupdidTravisthinkheforesawanopportunitytomake
himselfmilitaryleaderoftheopposi?on?And,believingashedidthat
militaryac?on,notcouncils,wasthenecessarycourseforTexas,didhe
lookforwardtopoli?calleadershipasthenaturalresultofmilitary
success?Withoutgoingintodetailitmaybepointedoutthathehadbeen
successfulinbuildingupafollowing,astrongpersonalfollowinganda
considerablelawclientele;andthathehadunboundedself-assurance.
Thathewas"ambi?ous"alreadyhasbeenmen?oned.Tosuchaperson,
withaweathereyeoutforopportuni?es,theforegoingdeduc?onwould
notbeoutofcharacterandwouldnotbeillogical.Infact,itseemsquite
plausible.Hecouldmoreeasilyhavesidedwitholdercolonialleadersin
protes?ngtotheMexicangovernor,insteadofboldlyassumingmilitary
authorityandrashlythrowingthecoloniesintorevolu?on.AndaXer
takingtheforthemightatleasthaveaskedforacounciloftheseleaders
toauthorizedisposi?onoftheprisonersandtheirarms.Atthatearly
stageoftherevolu?onhemusthavefeltheavilytheresponsibilityfor
libera?nghiscountrymen.
IfTravishadcalculatedtoprecipitaterevolu?onhisaimwasnottoobad-theexplosiononlybeingdelayed.Rapidlygrowingfric?onbetweenthe
colonistsandMexicanauthoritybroughtaboutalandslideforthewar
party,cri?cismofTravissubsiding,andhefindinghimselfinamore
advantageousposi?onthanbefore,asthediligentsponsorofthearmed
opposi?onmovementforliberty.Helostno?meinfurtheringthecause
ofthemilitary.Hisposi?onmusthavelookedrosy.ButwhenAus?n
32
returnedfromlongimprisonmentinMexicoanddeclaredformilitary
resistance,therewasnonamebutAus?nonthelipsofthecolonists.
Thereisnoevidencethat,whenanarmywasraisedinOctober,Travis
objectedtoAus?n'sselec?onascommander-in-chief;itmaybesupposed
thathefavoredit.Atleast,hegaveupaseatintheconsulta?on,called
forOctober15,inordertogowiththearmyasacaptainofscoutsunder
Aus?n.Inthiscapacity,bytheway,recordsshowhimtohavebeen
extremelyac?ve,accomplishingaremarkablefeatofcourage,endurance
anddetermina?ontowin,inhispursuitandcaptureofaMexican
caballadaofthreehundredhorsesacrossthehardstretchofcountrypast
theNueces.
ThereisnorecordofAus?n'shavinggivenhisac?vi?esanyrecogni?on
otherthancongratula?onsinalePerorderingTravisbackto
headquarterscamp;anditseemsprobablethatTravis,likemanyothers
whocravedac?on,becameimpa?entwiththegeneral'sinac?vitybefore
Bexar.Hemay,quiteconceivably,havebeendiscouragedalsoathislack
ofadvancementorrecogni?on.AtleastheleXthearmyonNovember26.
Notcontent,however,togopeacefullyhomeandlookaXerprivate
interests,asscoresofothersoldiersweredoing,Travisimmediatelygotin
touchwithsomeofthecouncilmembersand"attheirrequest"drewup
andsubmiPedtoProvisionalGovernorHenrySmiththeproposalthata
cavalryunitbeorganized.Itisobvious,onreflec?on,thatsuchaproposal
mighthavebeensubmiPedbyanyoneofthecouncilmenwithoutwai?ng
tohaveTravisoranyothersoldierdoit;andtheassump?onmay
33
thereforebemadethatsuchaunitwasoriginallyTravis'proposal.The
planwassubmiPedearlyinDecemberandonDecember24,Governor
Smithauthorizedcrea?onoftheunitandcommissionedTravis
"LieutenantColoneloftheLegionofCavalry"-this?tlegoingwithhimto
theAlamo.Whatmorepotentbetcouldhavebeendreamedofasa
conqueringwarmachineinthosedays,foreitherdefenseorinvasion,
thanacavalrylegion?
