Many Americans know the battle cry, “Remember the Alamo!” And many Texans — especially native Texans and those who grew up learning Texas history in school — know the names Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, William B. Travis, Jim Bowie and Stephen F. Austin. But do you know about the cannon in Gonzales, the massacre at Goliad and the Battle at San Jacinto?
Texas battled with Mexico from 1835-36 before ultimately gaining independence and becoming a country. It was an independent republic until it joined the United States in December 1845. But when Texas was still part of Mexico, slavery was against the law and many Texans (which included American settlers and Mexicans living in Texas) did not like the laws of Mexico and wanted to break away.
Come and Take It
The Texas Revolution began on Oct. 2, 1835, in Gonzales, which is about 135 miles west of Houston (and 75 miles east of San Antonio). Gonzales is often referred to as the Birthplace of Texas Independence or the Lexington of Texas (a reference to the American Revolution beginning in Lexington, Massachusetts). The first shot of the Texas Revolution was fired by the residents of Gonzales using a cannon that Mexico had given the people to help them defend themselves against American Indian attacks.
When the Mexican government asked for the cannon back, the Gonzales residents — already angered by the rules of Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna A — refused. They made a flag bearing a single star and a picture of the cannon with the words “Come and Take It.” The single shot fired caused no damage, and the Mexican forces withdrew quickly, but the incident started the war. Today, you can visit Gonzales to stand at the site of skirmish, see the canon and watch an annual reenactment of the event.
The Alamo and Goliad
A volunteer army began to concentrate in Gonzales, and later, 32 volunteers rode to the aid of Travis during the battle of the Alamo, which took place between February 23 and March 6, 1836. During the siege of the Alamo, almost all the Texan defenders (around 200 men) were killed, and 600 Mexicans were killed or wounded. This became one of the most famous battles in American history, and it served as the inspiration for dozens of movies and books. Today, you can visit the Alamo in San Antonio and tour the historic site.
There were five separate battles in or near Goliad, including three from February 27 to March 14, 1836. The final battle happened days later on March 19-20. After the second day of fighting, the Texans surrendered, but Santa Anna chose to ruthlessly execute approximately 342 of the captured soldiers. The Goliad Massacre led many to join the Texan Army.
San Jacinto Battleground
Because of its nearby location in La Porte, many from Houston know about the 489-foot-tall monument honoring the lost soldiers and celebrating the end of the Texas Revolution. The final battle took place April 21, 1836, and it lasted just 18 minutes. The Texas forces surprised the Mexican army, killing 630 and taking 730 prisoners, including Santa Anna, who instructed the remaining troops to retreat back to Mexico, ending the war.
Today, you can spend the day exploring the San Jacinto Battleground complex and visiting exhibits chronicle more than 400 years of early Texas history.