William Barret Travis (1809 to 1836) is best known as the commander of the Alamo during the 13-day siege (23 February to 6 March 1836), dying in the Battle of the Alamo on 6 March at the age of 26. Arguably, however, Travis should receive greater recognition as the man who almost single-handedly started the Texas Revolution with the Anahuac Disturbances of 1832 and 1835.

Travis' conflict with the commander of the Anahuac garrison, Juan Davis Bradburn, in 1832, and his victory over Mexican troops in the same region in 1835, are often sidelined in discussions of the Texas Revolution as they did not lead to further engagement. The Battle of Gonzales (2 October 1835) is understood as the beginning of the revolution because it led directly to the continuous conflict that ended with the Texian victory at the Battle of San Jacinto on 21 April 1836.

Even so, Travis was the first member of the so-called War Party, seeking to separate Texas from Mexico, who took action, making a name for himself at Anahuac less than a year before he would die at the Alamo. And yet, prior to his arrival in Texas, it is hard to imagine a less-likely hero than William Barret Travis.

The family name was originally Travers, and they established themselves in the Jamestown Colony of Virginia in 1627. Berwick Travers, Travis' grandfather, later moved to the region that would become South Carolina, married Ann Smallwood, and had seven children, among them Mark and Alexander. The spelling of the family name changed from Travers to Travis, and the name "Berwick" became "Barret." William Barret Travis was born on 1 August (some sources give 9 August) 1809, the son of Mark Travis and Jemima Stallworth, one of ten children.

Mark was a prosperous farmer, and Alexander a popular preacher. In 1817, Alexander moved to Alabama, and Mark soon followed with his family. William, after learning the basics at public school, continued his education at the Sparta Academy, where Alexander served as superintendent. Travis was a bright student, mastering the curriculum of Greek, Latin, French, philosophy, rhetoric, geography, history, and mathematics (Davis, 193). On graduating, Alexander enrolled him at another academy in Claiborne and, when he graduated at the age of 18, he became an instructor there.

He understood, however, that teaching would not provide him with the income for the life he imagined for himself. Travis apprenticed himself to the attorney James Dellet and applied himself to learning law as he had in his earlier studies. At the same time, he started a newspaper, the Claiborne Herald, which he ran entirely himself, writing the articles, setting the type, and selling subscriptions.

While teaching, Travis had fallen in love with one of his students, Rosanna Cato (three years his junior), and the two were married on 26 October 1828. Scholar J. R. Edmondson comments:

Hopelessly smitten, referred to her as "the beautiful Miss Cato." She apparently liked what she saw. Travis had blue eyes, light, reddish-brown hair, and what one acquaintance described as "a fine Saxon face." At nineteen years old, he had matured into a big-boned man who stood about five feet, ten inches tall.

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At first, the couple seems to have been very happy together. Their first child, Charles Edward Travis, was born on 8 August 1829, the Herald was making some money, and he was working well with Dellet. This all changed as Travis began to struggle to provide for his family, juggling his time between his law practice, the paper, his enlistment in the Alabama militia, duties at the Masonic Lodge, and his young wife and son. Still, by the time he was 20, he was a lawyer, publisher, teacher, and writer, well-respected by his community, and backed by the powerful and popular Dellet.

No matter how hard he tried, however, he could not make ends meet. He borrowed money from almost everyone he knew – his wife's brother and Dellet included – and began gambling, hoping to "hit it big" to be able to pay them all back and still maintain his family and lifestyle. Gambling only added to his debt – which was around $800 (roughly $20,000 today) – and, in 1831, Dellet and the others filed suit against him. The court found against Travis, and a warrant was issued for his arrest in March 1831.

Life with Rosanna had become increasingly difficult as he failed to provide for her and their son, and, by this time, she was expecting another child. His newspaper had failed, his law practice was nearly non-existent, and now he was facing prison. He had heard of Texas as a land of new beginnings - and few lawyers - and so, telling Rosanna he would go make money there and then come back for her and square all debts, he left Claiborne – and would never return.

Mexico had won independence from Spain in 1821 and, to increase its tax base – as well as create a buffer between southern Mexico and Native American territory – invited Anglo-Americans to settle in the district of Coahuila y Tejas (Texas). Stephen F. Austin, like his father before him, became an empresario, selling lands to Anglo-American immigrants. Austin's initial land grants were approved by the Mexican government in 1823, bringing 300 families from the United States, many of them arriving with their slaves.

