Written by Michael J. Perullo
The Come and Take It Flag has become increasingly popular, especially to send a message of defiance. But did you know that its design dates to nearly 200 years ago, to the beginning of the Texas revolution?
The Origins of the Come and Take It Flag
In 1831, a small six-pounder cannon was given to the settlers in Gonzales, Texas for protection against Native American attacks. By late 1835, amidst several years of unrest, and a clear Texan desire for separation from Mexico, the Mexican Army demanded the return of the cannon. The settlers refused to give up the cannon, and buried it in a peach orchard. At the time, Gonzales was the westernmost Anglo settlement in Texas; the town was laid out in the shape of a cross with seven squares still visible today. This is where the Texas Revolution began.
Mexican authorities in San Antonio sent 100 mounted soldiers to “take” the small weapon back. When they arrived on the banks of the rain swollen Guadalupe River on September 29, 1835, they could not cross as the 18 men (often called the “Old Eighteen”) remaining in town had hidden the ferry! Shortly thereafter, the cannon was dug up, mounted on a caisson, and readied to fire. Originally, the cannon was given to the settlers ‘spiked’, meaning a nail was driven into the touch hole (or vent) where a wick or string of powder was used to ignite the charge. The Texans had this drilled out by a local gunsmith; the cannon was then stuffed with scraps of iron and chains, as they had no cannon balls to fire.
On the morning of October 2, 1835, about six miles upriver from Gonzales, a confrontation ensued between the Old Eighteen (accompanied by more than 100 additional volunteers from other settlements), and 100 men of the Mexican Army. The Texans taunted the Mexican troops from across the swollen river. Over the cannon waved a white flag emblazoned with a black cannon, a star, and the words, “Come and Take It.” Originally, this was called the “Old Cannon Flag”, and it was made by Sara Seeley DeWitt (wife of Gonzales colony founder Green DeWitt of Missouri), and her daughter Evaline. This flag was white because it was made from the silk of Evaline’s sister Naomi’s wedding dress. The Texans fired the cannon once, and the Mexican troops ran after a brief skirmish; this was the first shot for Texas independence!
Above: Santa Anna; a mural at the Gonzales Memorial Museum
Setting the Stage for Revolution
To really understand the gravity of this seminal event, we need more context. In 1824, the Mexican Constitution established a republic after gaining independence from Spain. Their federal republic comprised 19 states and four territories. The former Spanish provinces of Texas and Coahuila (Tejas y Coahuila) were combined and land grants were made to various settlement colonies such as Austin, Gonzales, and many others. States were granted basic autonomy, and this was attractive to Texas immigrants who placed high value on available land, freedom, and self-governance. In fact, the 1824 Mexican Constitutional Flag flew at The Alamo during its fateful final battle in March 1836.
But times had changed by April 6, 1830 when a Mexican government report was issued leading to new restrictions on American settlers and which led to the rise of the new President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (“Santa Anna”) who had achieved dictatorial rule and abandoned the federal republic system of governance. Originally, most Texas settlers were of high character, but as time wore on many newcomers to Texas came to her colonies with less than sterling reputations; they were part of the ‘GTT’ or “Gone To Texas” migration to start new lives. Oppressive colonization restrictions brought on by a new dictatorship resulted in massive resentment resulting in a Texan takeover of the Mexican customhouse near Galveston Bay, and the conflict that was soon to arise in Gonzales.
Heaven for Men and Dogs
New restrictions and the loss of freedoms primed the Texans for rebellion all throughout Texas, but especially in Gonzales, and shortly thereafter at The Alamo. Early Texas adventurer Noah Smithwick once visited with Gonzalians earlier in their colonization, and characterized the people this way, “…men talked hopefully of the future, children reveled in the novelty of the present, but the women, they bore the heaviest burden. Texas was a heaven for men and dogs, but a hell for women and oxen”.
The Cannon is Abandoned, but the Flag Flies On
After the Texan victory at Gonzales, the Old Eighteen and hundreds of volunteers stayed in Gonzales to train and drill; almost two weeks later, they marched to San Antonio with their little cannon, which they were forced to abandon as the traveling caisson had broken down. Enroute, they skirmished with and beat the Mexican Army three times, and eventually decided to blockade San Antonio as they were outnumbered four to one upon their arrival. After two months of blockade, the Texans attacked and forced the Mexican Army from San Antonio and back across the Rio Grande; the Texans followed the Mexicans to south Texas and beyond, leaving San Antonio undefended, setting the stage for the battle at The Alamo.
By January 1836, the Texans had control of San Antonio, and orders were given to blow up The Alamo; these orders were never carried out. Incredibly, by February 23, 1836, Santa Anna and 5,000 troops had marched hundreds of miles in winter (with little forage for men and beasts) to The Alamo to face off with the Texans. Commander William Travis sent out many messengers requesting assistance from colonies near and far. Only Gonzales answered his call, after messenger and native Gonzalian Albert Martin galloped home to find volunteers!
Known as the “Immortal Thirty-Two”, they fought their way through the Mexican lines to join their countrymen inside The Alamo; from Gonzales to The Alamo (about 72 miles), they carried the original Come and Take It Flag the entire way. They arrived at three a.m. on March 1, 1836, using the last days of February to walk and ride from Gonzales; 1836 was a leap year, and they used February 29 to hustle to their objective. They and 150 other Texans paid the ultimate price to strengthen the Texas Army and the Texas cause, ultimately leading to victory over Santa Anna at San Jacinto. They had the respect of all the known world.
Above: the cannon at the Gonzales Memorial Museum
The Cannon is Found—And Immortalized on Today's Flag
But what about the little cannon? Is the one we can see today in the Gonzales Memorial Museum authentic?! In 1936, after heavy rains soaked the Gonzales area, a man looking for flooding victims noticed what he thought was a pipe sticking out of Sandies Creek. It was the Come and Take It cannon—which had been buried in that spot for just over 100 years. Trying to drag it back to town, it was too heavy, and he left it by the road. Later, a postman brought it into the local Post Office where it sat until 1968. Not until 2000, after passing through four owners, was the cannon gifted to the museum upon the final owners’ death!
But how do we know that this is the ‘real’ Come and Take It cannon? Recall that the Old Eighteen removed the spike in the touch hole to fire the cannon; this hole grew too large during that removal. A local gunsmith filled in the original touch hole, and drilled a new touch hole about 30 degrees to the right. The cannon you can see today was authenticated this way.
A Legacy of Defiance
Now, as you think about the Come and Take It Flag, you may also be aware of another more ancient saying from 480 B.C. Legend has it that when the Persian army met the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae, the Persians insisted that the Spartans lay down their weapons. Spartan King Leonidas responded "Molon Labe!", meaning "Come and take them!" in classical Greek. Together, "Molon Labe" and "Come and Take It" have been slogans of defiance in use for at least 2,500 years!
How to Get Your Own Come and Take It Flag
That spirit of defiance and independence is alive today in the Come and Take It Flag by Beaver Flags, which is crafted in nylon for indoor and outdoor use and is made in America. Shop the Come and Take It Flag for yourself, and be sure to explore our other historical flag designs that make American history feel vivid and alive.
