Goliard massacre on March 27, 1836

It was an execution of Republic of Texas soldiers and their commander, James Fannin, by Mexico, reluctantly carried out by General Jose de Urrea.

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

Battle of Coleto (March 19–20, 1836)

Goliad was a town about 90 miles from San Antonino where about Col. James Fannin was in command of over 300 Texan troops.

On March 14 Fannin received an order from General Houston to withdraw to Victoria. Instead of acting immediately, Fannin waited for his troops to return from Refugio, not knowing that they had already been defeated. Fannin was indecisive and waited too long before beginning the march to Victoria.

Fannin began a slow retreat with many wagons, carts, etc. The carts were heavily loaded, the hungry oxen were tired and unruly, and progress was slow.

On March 18 Urrea’s advance force met Fannin and his troops in a series of brief fights. On March 19, while Fannin and his men rested in a field near Coleto Creek, General José de Urrea’s troops surrounded them.

Fannin assembled his 300 troops in a square and three times drove back the Mexican army of 450 to 600 men. The Mexican soldiers had the advantage of fighting from the cover of the woods surrounding the prairie.

With no choice but battle, Fannin chose to stand and fight near Coleto Creek. In the Battle of Coleto, the Texas rebels were pinned down without cover. The next morning, Mexican reinforcements arrived, giving Urrea several hundred more troops.

On March 20, Fannin and his officers decided to surrender to General Urrea. Captives were marched to Goliad, and Urrea told them they were not going to be killed, but Santa Anna ordered the captives to all be shot on March 21. The tragedy became known as the Goliad Massacre.
Battle of Coleto (March 19–20, 1836)

Battle of San Jacinto

On Dec. 10, 1835 General Cos and about 1,200 troops surrendered the Alamo to a volunteer Texan Army of fewer than 400 after a fierce battle for the city.

After the Siege of Bexar, General Cos agrees to leave Texas with all the Mexican army. They also agree to never fight in Texas again.

In February of 1836, General Santa Anna led a force of about 6,000 Mexican troops into what is now Texas to put down the insurrection. He first entered San Antonio de Béxar and, after a 13-day siege, defeated and slaughtered a Texan force on March 6, 1836 at the Alamo.

After the long eastward retreat from the Mexican Army, known as the “Runaway Scrape,” the Texan Army, under the leadership of General Sam Houston, turned south and crossed the bayous near Vince’s Bridge on April 19, 1836.

They camped in a grove of live oak trees, obscuring the army from view. There the Texians readied themselves for battle and waited for the Mexican army to arrive.

On the afternoon of April 20, a skirmish developed between the Mexican army and the Texan cavalry. The major part of the battle took place on the afternoon of April 21. At first, Houston’s troops of about 800 outnumbered Santa Anna’s army.

On the morning of April 21, 1836, Mexican General Cos arrived on the battlefield with reinforcements for Santa Anna’s army swelling his ranks to more than 1,300 soldiers.

Houston ordered Deaf Smith to burn Vince’s Bridge, which would prevent the Mexican army from retreating. At about 3:00 P.M. as the Mexican army rested for the battle, they expected to occur the next morning, Houston arranged his men on the field.

They marched to the beat of a drummer and three fifers playing “Will You Come to the Bower?” They struck the right flank, or side, of the Mexican army, pushing the troops back into each other all down the line.

Sherman’s soldiers struck first blood from the Mexican army, catching General Cos’ troops asleep or eating in their encampment. Sherman’s Second Regiment quickly overran those troops, who retreated with many of Col. Juan Almonte’s soldiers into the trees and marshes to their rear, along Peggy’s Lake. Sherman’s troops broke the right flank of the Mexican camp, creating disorder.

Caught unprepared for an attack, the Mexican leaders scrambled in confusion. The battle lasted about 18 minutes, but the Texans continued to capture scattered Mexican troops until dark. In the end, the Texans suffered two deaths and 30 wounded, seven of whom died later. About 630 of the Mexican soldiers were killed and 730 captured.

Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, was captured the following day and held as a prisoner of war. General Cos and Santa Anna’s personal secretary, Ramón Caro, were captured over the next two days and were also brought back to the Texian camp as prisoners.

Three weeks later, General Santa Anna signed the peace treaty that dictated that the Mexican army leave the region, acknowledging his own defeat and the successful independence of Texas.
Battle of San Jacinto