Goliad Executions

[Craig Tx]

From the Texas State Historical Association

Infamy at Goliad

On this day in 1836, which happened to be Palm Sunday, at least 342 Texans were executed by firing squad at Goliad. The Texans considered these men prisoners of war, whereas General Santa Anna thought them "perfidious foreigners." The Mexican dictator had decreed that all Texans in arms against the Mexican government were to be treated as traitors, not soldiers. The men were led out of town and shot at point- blank range. Those not killed by the first volley were hunted down and killed by gunfire, bayonet, or lance. The bodies were left unburied. The incident, which became known among Anglo-Texans as the Goliad Massacre, joined the Alamo as a rallying cry for Texas independence.




Craig

[greyhunter]

Hard times in which to be a Texan!

[Craig Tx]

For sure!

With the Goliad executions comin' so soon after the storming of the Alamo there was a general retreat/panic known as the Runaway Scrape.  Both Sam Houston's untrained army and fleeing civilians clogged the roads goin' to the east.

The Scrape pretty much lasted until the Texian victory at San Jacinto.

Craig

[Gambia]

I'm reading the book "Slaughter at Goliad" by Jay Stout right now.  Fascinating book so far, and it details Santa Anna who was a ruthless but clever politician and dictator who switched sides numerous times within his own government prior to the Texican uprising.  The Texas leadership in many respects suffered from stupidity in experience; it's a wonder how they managed to win the war.   Published by Naval Institute press.