Presidio La Bahia – Goliad, Texas

Walking along the stone walls of the Presidio La Bahia, I think about the early Texans who gave their lives for Texas Independence. I wonder if Colonel Fannin walked these same walls encouraging his men to be ready for battle.  Perhaps he stood where I step today. I wonder if these men waited for destiny to silently slip into the Presidio and engulf their souls. Would these brave men be accepting of what Texas has become today? 

For those who don’t remember or know, Colonel Fannin and his men captured the Presidio from the Mexicans. Then, General Sam Houston ordered Colonel Fannin to leave Goliad before the arrival of the Mexican Army. As they fled from Goliad, the Texas army was caught out in an open valley about two miles from the timbered Coleto Creek area. They bravely held the Mexican army off the first day, but after consulting with his officers Fannin decided to surrender under honorable terms.

Colonel Fannin and his men were marched back to Presidio La Bahia. They assumed they would be allowed to leave safely and return to the United States. Sadly, they were mistaken. A week later the healthy soldiers were marched out of the Presidio on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836 and massacred. The wounded soldiers along with the wounded Fannin were shot inside the Presidio. General Santa Anna reneged on the promises of the Mexican Army to the Texans. Along with “Remember the Alamo!”, “Remember Goliad!” became part of the now famous battle cry of the Texans as they routed Santa Anna and the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Now that you know some of the history of the Presidio La Bahia, you can appreciate the beauty of the architecture of the place. The Presidio complex has been restored to its original glamour. Our Lady of Loreto Chapel is the most outstanding of the stone structures. The first declaration of Texas Independence was signed inside the chapel. Relics and other historic items can be viewed inside the museum in the Officer’s Quarters.  While browsing the museum one can only imagine the resilience of its inhabitants and the difficulties they endured. 

The Presidio is the most embattled fort in Texas and deserves a visit from those interested in Texas history. As I stand on the wall of the fort and gaze at the end of the day with its firework display of colored sky, I relish the opportunity to view Texas Thru My Back Door!

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