In August 1821, Mexico won her independence from Spain. 14 years later, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna seized control of Mexico and made himself El Jefe Grande.
Santa knew that the colony to the north, the Texians, would probably try and use his takeover as an excuse to declare independence from Mexico and break away. So to deter that, he sent out an order to his Mexican officers to try and disarm the Texians whenever possible.
Up in a the town of Gonzales, there was a cannon. The cannon was given to the people of Gonzales by the Mexican Army to protect themselves from raids by the Comanche Indians. A fella named Green DeWitt (you may have heard of DeWitt county) convinced the Mexicans to loan him the cannon, and the Mexicans agreed to do so with the understanding that it had to be given back upon request.
Well, there was this Mexican Col. named Ugartechea-- and he was the boss of all the Mexican Army in the Texas. He decides that it probably isn't a great idea to leave that cannon in the hands of those outlaw rednecks, so he sends some Dragoon troops in to "ask" for it back.
One excuse after another is given about the cannon- its whereabouts, its stuck in mud, it needs to be cleaned etc- all of this was to buy the Texans time to dispatch word around the area to gather supporters.
See, the Texans knew what was coming. First, they disarm you, then they have total control of you. And in true Texas spirit, the Texans weren't having that sh!t.
After a few days or so, Col. Urgartechea realizes someone is pissing on his boot and telling him it's raining, so he readies his men.
On the night of October 1, the Texans decide they are going to attack the Mexicans first. They can read the writing on the wall. They managed to procure another cannon, an old Spanish cannon that fired a 1 pound shot. Not much to brag about compared to the bronze 6 pounder-- but still useful.
The Texans crossed the river in the dead of night under a dense fog that had formed and used the cover to move the 150 men to surround the 100 Mexicans on 3 sides. Right before daybreak, the Texans fired a volley into the Mexican encampment.
But the Mexicans heard the Texans approaching. A barking dog alerted them and not knowing how many men had him surrounded, this young Lt. named Perez launched a mounted attack at the Texans.
That sh!t didn't work and the Texans fired another volley.
(This wasn't terribly organized warfare)
The fog lifts and this Commander named Castaneda sends a fella named Smither over to talk to the Texans about "wtf" is happening.
The Texans promptly take Smither captive (he's a gringo hanging out with the Mexicans) but also go and meet with Casteneda.
Commander Casteneda tells the Texas he agrees with their argument and their motivation, but unfortunately, he is duty bound to follow orders.
After the chin wag is complete, the Texans return to their camp and Sara DeWitt, her husband Green had passed years before from cholera, hoisted a flag she had sewn together from a few old tattered dresses.
On that flag was a cannon and the words "Come and Take it".
Inspired, the Texans fired another volley into the Mexican Army.
Castaneda knew his troops were surrounded and out gunned so he ordered them to retreat to the safety of San Antonio.
In his report to Col. Ugartechea, Castaneda wrote "since the orders from your Lordship were for me to withdraw without compromising the honor of Mexican arms, I did so".
And this was the beginning of our great state. A state that would go on to be the greatest ever founded in our union.
Unfortunately, we were burdened with one blight. We ended up being made to neighbor with a bunch of fvcking dirt merchants to our north. A sh!t hole dust spec of land filled with people calling themselves "Oklahomans".
Santa knew that the colony to the north, the Texians, would probably try and use his takeover as an excuse to declare independence from Mexico and break away. So to deter that, he sent out an order to his Mexican officers to try and disarm the Texians whenever possible.
Up in a the town of Gonzales, there was a cannon. The cannon was given to the people of Gonzales by the Mexican Army to protect themselves from raids by the Comanche Indians. A fella named Green DeWitt (you may have heard of DeWitt county) convinced the Mexicans to loan him the cannon, and the Mexicans agreed to do so with the understanding that it had to be given back upon request.
Well, there was this Mexican Col. named Ugartechea-- and he was the boss of all the Mexican Army in the Texas. He decides that it probably isn't a great idea to leave that cannon in the hands of those outlaw rednecks, so he sends some Dragoon troops in to "ask" for it back.
One excuse after another is given about the cannon- its whereabouts, its stuck in mud, it needs to be cleaned etc- all of this was to buy the Texans time to dispatch word around the area to gather supporters.
See, the Texans knew what was coming. First, they disarm you, then they have total control of you. And in true Texas spirit, the Texans weren't having that sh!t.
After a few days or so, Col. Urgartechea realizes someone is pissing on his boot and telling him it's raining, so he readies his men.
On the night of October 1, the Texans decide they are going to attack the Mexicans first. They can read the writing on the wall. They managed to procure another cannon, an old Spanish cannon that fired a 1 pound shot. Not much to brag about compared to the bronze 6 pounder-- but still useful.
The Texans crossed the river in the dead of night under a dense fog that had formed and used the cover to move the 150 men to surround the 100 Mexicans on 3 sides. Right before daybreak, the Texans fired a volley into the Mexican encampment.
But the Mexicans heard the Texans approaching. A barking dog alerted them and not knowing how many men had him surrounded, this young Lt. named Perez launched a mounted attack at the Texans.
That sh!t didn't work and the Texans fired another volley.
(This wasn't terribly organized warfare)
The fog lifts and this Commander named Castaneda sends a fella named Smither over to talk to the Texans about "wtf" is happening.
The Texans promptly take Smither captive (he's a gringo hanging out with the Mexicans) but also go and meet with Casteneda.
Commander Casteneda tells the Texas he agrees with their argument and their motivation, but unfortunately, he is duty bound to follow orders.
After the chin wag is complete, the Texans return to their camp and Sara DeWitt, her husband Green had passed years before from cholera, hoisted a flag she had sewn together from a few old tattered dresses.
On that flag was a cannon and the words "Come and Take it".
Inspired, the Texans fired another volley into the Mexican Army.
Castaneda knew his troops were surrounded and out gunned so he ordered them to retreat to the safety of San Antonio.
In his report to Col. Ugartechea, Castaneda wrote "since the orders from your Lordship were for me to withdraw without compromising the honor of Mexican arms, I did so".
And this was the beginning of our great state. A state that would go on to be the greatest ever founded in our union.
Unfortunately, we were burdened with one blight. We ended up being made to neighbor with a bunch of fvcking dirt merchants to our north. A sh!t hole dust spec of land filled with people calling themselves "Oklahomans".
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