City Council Ordinances and the Battle of Plum Creek

On February 5th, by act of the Republic of Texas a new Charter was issued to Victoria, Gonzales and Goliad in lieu of the San Antonio Charter, under which they had previously been chartered. March 21, City Council passed new ordinances: Rioting declared a pest. Running or galloping a riding animal through the Inner Town punishable by a $5 fine. A $10 fine for discharging a fire arm in the Inner Town or between the Town and the river. A fine for cutting or injuring any shade tree not on his property. A $10 fine for any retailer of spirits who was open after ten o’clock or for any merchant who did not close his business on Sunday (except for medicines or drugs). A $10 fine for mutilating or removing public notices within the limits of the corporation. In October, City Council ordered that rocks, stones, and dirt in the public domain be reserved for the “use of the citizens forever”. City Council ordained that width of sidewalks in town of Gonzales be six feet wide and that pecan trees over eight inches in diameter be reserved for use of the town. Comanche Indians raided the area from plains to Linnville and Victoria. Many Gonzales men participated in Battle of Plum Creek, August 12, to drive the Comanches out of the area; 200 Texans defeated 1000 Comanches.