Goliad Heroes Day March 27
After the fall of the Alamo, Santa Anna's army attacked Colonel James W. Fannin and
his men in the Battle of Coleto, near Goliad. The Texians were defeated and Fannin
surrendered, the men believing they would be treated honorably as prisoners of war. The
prisoners were marched back to La Bahia presidio at Goliad. At sunrise on Palm Sunday,
1836, those prisoners who were able to walk were marched out in groups along the Bexar,
Copano, and Victoria roads. Less than a mile from the garrison, all were executed at close
range. Most were killed instantly, but a few managed to escape. Back at the garrison, those
who were unable to march, including Colonel Fannin, were also executed. In all, 342 brave
Texans lost their lives at Goliad on March 27, 1836. Their remains were burned and left
unburied for almost three months until the bones were gathered and buried in a mass
grave with full military honors by General Thomas J. Rusk. In later years, markers were
erected, the gravesite authenticated by University of Texas anthropologists, and on June 4,
1938, a massive pink granite monument was dedicated as part of the Texas Centennial.
The tragedy at Goliad provoked even greater fervor in the Texians to defeat Santa Anna and
his army, and along with "Remember the Alamo," the cry of "Remember Goliad" inspired
the Texians to victory at San Jacinto a few weeks later.