Whenthe"Matamorasfever"begantorage,abouttheturnoftheyear,
Travisfavoredtheexpedi?onandwasscheduledtopar?cipate;butby
January12,whenGovernorSmithauthorizedhimtoraiseahundredmen
andrelieveColonelNeillattheAlamo,Traviswasgladtobeoutofthe
Matamorasbusiness.Itmaybehesawnochancetomakehimselfleader
oftheinvasion;itwasn'thisinvasion;andtherewerealreadytwoleaders!
Amoreprobablereasonforhissuddenchangeofautudemayhavebeen
thefactthat,holdinghisfingeronthepulseofthecolonists,herealized
thatwithoutmoneyandcentralizedcommandtheywerebackingofffrom
therevolu?on.InhisthreeJanuarylePerstoGovernorSmithhepleads
formoney,declaringthecausecouldnotbewonwithoutaregulararmy,
properlyprovisionedandequipped.OnJanuary28,aXertryingformore
thantwoweekstoraisetheauthorizedhundredmen,spendinghisown
moneyandinvolvinghiscreditinsupplemen?ngfivehundreddollarssent
himbyGovernorSmith,TraviswrotetheGovernorthathehadsucceeded
inraisingonlythirty-fivemen.Headded,"Ishall,however,goonanddo
myduty,ifIamsacrificed,unlessIreceiveneworderstocountermarch.“
34
Thisisthebrandofpatrio?smwhichcanneverbeques?onedinTravis.
Butitmaybepointedoutthathehadnotbeenoverlookinghisown
opportuni?esthroughrecentmanoeuvres;thathehadnotfailedtoask
forwhathewanted.Intheearlyfallhehad"askedforandreceivedaseat
intheconsulta?on."InDecemberhehadproposedtheorganiza?onof
thecavalryunitand,itmaybesupposed,expectedtheappointmentasits
commandingcolonel.SuccessivelyhehadwantedtojointheMatamoras
expedi?onandtheAlamostandaseachlookedtohimlikeafavorable
posi?on;butinhislePerofJanuary28,totheGovernor,lamen?ngthe
imprac?cabilityofgoingtothesupportofBexarwithahandfulofmen,he
allbutpleadedtoberelievedoftheassignment.Hispleathroughouthis
JanuarylePerswasforsufficientmoneytoraisearegulararmy.Itmaybe
notedthathiscorrespondencewasalladdressedtoGovernorSmith,not
toHouston,eventhoughhereferredtoHoustonascommander-in-chief
andwanted"togetincommunica?onwithhim."Houstoncouldnotraise
moneyforTravis;Smith,asgovernor,mightbeableto.WithmoneyTravis
could-orevidentlythoughthecould-raisehisownarmy,and,apparently
wieldinginfluencewiththeGovernor,mightnotinconceivablybecome
therecognizedmilitaryleader.Thesededuc?onsmayseemofthe
SherlockHolmesvariety;yetcertainlyTraviswaswide-awaketoevery
alterna?ve,asindicatedbyhiscorrespondence;anditmustbesupposed
thatheknewwhathewasabout.
OnarrivingatBexarhebecameconvincedthatthepointwasthekeyto
Texasindependence--andheevidentlydeterminedtherebytostandor
35
fall.Neveragaindidheasktoberelieved;hewasnowheresowell
sa?sfiedasinthecenteroffire,inthespotlightoftherevolu?on.Hisone
pleathereaXerwasformoremen.Hegavenoopportunityforadviceor
counselfromHoustonorSmith;infact,heuPerlydisregardedHouston's
orders,previouslyissuedtoColonelNeillandagaintoBowie,todestroy
theAlamoandretreat.Hismindwasmadeup.Undoubtedlyhebelieved,
asdidnearlyeveryoneelseatBexarbyearlyFebruary,thatSantaAnna
wouldconvergehisinvadingforcesonthatpoint-whichwouldmake
Travis,ascommanderoftheBexarforces,theleaderoftheresistance.In
thosedaysgeneralswerenotmadeinthe"serviceofsupply";theysprang
upinthe"zoneofadvance.“
Referenceisagainmadetotheso-called"CrockeP'sDiary"inwhichTravis
saidoftheBeeKeeper,"GivemefivehundredmenlikehimandI'llmarch
toMexicoCity."AremarkinTravis'ownlePerofMarch3,probablyto
2
DavidAyres,reads:"Withfivehundredmoremen,IwilldriveSesma
beyondtheRioGrande,andIwillvisitvengeanceontheenemyof
Texas...""I"willdriveSesma..."I"willvisitvengeance...Surelyhe
musthaveseenhimselfastheliberatorofoppressedTexas.
