For our fifty-first wedding anniversary last Saturday Ann and I went to Gonzales, Texas. Actually it was on the 26th when we spent the night. We had never really been in Gonzales for very long. It has as much Texas history as any town in Texas.
It was founded in 1825. Located where the Guadalupe and San Marcos rivers join, it was a good place to locate. The Indians had learned that much earlier and wished for these new settlers to leave. The Mexicans finally gave the people a small cannon to protect them against the Indians. Later, as rumors of rebellion arose, the Mexicans demanded their cannon back. The Gonzales folks refused. They simply said: "Come and Take It!". When the Mexican soldiers came they were met by the cannon. It is said the first shot of the revolution was the firing of this little cannon.
Gonzales volunteers answered the call of William B Travis for reinforcements at the Alamo. It was the only town that did. Thirty-two men joined the heros of the Alamo. There were already nine men there from Gonzales. They all died there. Forty-one from Gonzales alone! The little cannon is still there in their museum. In recent years the Bullock Museum has been built near the Capitol in Austin. I hear it is a great museum. The folks there contacted Gonzales and asked for the cannon that fired the first shot of the revolution. Gonzales folks answered their request with these words....."Come And Take It!".. They still have the cannon.
