3/27/1836: Infamy at Goliad

[Craig Tx]

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's Note:  What the TSHA (Texas State Historical Association) left out/did not thoroughly explain in this thumbnail is that the Texian officers (and this is debated by historians) thought they were surrendering under terms.  When the men were led out, in three separate groups was that they were being taken to the coast to be put on boats to be taken to New Orleans or transported to the Sabine River to be released in Louisiana.  Also, what is not told here is that approximately 28 men survived and escaped, approximately 20 were spared as doctors, interpreters and workers.  75 men of the Miller and Nashville Battalions were also spared.

[Winter Hawk]

Thanks for the added enlightenment, Craig!

~Kees~

[Craig Tx]

You're welcome!