The first sign of friction between Anglo-American immigrants and the Mexican authorities was the Fredonian Rebellion of 21 December 1826 to 31 January 1827, in which Anglo-American settlers under the empresario Haden Edwards declared themselves the independent Republic of Fredonia in the region near Nacogdoches. This revolt was not supported by Austin or any others outside of Edwards' settlement and was swiftly crushed by the Mexican army. Contrary to the claims of some historians, this was not the beginning of the Texas Revolution – but it certainly encouraged some, who would eventually form the War Party, to consider establishing an independent Republic of Texas.

In 1829, Mexico abolished slavery, but when the Anglo-Americans objected, concessions were made so that they could keep their slaves. In 1830, however, President Anastasio Bustamante rescinded these concessions through the Laws of April 6, 1830, which also banned further immigration from the USA and raised taxes on those already in Texas. The Anglo-American settlers, now calling themselves Texians, strongly objected to these laws, and tensions rose between them and the regional Mexican authorities.

This situation created two "parties" among the Anglo colonists – although these were never official parties, simply factions of the population – the Peace Party, which sought to negotiate better terms and laws with Mexico, and the War Party, which advocated for armed rebellion and the establishment of an independent nation.

Into the midst of all of this rode Travis, arriving in San Felipe in 1831 as an illegal immigrant. He was granted land by Austin and established his law practice at Anahuac. On legal forms, he claimed he was single or, at other times, a widower. Unlike other immigrants, Travis learned Spanish, hoping this would help him acquire more clients. He also joined the local militia and, quickly, became a prominent supporter of the War Party.

His first clash with Mexican authorities came in the form of Juan Davis Bradburn, who had been born John Davis Bradburn in Virginia in 1787. He had fought in the War of 1812 at the Battle of New Orleans before enlisting in the Mexican army fighting for independence from Spain. In 1830, he was given command of the post at Anahuac.

The Texians at first welcomed Bradburn, thinking that, as a fellow American, he would allow them greater freedoms. They had no idea who they were dealing with. Bradburn had fully embraced his adopted country and was intent on upholding its laws. He could not force the Texians to free their slaves without risking an uprising, but he certainly was not going to help anyone keep them.

In August 1831, two slaves (sometimes given as three) escaped from a William M. Logan of Louisiana and fled to Texas. Bradburn took them in, hiring them to work on his estate. In May 1832, Logan hired Travis to get them back, and, when Bradburn refused, Travis sent an anonymous letter warning him that Logan and 100 armed men would soon arrive to take the slaves by force if they were not soon surrendered.

Bradburn saw through the ploy and had Travis arrested for threatening a Mexican official. When Travis' law partner, Patrick C. Jack, stormed into Bradburn's office to protest, he was also arrested, as were a handful of other Texians Bradburn accused of theft. Bradburn wanted his prisoners transferred to Matamoros to be tried on charges of treason, and this roused the War Party of Anahuac under Frank W. Johnson, who, with his militia of around 150 men, took over the buildings around Bradburn's post, demanding he surrender Travis and the others.

Johnson had captured 19 Mexican cavalry officers and negotiated an exchange while, at around this same time, others of the militia, under the command of John Austin (no relation to Stephen F. Austin), left to bring a cannon and reinforcements back from Brazoria to force Bradburn to surrender his post. While Austin was en route (and, incidentally, fighting the Battle of Fort Velasco), Bradburn agreed to Johnson's terms, and the prisoners were freed. Bradburn was replaced and fled to Louisiana – and Travis became a hero of the War Party. He left Anahuac for San Felipe, where his law practice boomed, and he became a celebrity.

In July 1835, he returned to Anahuac and assumed an even larger role when, commanding a force of 25 men, he captured and disarmed 40 Mexican troops who had arrested two Texians for their protests against taxes. General Martin Perfecto de Cos, the brother-in-law of General (and president) Antonio López de Santa Anna, ordered Travis' arrest, but the Texians would not surrender him. Travis was given a commission of Lieutenant Colonel of Cavalry and then left Anahuac to return to San Felipe.

Travis did well in San Felipe. Scholar William C. Davis writes:

With Travis' growing prosperity came a steady maturing in his attitude toward debt… He engaged a friend who was traveling back to Alabama to go to Claiborne and redeem all those outstanding notes, a step on the road to regaining his reputation.

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Since his arrival in Texas, he had sent his wife nothing by way of support, relying on her family, who had money, to care for her and his two children, Charles Edward and Susan (born in 1831 after his departure). Upon hearing that Travis had cleared all his debts in Claiborne but had not sent her anything, Rosanna filed for divorce on grounds of abandonment, which became official in January 1836.

Travis, meanwhile, was making more money than ever before, purchasing and hiring out slaves, among them Joe (the only male survivor of the Alamo). He also enjoyed the life of a bachelor in San Felipe. Beginning in 1833, Travis visited the crossing at Mill Creek, where there was a popular inn operated by one John Cummings. His sister, Rebecca, attracted Travis' attention.

