The Goliad Massacre

March 30-31, 2021

We are lucky to have perfect spring days to explore the area around Goliad. Wildflowers are blooming everywhere, but it's been overcast every day, and will for the remainder of our stay so it's not so great for photographing. It's not too crowded with other tourists. It would have been a different story last weekend during the annual celebration and reenactment remembering the historic events that have taken place here. Camping reservations were not to be had for that weekend. 

Texas history is complicated, involving the governments of  France and then Spain as they both attempted to control Mexico. A little of the history leading up to the events in this area is important in order to understanding their importance.

The area that was to become the state of Texas was far from the center of government control, Mexico City, and some of the Indian tribes in the area weren't especially partial to newcomers.  Raids were common, and the soldiers assigned to the presidios out in these wilds to protect the settlers weren't all that enthused about being sent to the remote area. The missions were established under the Spanish government and served to educate and convert the native populations and thus were critical to control of the area. The many presidios (forts) along the well traveled El Camino Real (King's Highway) were necessary for their protection, as well as the protection of settlers in the area. 

In 1821 Mexico obtained their independence from Spain and formed a constitution modeled after that of the United States, guaranteeing citizens many of the same individual rights.

In the early days (1824-35) European and American colonists settling in this area were quite content to be citizens of Mexico.  Then around 1830 the Mexican government began to levy additional taxes and rescinded promised rights to the colonists, in addition to preventing any further immigration of Anglos. 

One of the new demands was that colonists agree to join the Catholic church. Many of the colonists had immigrated from Europe, primarily to avoid the religious persecution there, so this demand, among others, lead to a great deal of hostility. In 1832 the colonists began to rebel, eventually electing Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna as president 1833, but by 1834 he decided the people needed a "firmer hand and began implementing increasingly harsh policies. 

"Come and take it!"

October 1835 saw one of the earliest skirmishes, in the area of Gonzales, which is directly north a few miles from Goliad and east of San Antonio. Mexican forces were sent to retrieve a small cannon that had been given to the settlement so they could protect themselves from marauding Indians. The settlers didn't take kindly to that, and the fight was on. 

Though a relatively minor skirmish, this is considered the first battle in the long struggle for Texas independence. It gave birth to one of the first and most well known flags of this Texas struggle. 

In early 1836 the siege and the final assault on the Alamo took place. It is the most celebrated military engagement in Texas history, in part because so many historically famous  personalities were involved. In early March, after thirteen days of battle,the number of dead numbered possibly as many as 257 men, Texians and Tejanos. All killed by Mexican forces under the leadership of Santa Anna. The cruelty shown by Santa Anna's and his troops during the battle inspired many Texians and Tejanos to join the Texian Army. 

Emboldened by his success at the Alamo, Santa Anna  then cast his focus to the northeast, La Bahia (the bay). Santa Anna (by this time also known as The Napoleon of the West) had grown quite impressed with his own military accomplishments and envisioned expanding his dictatorial domain. Control of the ports on the Gulf of Mexico would be valuable strategically. 

While the events at the Alamo unfolded, a young and not very experienced Colonel James Fannin had been directed to defend presidio La Bahia, which he had renamed Fort Defiance. Fannin was instructed by Sam Houston to leave the fort and take his men east, to Victoria, closer to the gulf. He was certain reinforcements would arrive, so he delayed his departure. 

Word of the outcome of Texian forces at the Alamo had reached the men in Goliad who were protecting Fort Defiance (the Presidio La Bahia). Under the leadership of Colonel James Fannin these men had be expecting reinforcement from other rebels in the area, but that support never arrived. Ordered to abandon their defense of the fort, on March 19, the men abandoned the fort and started east, toward Victoria.

Fannin's forces made slow progress. About six miles from the fort, on Santa Anna's orders, General Urrea advanced and surrounded 300 men of the Texian Army on the open prairie, near La Bahia (Goliad).  

This engagement is known as the Battle of Coleto. 

Led to believe that they would be paroled and released into the United States, they were returned to the fort at Goliad, the same fort they had just abandoned. It would now be their prison. The captives were told they would be treated well, so they marched willingly to Fort Defiance (La Bahia).

