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N0KFQ > TODAY 27.03.16 16:49l 71 Lines 3119 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 88774_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Mar 27
Path: IW8PGT<HB9CSR<IK2XDE<IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 160327/1445Z 88774@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
1836
Mexicans execute defenders of Goliad
In a disastrous setback for the Texans resisting Santa Anna's
dictatorial regime, the Mexican army defeats and executes 417
Texas revolutionaries at Goliad.
Long accustomed to enjoying considerable autonomy from their
Mexican rulers, many Anglo Texan settlers reacted with alarm when
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna proclaimed himself dictator of Mexico
in 1835. Santa Anna immediately imposed martial law and attempted
to disarm the Texans. Yet, this move merely fed the flames of
Texan resistance.
In November 1853, Texan leaders proclaimed their resistance to
Santa Anna's dictatorship, though they stopped short of calling
for independence. The next month, the Texans managed to defeat
800 Mexican soldiers stationed in San Antonio. However, the rebel
leaders remained deeply divided over what to do next, making them
vulnerable to Santa Anna's ruthless determination to suppress
dissension.
While the Texas rebels dallied, Santa Anna moved decisively. In
mid-February he led a massive Mexican army across the Rio Grande,
and after a 13-day siege of the Alamo, crushed the rebels in San
Antonio. Meanwhile, to the south, Santa Ann's chief lieutenant,
General Urrea, moved to destroy another faction of the rebel army
attempting to defend the town of Goliad.
Disagreements among the Texans had led to a division of the rebel
forces. James W. Fannin was left with only slightly more than 300
Texans to protect Goliad, a position the rebels needed in order
to maintain their supply routes to the Gulf Coast. As Urrea's
much larger 1400-man army approached, Fannin acted with
indecision, wondering if he should go to the aid of the besieged
men at the Alamo.
Belatedly, Fannin attempted to fall back from the approaching
Mexican army, but his retreat order came too late. On March 19,
Urrea surrounded the small column of rebel soldiers on an open
prairie, where they were trapped without food, water, or cover.
After repulsing one Mexican assault, Fannin realized there was no
chance of escape. Rather than see his force annihilated, Fannin
surrendered.
Apparently, some among the Texans who surrendered believed they
would be treated as prisoners of war. Santa Anna, however, had
clearly stated several months before that he considered the
rebels to be traitors who would be given no quarter. In obedience
to Santa Anna's orders, on this day in 1836 Urrea ordered his men
to open fire on Fannin and his soldiers, along with about 100
other captured Texans. More than 400 men were executed that day
at Goliad.
Ironically, rather than serving to crush the Texas rebellion, the
Goliad Massacre helped inspire and unify the Texans. Now
determined to break completely from Mexico, the Texas
revolutionaries began to yell "Remember Goliad!" along with the
more famous battle cry, "Remember the Alamo!" Less than a month
later, Texan forces under General Sam Houston dealt a stunning
blow to Santa Anna's army in the Battle of San Jacinto, and Texas
won its independence.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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