Rita Kerr
The first battle of the Texas Revolution was fought in Gonzales in October 1835. The fight was between the Texans and Mexican soldiers over a small six-pound cannon. That brief encounter ignited the spark for the struggle for freedom. This led to the Battle for San Antonio and finally to the Siege of the Alamo. During the siege, Colonel William Travis issued an appeal for reinforcements and thirty-two gallant men of Gonzales rode to the Alamo in response to that plea. Fully aware of their peril, those heroes of Gonzales crossed the enemy lines and entered the Alamo on March 1, 1836. Included in the group were three sixteen-year-old boys: William King, John Gaston, and Galba Fuqua. In the days that followed they fought beside Davy Crockett, Almeron Dickinson, William Travis, and others. Finally, on March 6th, the Texans were overwhelmed by Santa Anna’s forces and died to the last man and boy defending the Alamo. Their self-sacrifice and valor are engraved forever in the pages of history. 3
