William Barret Travis was a soldier who served as Texas commander at the Battle of the Alamo in Texas where Texans launch a war for independence against Mexico in 1836.
The quote by Travis means that the life of an hour in which everyone knows one's identity for something achieved and appreciated is more worthy than a long life in which nobody knows who you are.
Therefore, the solider was glad that his name is known in the country book of history.