He paid for a Christmas party held there in 1833, began a courtship, and, by February 1834, had told Rebecca about Rosanna and how he was not yet divorced but, as soon as that could be resolved, they could be married. She tentatively agreed but demanded he give up gambling, which he did. To seal their agreement, she gave him a ring, which he would later give to the infant Angelina Dickinson at the Alamo and, today, can be seen in one of the exhibits in the Alamo chapel.

Throughout 1834 and into 1835, Travis became increasingly involved with the War Party seeking independence from Mexico. By 1835, Santa Anna had abolished the Federalist Constitution of 1824 – which had granted Anglo-Americans a voice in government, as well as other freedoms – and the War Party characterized the new Mexican government as an oppressive dictatorship.

In July 1835, as noted, he returned to Anahuac to free the two Texians the War Party claimed had been unjustly arrested. He missed out on the Battle of Gonzales, on 2 October 1835, because of a bad cold and sore throat, but commanded a cavalry unit as a scout during the Siege of Béxar (12 October to 11 December 1835). The siege ended with the surrender of General Cos, who had fortified the old mission-become-fort, the Alamo, and, with Cos' retreat from Texas, many felt the war was over and independence had been won.

There were many others who did not believe this, however, and among them were Colonel James C. Neill, General Sam Houston, James 'Jim' Bowie, and Travis. Neill had taken control of the Alamo in December 1835, and, in January 1836, Travis was sent to reinforce him, arriving at the Alamo in early February 1836.

Jim Bowie had gotten there earlier with orders from Houston to remove all ordnance and destroy the fort. He and Neill, however, felt the Alamo should be held against what they saw as the inevitable return of Santa Anna's forces. On 11 February, Neill left to tend to personal business, and Travis assumed his command. This led to a dispute between Bowie and Travis as to who should command the garrison overall.

A compromise was reached in which Travis would command his men, and Neill's and Bowie would have authority over his own. Any decisions affecting the entire garrison would be made together. Travis was certain that Santa Anna, if he did come, would not arrive before mid-to-late March and sent out letters asking for reinforcements – especially to Colonel James W. Fannin at Goliad – while he supervised repairs to the Alamo's walls.

Reports that Santa Anna was marching toward the Alamo began as early as 14 February, but these were dismissed as rumors and gossip. On 23 February, Santa Anna marched into San Antonio de Béxar – and the siege of the Alamo began. On the 24th, Bowie fell ill, and Travis assumed sole command of the garrison.

On 24 February, Travis sent the most famous letter of his many asking for help – the so-called Travis Letter – also known as the "Victory or Death" Letter:

To the People of Texas & 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 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 (Groneman, 4)

This letter, hailed as "the most patriotic", has become famous worldwide and would later encourage others to flock to the cause of Texas liberty, but, sadly for Travis, did little to bring reinforcements to the Alamo. On 1 March, 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, but Fannin failed spectacularly in his paltry attempt to lend aid and wound up dying in the Goliad Massacre on 27 March 1836. Sam Houston dismissed the letter as a literary exaggeration and refused to believe Santa Anna was even in Texas until 11 March, when Susanna Dickinson (with her infant daughter Angelina) and Travis' slave, Joe, brought word to Gonzales that the Alamo had fallen.

According to Alamo lore, on 5 March, Travis drew a line in the sand of the Alamo courtyard, informing the garrison that their situation was hopeless without reinforcement, and asking anyone who would stand with him to step across - any others were free to leave. Only one man, Louis Moses Rose, is said to have left. Travis held the Alamo against overwhelming odds for 13 days and was among the first to die in the assault of 6 March. All the defenders of the Alamo were killed, including David 'Davy' Crockett of Tennessee.

Possibly before, but certainly after his arrival in Texas, Travis came to see himself as a great romantic hero, along the lines of King Arthur, fighting for the cause of right against what he saw as the forces of darkness. Although his early life would hardly suggest a future as a great hero of Texas liberty and personal sacrifice, through his self-image, he became what he believed himself to be, even dying for it.

Travis features prominently on the Alamo cenotaph, commissioned in 1936 for the Texan Centennial, and has been portrayed in many TV shows, documentaries, and movies, notably by Lawrence Harvey in The Alamo (1960), by Alec Baldwin in The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987), and by Patrick Wilson in The Alamo (2004) – considered the most accurate film version of the siege, battle, and Travis himself.

Any honest appraisal of William Barret Travis today must acknowledge his abandonment of his family and role as a slave owner but, at the same time, should give credit to the man who, like many Americans, reinvented and redeemed himself. Travis now has schools, streets, and monuments named in his honor and, in death, achieved all he wanted in life: to become a great man worthy of respect - a hero.