The 14 acre Fannen Battelground has been designated a State Historic Site. Marked by an obelisk, it commemorates the Battle of Coleto Creek and the sacrifice of the men who died there. 

The location, marked by a granite obelisk, includes an interpretive exhibit, group pavilion, playground, and picnic area. 

The interpretive exhibit is housed in the a building created by enclosing the bandstand, which was built in 1923. The work to convert it to the interpretive center was just completed in 2019. It contains maps of the battle and other items and information specific to this site. 

Off to one side of the entrance road stands a large iron screw from a cotton gin. In 1894, Solomon Parks, Sr., a Goliad resident, used the large screw to mark the location identified by a pile of rocks years before by a survivor of the battle, William L. Hunter.

This particular battle, and the aftermath at Goliad, cemented the will of Texians and Tejanos to reject the oppressive Mexican government under the rule of Santa Ana.

The Goliad Massacre 

Unfortunately for the men held at La Bahia a decree that Santa Anna pressed the Mexican Congress to pass (December 30, 1835), required that armed foreigners taken in combat were to be treated as pirates and executed. 

At sunrise on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, the unwounded Texans were formed into three groups under heavy guard. The men were divided into three groups, told they were going out to gather firewood, and other "stories", then after arriving at a distance of about a mile from the fort they were summarily executed at close range. Out of 342 men 28 ran into the woods and escaped the firing squads, another 20 more were saved because they were doctors or orderlies. Fannin and a few others were held at the fort and executed there. Some of the escapees were later caught and executed.

After the executions the bodies were burned, the remains left exposed to weather, vultures, and coyotes. 

This situation was rectified on June 3, 1836, when Gen. Thomas J. Rusk, who had established his headquarters at Victoria after the battle of  San Jacinto, gathered the remains and buried them with military honors. Some of the survivors attended the ceremony. 

These remains lie under the mound that supports a  granite monument marking the site of the executions. The names of those who were killed by Santa Anna's troops are inscribed on the wall at the base of the monument.

While these men were held at the fort  as prisoners a mysterious Mexican woman began appearing in the prison, offering aid  to suffering Texian soldiers. 

Her name was Francisca Alvarez  but she would be remembered best as the “Angel of Goliad”. 

In this photo you can see the Fannin memorial behind and to the left. She is facing the presidio, just as she stood between those in authority and the prisoners so many years ago. 

In March 2004, the descendants of Mrs. Alvarez gathered to dedicate this statue in honor of her remarkable courage and compassion, and to memorialize her unique place in Texas history. The bricks on the path beneath the bronze statue bear imprints of the family members' names. A plaque nearby tells her story in more detail.

The outcome of Battle of Goliad, coming so shortly after the fall of the Alamo, cemented the determination to fight for independence in the minds of Texians and Tejanos alike. Against overwhelming odds and cruel punishments of the ruling government, in the minds of not only Americans but citizens of other countries, the price was worth it if they could succeed. 

Though it is not often repeated in full anymore, the full quotation shouted by freedom fighters for years after was "Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad". 

The many flags that have flown over Texas provide a quick visual of the path traveled by the Texians seeking independence from Mexico. 

Seen here below the current Texas state flag, the Goliad or "Dimmitt flag", is known as the first flag of Texas Independence. It was designed and made by the Goliad garrison commander, Capt. Philip Dimmitt. Dimmitt. He was originally against the idea of independence, but when Santa Ana abolished the Mexico Constitution and began his rampages against the settlers he changed his mind. 

The flag design expresses the idea that "I would rather cut off my right arm, than live under tyranny." The  backstory to this and all the other flags that have flown over Texas is nicely summarized at the website for the Texas Flags Park, which is in Conroe, Texas. This one is unique in design compared to the others and may have been inspired by similar "severed arm" designs used by Irish rebels in their struggles against the British. 

An informative sign in front of the presidio La Bahia illustrates many of the "official" flags that were flown over Texas both before and during the fight for independence.

The slaughter of so many Texians and Tejanos at Goliad fired the determination of the men fighting at the Battle of San Jacinto which took place only a short time after Goliad. Victory there was the turning point for Texas. We'll be visiting that battleground on another trip. For now, we'll continue exploring the other sites around Goliad. More tomorrow!