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The first
Constitutional Convention met at Washington on the Brazos on March
1st, 1836. Most of the delegates were under 40 years old, and all
had been elected for the express purpose of declaring the independence
of Texas from Mexico and forming a government for the new republic.
No one knew when they all might have to leave to fight the advancing
Mexican army.
On the opening day a "Norther" blew through and the temperature
inside the meeting hall--a wooden building with scraps of cloth
for windows and doors--was 33 degrees. Flying over the hall was
the flag designed and made by Sarah Dodson.
Recognized as the first "Lone Star" flag, she originally
created it for her husband Archelaus, a member of the Robinson company
of army volunteers formed in September, 1835, at Harrisburg, Texas.
After serving at Gonzales, this company marched under the Dodson
flag to San Antonio to lay seige to the Alamo.
Like practically all of the Texas volunteers, these men returned
to their homes after San Antonio had been taken from the Mexicans,
not realizing the strength of the Mexican reinforcements invading
Texas. After the Mexicans crushed the remaining forces at the Alamo
and massacred the Texans at Goliad, the Robinson company was assigned
to protect the retreating civilians. This exodus was known as the
"Runaway Scrape."
The refugees could hear the cannon fire of the battle of San Antonio,
and doubled their pace, fearing the worst. A courier on horseback
from Sam Houston caught up with the convoy, and the families of
Texans learned of their thrilling victory at San Antonio.
See the Flag
Size and Pricing Guide...
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