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10 Grandeur of Gonzales THE ORIGINAL INNER TOWN OF GONZALES The original inner town of Gonzales was laid out in forty- nine blocks. Each block was 120 x 120 varas and contained six lots. Each lot was 40 x 60 varas. The outer town was laid out in Ranges and Tiers. Each Range and Tier was divided into 400 x 156 vara lots (1 vara = 33.33 inches). The shaded blocks represent the seven squares. 1 - Jail Square - Now Confederate Square 2 - Market Square 3 - Municipal Square (Later Plaza Square – Now Texas Heroes Square) 4 - Central Square 5 - Church Square 6 - Cemetery Square 7 - Military Square 1832-1835 - Difficulties and misunderstandings between the Texas colonies and the Mexican military government grew more intense. 1835 - In September, to ensure that they maintained the upper hand over the settlers, Mexican officials sent a corporal and a squad of soldiers to request the return of the cannon. Alcalde Andrew Ponton refused the request. In response, outraged Mexican officials sent 100 Mexican dragoons to demand the weapon. On September 29, 1835, Lt. Castaneda and his mounted dragoons arrived at the ferry crossing on the banks of the Guadalupe River. At the time, there were only eighteen men in the colony. These men, forevermore known as "The Old Eighteen," delayed the dragoons, claiming that Alcalde Andrew Ponton was away and no decision could be made until he returned. They buried the cannon in George Davis' peach orchard and secured the ferry to the east side of the river thus preventing Lt. Castaneda and his troops from crossing. For the next two days, while the Mexican troops searched for a suitable river crossing, word of the Mexican demands spread through the colony and men began to assemble in preparation for the inevitable. Sarah DeWitt, wife of the Empresario, and her daughters designed and made the first flag of the Texas army from a silk wedding dress belonging to Mrs. DeWitt's daughter, Naomi. The flag was solid white with a black cannon in its center symbolizing the cannon held by the Texans. Across the length of the flag were the words: "COME AND TAKE IT."

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