1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 606 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to pay 1-4 tribute to the City of Gonzales for the vital role it played in 1-5 the history of the Texas struggle for independence and for being 1-6 known as the Lexington of Texas; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Gonzales is famous for being the site of the first 1-8 shot fired in the Texas Revolution, and it has been called the 1-9 Lexington of Texas because of the corresponding way the Texas War 1-10 for Independence and the way the Revolutionary War began; and 1-11 WHEREAS, In 1775, because of unrest felt on the part of the 1-12 American colonists during the rule of the British, the British army 1-13 advanced into Lexington, Massachusetts, intending to seize the arms 1-14 and ammunition belonging to the settlers there; and 1-15 WHEREAS, On April 19, 1775, the settlers made a stand, and 1-16 soon the first shot of the American Revolution was fired and was 1-17 known as the shot heard around the world; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Both Texans and the American colonists were far 1-19 from their central governing authorities, and many years after 1-20 the American Revolution, the Texas colonists were beginning to 1-21 reevaluate their feelings about the way the Mexican colonial 1-22 government was responding to their needs; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Earlier, Mexican authorities had sent a small cannon 1-24 to Gonzales to protect the residents; in 1835, the air was rife 2-1 with revolutionary feeling, and Mexico was demanding the return of 2-2 the cannon; the people of the town refused; and 2-3 WHEREAS, The Mexican government sent 100 soldiers to Gonzales 2-4 to bring the cannon back and end the insurgence; the townspeople 2-5 sent 18 men to postpone the soldiers' arrival by removing the only 2-6 ferry with access to the town, thereby forcing them to find another 2-7 crossing; the process delayed the invaders until October 2, 1835; 2-8 and 2-9 WHEREAS, That day, 50 armed Texans commanded by 2-10 Colonel J. H. Moore and Lieutenant J. W. E. Wallace met the 2-11 Mexican soldiers; the Texas group was behind the cannon, and over 2-12 it flew the banner with its famous inscription, "Come and Take It"; 2-13 the cannon was deployed, firing one shot, and the Mexican army 2-14 retreated; Texas began its journey to independence and statehood; 2-15 and 2-16 WHEREAS, The similarities between the two battles are marked, 2-17 both concerned the tenacity of individuals willing to put their 2-18 lives in jeopardy for the illustrious cause of freedom; now, 2-19 therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-21 76th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the shared heritage 2-22 of Texans and Americans and recognize Gonzales, Texas, as the 2-23 Lexington of Texas, honoring the significant role the town played 2-24 in the Texas Revolution; and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-26 the town as an expression of the highest regard and esteem of the 3-1 Texas Senate. 3-2 Armbrister 3-3 ______________________________________ 3-4 President of the Senate 3-5 I hereby certify that the above 3-6 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-7 on April 12, 1999. 3-8 ______________________________________ 3-9 Secretary of the Senate 3-10 ______________________________________ 3-11 Member, Texas Senate