Battle of Goliad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Goliad |
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| Part of the Texas Revolution | |||||||
 Benjamin Milam leads the Texian soldiers fighting in the Battle of Goliad |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Texian Rebels | Centralist Republic of Mexico | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| James Fannin Philip Dimmitt John Lin George Collinsworth Benjamin Milam |
Juan López Sandoval  Martín Perfecto de Cos |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 125 militia | 50 infantry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 wounded | 1–3 killed 3–7 wounded |
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The Battle of Goliad was an important fight during the Texas Revolution. It happened in the early morning of October 10, 1835. Texas settlers attacked Mexican soldiers at Presidio La Bahía. This fort was near the town of Goliad in what was then Mexican Texas. The battle was the second major clash of the revolution.
La Bahía was a key location. It was halfway between the main Mexican army base in San Antonio de Béxar and the important port of Copano. Winning this battle helped the Texians gain control of valuable supplies and a strategic position.
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Contents
Why the Battle Happened
In 1835, Mexico had two main military bases in its Texas territory. One was the Alamo in San Antonio de Béxar. The other was Presidio La Bahía near Goliad. San Antonio was the political center. Goliad was important for moving supplies. Most military goods and soldiers came by sea to Copano Bay. From there, they traveled overland to Texas towns.
Mexico's government was changing. It moved from a system where states had more power (federalism) to one where the central government had more control (centralism). Texas colonists were worried about these changes. They started forming groups to share information and plan actions.
Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna sent more troops to Texas. He wanted to stop the growing unrest. His brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos, arrived in Texas with about 500 soldiers. Cos landed at Copano Bay on September 20, 1835. He left small groups of soldiers at Copano and nearby Refugio. The main group of soldiers reached Goliad on October 2.
Some Texians, like James Fannin and Philip Dimmitt, wanted to capture General Cos. They thought this would help their cause. However, a central committee decided not to attack Goliad at first. They worried they didn't have enough cannons.
Soon, Texian attention shifted to Gonzales. There, a small group of Texians refused to follow Mexican orders. This led to the Battle of Gonzales on October 2. This battle officially started the Texas Revolution. After the Texians won at Gonzales, General Cos quickly moved his main forces to San Antonio de Béxar. He left most of his supplies behind at La Bahía.
Getting Ready for Battle
On October 6, Texian militia members met in Matagorda. They chose George Collinsworth as their captain. The men decided to march to La Bahía. Their goal was to capture Cos and any money he might have. They sent messages to other towns for help. About 50 Texians started marching from Matagorda that afternoon.
The next day, the group stopped in Victoria. More English-speaking settlers joined them. Also, 30 Tejanos (Texans of Mexican heritage) led by Plácido Benavides joined the force. Historians believe the Texian group grew to about 125 men. These men signed a pledge. They promised loyalty to the Mexican federal government and not to harm those who supported it.
A merchant named Philip Dimmitt learned that General Cos and his money had already left La Bahía for San Antonio. But the Texians were not discouraged. They continued their march on October 9. The first group, led by Ira Ingram, stopped about one mile outside Goliad.
The exact events that followed are a bit unclear. Some accounts suggest Texians tried to trick the Mexican officers into leaving the fort. However, Texian records do not mention this. Several Texians, including Dimmitt, went into Goliad that evening. They looked for guides and support. They found some Tejanos living near Goliad who joined them. These locals reported that Colonel Juan López Sandoval commanded only 50 men. This was too few to defend the entire fort. They also gave directions to the fort.
The main Texian group, led by Collinsworth, got lost in the dark. They wandered into a thicket of mesquite trees. While trying to find their way, they met Ben Milam. Milam was a Texas colonist who had recently escaped from prison. He joined the militia. Soon, the groups reunited.
The Battle Itself
As the Texian forces got ready, they sent a message to the town leader, the alcalde. They asked him to surrender the town. At 11 p.m., the alcalde replied that the town would stay neutral. It would neither surrender nor fight. However, some local people did give axes to the Texian militia.
The Texians split into four groups. Each group approached the fort from a different direction. In the hours before dawn on October 10, the Texians attacked. A lone guard raised the alarm but was quickly shot. The Texians used axes to break through a door on the north wall of the fort. They rushed into the inner courtyard. Hearing the noise, the Mexican soldiers took positions on the walls to defend the fort.
The Mexican soldiers opened fire. Samuel McCulloch Jr., a freed former slave fighting with the Texians, was shot in the shoulder. The Texians fired back for about 30 minutes. During a break in the fighting, a Texian spokesman shouted a warning. He said they would "massacre everyone of you, unless you come out immediately and surrender." The Mexican soldiers quickly surrendered.
What Happened After
Samuel McCulloch Jr. was the only Texian wounded. He later said he was the first person to shed blood for Texas independence. This was a big deal. Later, a law in the Republic of Texas said no freed slave could live there. But in 1840, the Texas legislature made a special exception for McCulloch, his family, and his descendants. This was a reward for his service and injury.
Between one and three Mexican soldiers were killed. Three to seven were wounded. About 20 soldiers escaped. They warned the Mexican bases at Copano and Refugio. Those soldiers then left their posts and joined forces at Fort Lipantitlán.
Milam took the captured Mexican soldiers to Gonzales. This was where the new Texian Army was forming. The Texian Army commander, Stephen F. Austin, later released all the Mexican soldiers. They had to promise to leave Texas and stop fighting Texas residents. One wounded Mexican soldier stayed in Goliad. Captain Manuel Sabriego also stayed because he was married to a local woman. Secretly, Sabriego began organizing people in Goliad who supported Mexico.
Texian troops took all the supplies they found at the fort. They found 300 muskets, but most were broken. Two gunsmiths were hired to fix the usable weapons. The food, clothing, blankets, and other supplies were worth about $10,000. The new supply officer, John J. Linn, reported finding 175 barrels of flour. There was also a lot of sugar, coffee, whiskey, and rum. These supplies fed the Texian Army for the next three months. The Texians also captured several cannons.
Over the next few days, more Texian settlers joined the group at La Bahía. Many came from Refugio. Austin ordered 100 men to stay at Goliad under Dimmitt's command. The rest were to join the Texian Army marching towards Cos's troops in San Antonio. Collinsworth went back to Matagorda to find more soldiers. On October 14, the remaining Texians at Goliad began their march to San Antonio.
Losing Goliad was a big blow for General Cos. He lost his way to communicate with Copano Bay. This was the closest port to San Antonio. Now, Mexican troops in San Antonio had to get all their supplies and reinforcements by land. This was a much longer and harder journey.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Goliad para niños
