The Goliad massacre
In 1836, the Texian army had two main garrisons, one at the Alamo, the other at the presidio. The Alamo fell March 6, 1836. Gen. Sam Houston ordered Col. James W. Fannin to abandon Goliad, but it was too late. The Mexican army captured the Texians after the Battle of Coleto Creek March 19-20 and bought them back to the Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía. Mexican Gen. José de Urrea ordered Col. José Nicolás de la Portilla to “treat the prisoners with consideration,” particularly Fannin, and “employ (the Texians) in rebuilding Goliad.” However, on March 26, Portilla received orders from Mexican president Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna, to execute the prisoners.
The next morning, March 27, was Palm Sunday. About 300 Texians, divided into three groups, were marched from the fort and shot at close range. The men who had been wounded in the battle, including Fannin, were taken into the courtyard in front of the chapel at the presidio and shot. Fannin was executed last. He was blindfolded and sat in a chair because of his leg wound. He asked to be shot in the heart, his possessions be given to his family and for a Christian burial. He was shot in the face, his possessions were taken and his body burned. Almost twice as many men died in the Goliad massacre than at the Alamo and at San Jacinto combined.
On April 21, 1836, the Texian army defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, under the rallying cries, “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” Like that, the Republic of Texas was established.
After the Goliad massacre, the presidio was abandoned and left in ruins until the 1960s, when local philanthropist Kathryn O’Connor donated $1 million to restore the site. From 196368, architect Raiford Stripling rebuilt the presidio to look as it had in 1836.