On this Day in History, A Symbol of Texan Identity

The massacre at Goliad unites Texas against Mexico

On this day in 1836, 300 Texian soldiers were executed on the orders of Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The event was a turning point in the Texas Revolution, and immortalized in the battle cry heard at San Jacinto one month later: “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!”

Painting, March to the Masscre by Andrew Jackson Houston. Courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History. Retrieved: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/goliad-massacre

The Battle of Goliad was not a single battle but a series of events that led to the mass execution of Texian soldiers by the Mexican Army.

1. The Battle of Gonzales — On October 2, 1835, Texian rebels fought against Mexican soldiers in the Battle of Gonzales, about 60 miles east of San Antonio. The Texians won the battle, which is considered the first battle of the Texas Revolution.
2. Siege of San Antonio — After the Battle of Gonzales, Texian forces marched to San Antonio, which was occupied by Mexican troops. The Texans laid siege to the city for two months, and on December 10, 1835, they successfully captured it. They garrisoned the Alamo, which ultimately became a death trap during the Battle of the Alamo months later.
3. Battle of Refugio — In early 1836, Mexican troops under the command of General Jose Urrea invaded Texas from the south. On March 14, 1836, they attacked a group of Texian soldiers…