On this day in 1835, the spark that ignited the Texas Revolution was struck in Gonzales.
September 27, 1835: Lieutenant Francisco de Castaneda of the Mexican Army departed San Antonio with 100 dragoons on a mission to retrieve a cannon from American colonists. What he didn't expect was the fierce determination of ordinary Texans who refused to surrender their piece of artillery.
The Gonzales colonists had received the bronze six-pound cannon in 1831 for protection against hostile Indians. When Mexican authorities demanded its return, the colonists buried it in a peach orchard and took up arms. They adopted a defiant motto that would echo through Texas history: "Come and Take It."
This September 27 expedition led directly to the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835, considered the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. What began as a dispute over a single cannon evolved into a revolution that would ultimately lead to Texas independence.
The "Come and Take It" spirit that emerged from Gonzales continues to resonate in Texas culture today, symbolizing the independent and defiant character that has defined the Lone Star State since its founding.
This is the Texas we remember. This is the Texas we honor.
Be Texas Proud.