This fort dates from the beginnings of the Mission, and was protector to those living at the Mission as well as the small "villa" that grew up around it--collectively given the name Goliad. Sadly it was the site of the massacre of 341 Texans by the Mexican dictator, Santa Anna during the Texas Revolution. The Texan cry was not only "Remember the Alamo!" but "Remember Goliad!" And the war ended decisively in Texas' favor a few weeks after the Palm Sunday Goliad massacre.
All the flags that have flown over Presidio La Bahia:
Spanish
French
1st Republic of Texas
Mexican
2nd Republic of Texas
1st flag of Texas Independence ("The Goliad Flag")
Flag of the Texas Republic
Confederate
United States
Lookout tower.
Protection option #1--canon
Protection option #2--agave plant.
Which I thought Uncle Dave had told me were called "Sentry Plants"...but I just looked it up, and it's "Century Plants."
So never mind. They won't protect you.
Go with canons.
View from the lookout tower. Scoping for enemies.
Hmmm...don't think so. :)
Chapel--where they still hold Mass every Sunday.
Anne Taylor's grave.
No history with it, it's just there.
But if you're trying to decipher, it says:
Anne Taylor
BORN
May 25, 1852
DIED
August 12, 1889
A full 100 years before I came into existence.
Light a candle in the chapel--
for $3.
And to finish up here, a statue of General Ignacio Zaragoza.
Only now got a chance to find out who he was. :) But General Zaragoza was a young and brilliant Mexican general (born in Goliad) most famous for beating French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862--now celebrated by Mexicans as Cinco de Mayo.
And just for the record, he opposed Santa Anna and was instrumental in the dictator's ultimate deposition in Mexico. And with all these tremendous accomplishments under his belt, died of typhoid fever--at the age of thirty-three.
Talk about making a short life count!
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