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William Bart Travis As A Role Model

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Who was William Barret Travis? Born and raised in South Carolina, he studied law and found work as a teacher before marrying young, at the age of 19. His wife, Rosanna Cato, was one of his students. In 1831, after working as an attorney and a newspaper editor, Travis made the decision to abandon his failing marriage and make a new start in Texas. (He was also likely facing mounting debts.) He left his wife, young son and unborn daughter in South Carolina and applied for a land grant in the new colony formed by Stephen F. Austin.

Sketch of William Travis by Wyly Martin.Sketch of William Travis by Wyly Martin.
By 1834, after being arrested in a clash with troops from the local Mexican garrison in the community of Anahuac, Travis returned to San Felipe and joined the local government there. As simmering tensions with Mexico threatened to boil over into rebellion, Travis was one of the first to sign up for the Texan forces. At one point, Santa Anna personally ordered his arrest, boosting his profile exponentially among the Texas rebels. By late 1835, Travis had risen in the ranks to become a lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the Texan volunteer army. …show more content…

The following month, Travis was ordered to reinforce Colonel James C. Neill at the former mission, entering with only 30 men (after being unable to raise the expected 100). After Neill left to care for his family, Travis and Col. James Bowie took command of the Alamo’s

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