ThelePerreferredto,aswellasallhiscorrespondencefromtheAlamo,
showsonethingdefinitelyrevealinginregardtoTravis'ambi?on:he
drama?zedhimselfinthemostheroicfashion.Apassageinthesame
lePerreads,"...andifmycountrymendonotrallytomyrelief,Iam
determinedtoperishinthedefenseofthisplace,andmybonesshall
2
AmeliaWilliams,ACri?calStudyoftheSiegeoftheAlamo.
36
reproachmycountryforherneglect."AnothermessageofMarch3,
previouslyreferredtoherein,regardinghisseven-year-oldson,readsin
part,"...butifthecountryshouldbelostandIshouldperish,hewill
havenothingbuttheproudrecollec?onthatheisthesonofamanwho
diedforhiscountry."TheheroiclinesfromhisfamousappealofFebruary
24,formenareinlikevein:"Ifthiscallisneglected,Iamdeterminedto
sustainmyselfaslongaspossibleanddielikeasoldierwhoneverforgets
whatisduehisownhonorandthatofhiscountry.VICTORYorDEATH."
Thissortofdream-stuff-seeinghimselfonthetriumphantaltarof
sacrifice-incombina?onwithhisknowndaringandleadership,madehim
apoten?alSamHouston,andservesasthekeytohisinnerself.The
highlypersonalpronoun"I"isinescapable."I"willdriveSesmabeyond
theRioGrande...."I"amdeterminedtosustainmyself..."I"am
determinedtoperish.."my"bonesshallreproachmycountry...yet
Traviswassurroundedwithmenasprominentashimself,doubtlesswith
theirfullsupportinhisplantoresistratherthanretreat.InthisloXy,
burningself-drama?za?onisitnotpermissible,inviewofknownfactsof
Travis'life,toenvisionaspiritdeterminednottodieinignominy,reaching
desperatelyfortheonlyremainingchance,thatchancethegreatestopen
toanywould-behero-thechancetodieforacause?
Thesupposi?onthatTravis'originalresolu?onnottoretreatwasthe
resultofhisbeliefthathisdesperateposi?onwouldbringresponse,and
therevolu?onwouldflaregloriously,isasupposi?ondoubtlesssharedby
37
many.Surelyhemusthavebelieveditpossibleforhismentoescape,a
fewata?me,duringtheearlydaysofthesiege,hismessengershaving
consistentlysucceededingeunginandoutthroughMexicanlines.Even
aXerhopeofreliefvirtuallywasabandonedtherewasthealterna?veof
aPemp?ngescape.Itisreportedinthefamousaddresshesupposedly
madehismenthenightbeforethefinalassaultthatheofferedthemthat
alterna?ve.Theaddress,whetherspuriousorauthen?c,atleastisin
character.
ButifTravisoriginallylethimselfbetrappedasbaitfortherevolu?onhe
soonmadeitclearthathewaswillingtogothroughwiththesacrifice.A
plausibleconclusionastohisstateofmindisthathesawhisdes?ny
hanginginthebalanceattheAlamo:If,bysomemiracle,hecon?nuedto
beatofftheinvaders,worethemdowntostarva?on,orheldthem?ll
colonistsralliedtotheflag,hewouldbetheking-pin,theundisputed
leaderoftherevolu?on;if,ontheotherhand,heandhisbandwere
wipedoutindefenseoftheplace-indefenseofTexas'liberty-hissacrifice
notonlymights?rTexansandUnitedStatessympathizerstoac?onbut
woulddoubtlessimmortalizethenameTravis.
Itmayberepeatedthatnoconflictbetweenhispersonalambi?onandhis
patrio?smhasbeenin?matedinthisanalysis;thepurposeratherbeingto
pointouttheconscious,selfishambi?onthatmusthaveaccompanied
Travis'intenseloveoflibertyandhisinevitablechallengeofwhathe
consideredtyranny.
38