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| Interior walls of La Bahia |
The news that Sam Houston received was not what he had hoped to hear. Three battle weary men that were fortunate enough to escape from the Battle of Coleto Creek brought news that James Fannin had not heeded Houston’s advice.
Sam Houston, the General for the Texas army knew his orders were sound, after the fall of the Alamo, Houston had commanded Fannin to abandoned the fort in Goliad…it wasn’t a practical nor defensible location to take a stand. Houston knew the fort would be easy fodder for Santa Anna’s army. He gave orders to scuttle the cannons and blow up the fort in Goliad, the Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía.
Even with the knowledge the Alamo had fallen and Santa Anna’s army was on it’s way, Fannin procrastinated. It is impossible to know what the Lt. Colonel was thinking. His men told Houston of an aloof leader who was indecisive. Fannin would make orders to bury the weapons, blow up the fort, make ready for leaving, and then would change the orders. His men ended up burying the artillery and digging it up on several occasions before the final retreat, March 18, 1836.
When told Santa Anna’s army (led by General Urrea), camped only a few miles from the fort, were readying for march, Fannin finally made the order to retreat. Instead of packing food and water, the pack animals were laden with heavy artillery, weapons, and personal possessions.
Only having traveled a few miles, the heavily loaded animals quickly tired and needed rest. Just a mile from a densely wooded area bordering Coleto Creek, Fannin made the fatal decision of ordering the men to make camp. No food, no water, out in the open without any protection from trees, Fannin created a situation for easy pickin’s for Santa Anna’s men. Fannin ignored advice to continue for another mile to where there would be some protection at the forested creek.
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| Battle Site |
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| Names of the 350 |
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| Monument to Honor the Fallen |
Francesca Alavez, known as the Angel of Goliad, and two other women including Urrea’s wife, rescued twenty-eight men prior to the execution. A statue now sits next to the Presidio to honor this angel of mercy.
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| Angel of Goliad |
