The Alamo and GoliadThe Alamo and Goliad

Defeat in South TexasDefeat in South Texas

p. 237 - 241p. 237 - 241

Urrea Sweeps Northward to RefugioUrrea Sweeps Northward to Refugio While the fighting at the Alamo raged, General While the fighting at the Alamo raged, General

Urrea advanced from Matamoras up through South Urrea advanced from Matamoras up through South Texas. Texas.

Urrea battled a force of about 30 men under Captain Urrea battled a force of about 30 men under Captain Amon B. King at Refugio. Most of the Texans were Amon B. King at Refugio. Most of the Texans were either killed or captured.either killed or captured.

Urrea then battled 100 Texans under Colonel Urrea then battled 100 Texans under Colonel William Ward at Refugio and Victoria. Most of the William Ward at Refugio and Victoria. Most of the Texans were either killed or captured. Texans were either killed or captured.

These battles were a severe blow to the Texan These battles were a severe blow to the Texan efforts to halt the Mexican army’s drive northward. efforts to halt the Mexican army’s drive northward.

Fannin Delays His DepartureFannin Delays His Departure In February Fannin decided to help Travis at In February Fannin decided to help Travis at

the Alamo, but a shortage of wagons caused the Alamo, but a shortage of wagons caused him to return to Goliad. him to return to Goliad.

Fannin was ordered by Houston to retreat Fannin was ordered by Houston to retreat toward Victoria. toward Victoria.

Urrea attacked Fannin’s 300 men when they Urrea attacked Fannin’s 300 men when they were resting to eat.were resting to eat.

Urrea surrounded the Texans. Fannin Urrea surrounded the Texans. Fannin assembled his soldiers in a square and drove assembled his soldiers in a square and drove the Mexicans back three times. the Mexicans back three times.

Fannin Delays His DepartureFannin Delays His Departure 7 Texans were killed and 60 were wounded, 7 Texans were killed and 60 were wounded,

including Colonel Fannin.including Colonel Fannin. The next morning, Urrea received The next morning, Urrea received

reinforcements and opened fire on the Texans reinforcements and opened fire on the Texans at daybreak.at daybreak.

After a brief exchange of gunfire, Fannin After a brief exchange of gunfire, Fannin surrendered to Urrea. surrendered to Urrea.

The The Battle of ColetoBattle of Coleto was over. was over.

Texans SurrenderTexans Surrender There has been confusion about the terms of There has been confusion about the terms of

surrender: Texans believed they were surrender: Texans believed they were prisoners of war and would be treated fairly.prisoners of war and would be treated fairly.

The surrender agreement, in Mexican archives, The surrender agreement, in Mexican archives, contains no such promise. The document states contains no such promise. The document states the Texans surrendered unconditionally.the Texans surrendered unconditionally.

Fannin and his troops were marched to Goliad, Fannin and his troops were marched to Goliad, where they were imprisoned in the old where they were imprisoned in the old presidio.presidio.

Santa Anna’s “Cruel Necessity”Santa Anna’s “Cruel Necessity” General Urrea wrote to President Santa Anna, General Urrea wrote to President Santa Anna,

requesting that the lives of the prisoners be requesting that the lives of the prisoners be spared.spared.

Santa Anna ordered the immediate execution Santa Anna ordered the immediate execution of the Texans because he feared that if he let of the Texans because he feared that if he let them go, they would join others in the them go, they would join others in the rebellion.rebellion.

All the soldiers were marched out into a prairie and All the soldiers were marched out into a prairie and shot. Colonel Fannin was the last to be shot.shot. Colonel Fannin was the last to be shot.

General Urrea and many Mexican soldiers regretted General Urrea and many Mexican soldiers regretted Santa Anna’s decision. Santa Anna’s decision.

The Lessons of the Alamo and GoliadThe Lessons of the Alamo and Goliad Texans may never have won their independence Texans may never have won their independence

without the Battle of the Alamo.without the Battle of the Alamo. The battle cost Santa Anna the lives of considerable The battle cost Santa Anna the lives of considerable

number of professional solders.number of professional solders. News of the battle also inspired U.S. citizens to aid News of the battle also inspired U.S. citizens to aid

the Texans in their fight for freedom.the Texans in their fight for freedom. Santa Anna had hoped that the fall of the Alamo Santa Anna had hoped that the fall of the Alamo

would convince the Texans to give up, but it had the would convince the Texans to give up, but it had the opposite effect. opposite effect.

News of the executions at Goliad angered Texans. News of the executions at Goliad angered Texans. ““Remember GoliadRemember Goliad” now joined “” now joined “Remember the Remember the AlamoAlamo” as the rallying cries of the Texas soldiers.” as the rallying cries of the Texas soldiers.