The Battle of Gonzales, which took place on October 2, 1835, lasted for only about 30 minutes. It was a brief but significant skirmish between the Texian settlers and the Mexican military forces.
The conflict began when the Mexican government sent soldiers to retrieve a cannon that had been given to the settlers for defense against Native American attacks. The Texians, feeling a strong sense of ownership of the cannon and determined to resist what they perceived as oppression, refused to return it. This initiated a confrontation that quickly escalated into a skirmish.
Despite its short duration, the Battle of Gonzales is often considered the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. This battle served as a rallying point for Texian volunteers and marked the beginning of a larger conflict for Texian independence from Mexico.