Battle of Goliad

Texas History- Chapter 11 Lesson 3

Defeat in South Texas

Multiple Choice

What was the battle cry after the defeat at the Alamo?

• "The Alamo Strikes Back!"

• "Long Live the Alamo!"

• "Remember the Alamo!"

Texan Forces Are Defeated

-Santa Anna had already divided his army into two parts .

-While he marched towards San Antonio, he sent General Jose de Urrea with about 1,000 troops from south Texas at Matamoros up the coast towards the Texan occupied La Bahia Presidio in Goliad.

Urrea Drives Northward

• The Texan troops first encountered Urrea while the ad interim government argued over whether to attack Matamoros. Frank W. Johnson and Dr. James Grant were sent to carry out this deed.

• They were not with Colonel James Fannin, the commander of Texas troops at Goliad, and had soldiers around San Patricio.

• On February 27, 1836, Urrea attacked and defeated Johnson's army, where only Johnson and four others escaped.

• Three days later Dr. Grand and 30 more soldiers were defeated at Agua Dulce Creek.

​Urrea's Continued Advance

• At is at this point, Urrea continues moving north. Along the way, citizens begin to feel threatened and ask Fannin for help.

• Fannin sent Texan Captain Amon B. King and a small group of soldiers to bring the civilians to Goliad for safety.

• On their way, they ran into some of Urrea's troops so they took refuge in the mission of Senora del Refugio, where they again asked Fannin for more troops.

• When King was sent to rescue the civilians, Fannin had disobeyed Sam Houston to NOT divide his forces.

• Fannin then made the situation worse and making another poor decision by sending Colonel William Ward and more Texans to relieve King.

• While there, King and most of his men were killed. Ward and some others escaped back to Goliad, but lost many.

Multiple Choice

In what way did Fannin disobey the orders of Sam Houston?

• Fannin divided his forces at various times in South Texas.

• Fannin did not immediately surrender at Coleto Creek.

• Fannin withdrew from Goliad immediately rather than waiting.

• Fannin refused to attempt to rescue civilians.

The Battle of Coleto

• Fannin asked the government if they could withdraw from Goliad, but were ordered not to.

• After the Alamo, the situation had altered. Fannin and his troops were much farther west than all the others, leaving them vulnerable and separated.

• As if being separated wasn't enough, they were also very short on supplies.

• Fannin received orders from Houston to retreat from the area, but he didn't right away. He was waiting on Ward and King, but left several days later.

• Fannin was ordered to dump the heavy cannons in the river, but did not manage the situation well. This caused his wagons to breakdown. By March 19, he allowed his soldiers to rest and eat, which also became a very poor decision.

Multiple Choice

Fannin's leadership was poor.

• True

• False

Surrounded at Coletto

• In an open prairie instead of sheltered by woods near Coletto Creek, they were approached by Urrea's troops.

• Fannin was able to create a square with the soldiers and fight back against Urrea's troops. Urrea attacked three times, but luckily, Fannin was able to hold them back. Seven were killed and 60 wounded.

• The troops were short on water and unable to care for their wounds.

• Shortages on water kept them from cooling canons, making them less effective. In addition, rain and a norther made weather another factor and reinforcements did not arrive.

• Urrea did receive reinforcements and a canon, which was fired at the Texans on March 20th. Upon seeing this, Fannin decided to surrender as their was no point in continuing to fight and lose men, so he signed an agreement.

The Goliad Massacre

• Fannin expected to be treated fairly as prisovers of war, however, Santa Anna had ordered that no rebels should live.

• The prisoners were taken to Goliad. Urrea sent word back to Santa Anna, asking that the prisoner's lives be spared. Santa Anna ordered immediate execution, saying that under Mexican law, the punishment for rebellion was death.

• Urrea readily followed orders although he respected Texan forces, understanding that following orders was a “cruel necessity”.

• On March 27, 1836, the group was brought to the prairie, thinking they would be used for work detail.

• Instead, the Mexican troops opened fire on the prisoners. Nearly all were killed, which is thought to total about 340 Texans. Only 28 men managed to escape that day.

• General Jose de Urrea

"Nothing could be more painful to me than the idea of sacrifising so many gallant men, and particularly the [friendly], spirited, and soldier-like Fannin. They certainly surrendered in the full confidence that Mexican generosity would not be [cold] in their regard..."

Multiple Choice

What did Santa Anna order Urrea to do with the prisoners taken at Coletto Creek?

• execute them

• use them for farm labor

• release them

• use them for ransom

"Goliad Massacre"

• Other Mexicans also disagreed with Santa Anna's decision. Some soldiers even aimed over the heads of the Texans allowing them to escape.

• Señora Francita Alavez, a wife of a Mexican officer, even helped several Texans avoid execution by ugin that doctors and others be spared.

• Survivors called her the “Angel of Goliad.”

Multiple Choice

What did Señora Francita Alavez help do?

• cook for the prisoners

• help prisoners escape

• fight against Mexican officals

• protect the wounded

Rallying Around the Alamo and Goliad

• Santa Anna accomplished two important victories, the Alamo and Goliad, and take control of roadways in the area.

• The Texans saw it differently, seeing the Alamo as inspiring and Goliad outraged them, but the Texans still wanted to fight.

• Sam Houston learned a valuable lesson- Texan troops could not be separated and the Texan forces needed to cooperate. and become more unified.

• News spread rapidly of the two Texan defeats. Now, the new rally cries for the Texans were “Remember Goliad” and “Remember the Alamo."

Multiple Choice

The battles at the Alamo and massacre at Goliad discouraged the Texans.

• True

• False

***Points to Remember***

-James Fannin was the commander of Texas troops at Goliad.

-José de Urrea was the Mexican general in South Texas.

-Frank W. Johnson was the Texan sent to attack Matamoros.

-Amon B. King was the Texan sent from Goliad

-Fannin disobeyed the orders of Sam Houston by dividing his forces at various times in South Texas.

-Due to the fall of the Alamo to Santa Anna, Texas troops in the area became isolated and were short on supplies.

- The first encounters between Urrea’s troops and Texan forces indicated the leadership of the Texan forces in South Texas was marked by very poor decisions.

-Most captives taken by Urrea to Goliad were killed, even though Urrea respected the Texan forces.

-Francita Alavez was a Mexican woman who helped save some Texans from execution.

-Sam Houston learned from the experience that the Texan forces needed to be more unified.