The Goliad Massacre, Palm Sunday, 27 March 1836

As a boy in Sinton, I studied Texas history in school and heard stories of the Goliad Massacre. No doubt I passed through Goliad on various trips, but I never stopped to tour the town or its historical sites until last Thursday when I was returning to Fulton from San Antonio. I had escorted Johnathan to the airport for his flight back home to California. Rather than drive the freeway (I-37), I decided to visit Goliad, some 90 miles southeast, and nose around.

Pictured below is the memorial which marks the mass grave where the remains of ~376 Texas men were buried about two months after their bodies had been burned by the Mexican army. Here's what I've learned about how that happened.



At the Presidio La Bahia on the San Antonio River, just south of Goliad in early 1836, Lt. Col. James Walker Fannin, Jr. commanded a force of almost 400 men. From the Alamo came the urgent appeal from Lt. Col. William Barret Travis for reinforcements before the impending battle with Santa Anna, president of Mexico and commander of the Mexican army. Fannin started the journey but difficulties forced him to return. On 6 March, the Alamo fell and Travis and all his men died under the banner, "Liberty or Death."

On 13 March, Fannin received orders from General Sam Houston to retreat to Victoria. His forces departed on 19 March and that afternoon were attacked by part of the Mexican army (~1200 soldiers) at the Battle of Coleto Creek. Badly outnumbered, cut off from water and supplies, and with many wounded, Fannin negotiated a treaty and surrended the next day. The prisoners were returned to the presidio. On 26 March, orders came from Santa Anna to execute them all as pirates and burn the bodies, and on Palm Sunday, 27 March, it happened.

The men were separated into groups and marched down three different roads. It is said that the Texans thought they were going to get provisions. Then the Mexican soldiers suddenly opened fire and killed most of them on the first shot. Any still living were clubbed, lanced, knifed, or bayoneted to death. Twenty-eight escaped by feigning death and other means. I have seen estimates ranging from 342 to 376 killed.

Fannin was the last to be executed, inside the presidio itself at the courtyard in front of the chapel, along with the wounded. Medical staff and mechanics were spared because they would be useful to the Mexican army. Trenches were dug, and the bodies were piled high and burned.

On 3 June, General Thomas J. Rusk and his troops found the ghastly remains and conducted a proper military funeral, with a general parade, firings, and an eloquent address. "...their murderers sank in death on the prairies of San Jacinto, under the appalling words, "Remember La Bahia," said Gen. Rusk. "...Santa Anna, the mock hero, the black-hearted murderer, is within our grasp [having lost the Battle of Jacinto near today's city of Houston]. Yea, and there he must remain, tortured with the keen pain of corroding conscience. He must oft remember La Bahia, and while the names of those whom he murdered shall soar to the highest pinnacle of fame, his shall sink down into the lowest depths of infamy and disgrace."

Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember La Bahia!

Key Allegro and Fulton Harbor

Our ramblings on our first day grandchildless in Fulton!

First, the area of Key Allegro is less than a mile away and boasts huge waterfront homes as well as more modest ones.

How about this for your street?

The marina on Key Allegro.

Closer to home, here are a couple of shots taken from one of the piers across the street from where we are staying.

A Day on Padre Island

Padre Island day was fabulous! We rode a car ferry, shopped, picnicked, swam, gathered shells, fed the gulls and watched the pelicans dive for fish. The water was as warm as I've ever found anywhere. We are hoping to spend another day in this sunny spot before we head home to cold, wet Seattle.

Aransas Wildlife Refuge

Our second trip to Aransas Wildlife Refuge was a smashing success! Last time we saw a wide variety of birds, but not much else. This time we saw heron, egrets, deer and several enormous alligators! One of the alligators was "playing" with a large carcass about the size of a deer, batting it around and tossing it in the air. The alligators were the thrill of the day since there was nothing between us and them except their well-worn paths. We snapped some pictures and then pretty much high-tailed it out of there!

Sunrise from the Lanai

Glenn captured the spectacular sunrise this morning!

Back in Fulton Harbor

Back in Fulton Harbor after two years. We fell in love with the area in 2008 and here we are soaking it all in again. Here are some scenes of the inn and the marina across the street.

Camera Fun at the San Antonio Zoo

In spite of visiting this zoo along with at least half of the population of San Antonio yesterday and getting a parking ticket that cost more than the admission to the zoo, we had a WONDERFUL day!

Five Bells, Five Missions

Along the River Walk in downtown San Antonio, is this lovely enclave--five bells for the five original missions in San Antonio.

Buckhorn Saloon & Texas Rangers Museum

A few pictures of the fabulous Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. In addition to the very lively and busy saloon, there were two floors of stuffed wildlife, life-size historic scenes, wax figures and other curiosities!

Remember the Alamo

Before we visited the Alamo, we saw a movie made 22 years ago and still said to be the most accurate portrayal of the battle of the Alamo. It was on the giant iMax screen, so larger than life, but also, superbly represented and deeply moving. We walked out of the theater just a few short blocks away onto the grounds of the Alamo compound and into the chapel, the only surviving original building. It was an amazing experience to be in that exact spot where the battle took place.

Nancy's distant cousin, Patrick Henry Herndon, is listed among the defenders who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

We caught the tail end of a re-enactment with volunteer participants from the crowd!

San Fernando Cathedral

San Fernando has marked the spiritual and civic center of San Antonio since its founding in 1731 according to the official Pocket Guide to San Antonio and the placque at the Cathedral entrance. It was the first place of worship for Texans and was visited by Pope John Paul II in the late 1980s. It is open to tourists and during the half hour or so we spent in the Cathedral, we saw people of all ages come in to quietly take in the beauty, read the many memorials, and stop for a moment of prayer. Be sure to click on the "Comments" below for Glenn's additions to this post.