Page "Goliad, Texas" Paragraph 8

On October 9, 1835, in the early days of the Texas Revolution, a group of Texans attacked the presidio in the Battle of Goliad.

The Mexican garrison quickly surrendered, leaving the Texans in control of the fort.

The first declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas was signed here on December 20, 1835.

Texans held the area until March 1836, when their garrison under Colonel James Fannin was defeated at the nearby Battle of Coleto.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, then President of Mexico, ordered that all survivors were to be executed.

On Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, in what was later called the Goliad Massacre, 303 were marched out of the fort to be executed, 39 were executed inside the presidio ( 20 prisoners were spared because they were either physicians or medical attendants ).

342 men were killed and 28 escaped.