On March 20, Colonel James Fannin and his Texan officers decided to surrender to General Urrea to prevent more deaths and thought that they would be treated fairly.
Many Texans believed they were prisoners of war and would be treated fairly by their captors. According to several Texan survivors Mexican officers said that the Texans would soon be released.
The poisoners stayed in the fort’s jail for a few days. Most of the prisoners waited for their release.
On March 26, 1836, 19:00, Santa Anna ordered Portilla to execute the prisoners. On March 27, most of the men were marched toward Victoria. The men thought they were going to the port of Copano to board a ship for the United States.
Colonel Portilla had the 303 Texans marched out of Fort Defiance into three columns on the Bexar Road, San Patricio Road, and the Victoria Road, between two rows of Mexican soldiers. The Mexican soldiers halted the Texans less than a mile from Goliad. There the Mexican escorts opened fire on the unarmed prisoners. The prisoners were shot point-blank, and any survivors were clubbed and knifed to death.
Some Mexican soldiers did not agree with Santa Anna’s decision and fired over the heads of the Texans, allowing them to escape into the nearby woods. More than 340 men died and about 230 others escaped in the confusion.
Goliard massacre on March 27, 1836
