{"id":813,"date":"2021-03-14T03:48:03","date_gmt":"2021-03-14T03:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/angelofgoliad.org\/?page_id=813"},"modified":"2021-03-14T03:48:13","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T03:48:13","slug":"the-battle-at-coleto-creek","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/angelofgoliad.org\/?page_id=813","title":{"rendered":"The Battle at Coleto Creek"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Battle at Coleto Creek<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Texas Revolution in March of 1836 and after the Alamo, there was the Battle of Coleto Creek. This confrontation happened between Victoria and Goliad, in a small town they now call Fannin, Texas. Colonel James Walker Fannin and his men were engaged in a fierce battle with Mexican General Jose Urrea, one of President Antonio de Santa Anna\u2019s best generals. Fannin\u2019s troops were overwhelmed and outnumbered and they knew it was a matter of time that they would all die just like the men at the Alamo. When General Urrea offered the white flag to Fannin to discuss a truce, Fannin thought of his injured men and he decided it was best to surrender. General Urrea\u2019s capitulation terms were simple. If they were to lay down their arms, they would be taken back to fort Presidio La Bahia in Goliad and a week later taken to Copano Bay. There, they would board a ship heading to New Orleans with a promise never to return to Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were approximately 340 prisoners at the fort and all were anxious to go back home. However, orders came down from President Santa Anna that the prisoners, who he considered Pirates, should suffer the consequences and should all be executed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Francisca Alvarez, a very religious 20-year-old Mexican governess working for General Urrea\u2019s wife and helping her with the children, was very upset with the president. She cursed him to no end, and then secretly begin to save as many of the young prisoners as she could. Some of the Mexican officers, who also objected to President Santa Anna\u2019s demands, helped her hide some of the prisoners. Two American doctors, Shackleford and Barnard, recognized her deeds and thus named her the Angel of Goliad. Unfortunately, General Urrea had moved on to Victoria and Colonel Portilla, commander of the fort, had to follow Santa Anna\u2019s orders or he too would be executed. On March 27th<\/sup>, 1836, on a Sunday morning, the men were marched out of the fort thinking they were on their way to freedom, but instead they were all massacred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year just outside Goliad, Texas at fort Presidio La Bahia, a reenactment recreates what happened at the Battle at Coleto creek and the massacre on March 27th<\/sup>, 1836 at Presidio La Bahia. Last year and this year\u2019s events were canceled because of the pandemic. However, the fort is always open, and everyone is invited to visit the museum, the grounds, and to get a glimpse of the statue of the Angel of Goliad. The statue stands between the fort and Fannin\u2019s monument, where he and all his men are buried. The statue of the Angel of Goliad seems to be pleading for the men who sacrificed their lives for Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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