Battle of Coleto Creek Cannon -- Goliad TX
N 28° 40.047 W 097° 23.451
14R E 657241 N 3172202
A cannon in Fannin Plaza Park in downtown Goliad TX. It is mounted on a concrete pedestal with an inscription indicating it was found in Goliad after the Battle of Coleto Creek. It it not known if this is a Mexican or Texian cannon.
Waymark Code: WMF81D
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/07/2012
Views: 3
The Battle of Coleto Creek happened on 19 March 1836 near the town of Goliad. Texian volunteers commanded by Col. James Fannin had been ordered to retreat to Victoria TX by General Sam Houston, but Col. Fannin delayed his retreat. That delay gave the Mexican Army under General Urrea time to encircle Fannin's forces, and compel the Texian's surrender.
After Fannin had surrendered, Gen. Urrea ordered that the Texian prisoners should be treated appropriately as prisoners of war, fed, cared for, and put to work rebuilding Goliad. However, Gen. Urrea's orders were overruled by Mexican dictator Santa Anna, who ordered Fannin and his men executed.
Fannin and his men were marched out of the Presidio La Bahio on Palm Sunday morning, 27 Mar 1836. They were lined up and shot at point blank range. Those who did not die of their gunshot wounds were bludgeoned or bayoneted until dead. Fannin was shot last.
Before he was executed, he gave his silver watch to a Mexican soldier after he promised to honor three requests: (1) That Fannin's personal possessions to be sent to his family, (2) that Fannin would be shot in his heart and not his face, and (3) that Fannin would be given a Christian burial. Fannin's personal possessions were taken and divided between Mexican soldiers, Fannin was shot in the face, and his body was burned and left to rot in an open trench with the bodies of his men.
About 40 Texians survived what is known as the Goliad Massacre. Some were spared because they had medical training, others feigned death, and others were smuggled out by Francisa Alvarez, the Angel of Goliad.
In 1885 one of the survivors of the massacre (Mr. William L. Hunter) and the Fannin Monument Association erected a memorial to Fannin in a small park one block from the Goliad town square. The memorial featured a tall marble obelisk memorial to Fannin and his men, and two cannon.
This waymark cannon, the shorter of the two cannons in the park, was placed on a concrete pedestal near the obelisk. The words "Found on the streets of Goliad after the battle of 1836" were written in the concrete.
What type of artillery is this?: cannon
Where is this artillery located?: Park
What military of the world used this device?: Texian or Mexican Army, Texas War of Independence
Date artillery was in use: 03/19/1836
Date artillery was placed on display: 01/01/1885
Parking location to view this Waymark: N 28° 40.065 W 097° 23.489
Cost?: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Artillery is no longer operational: yes
Still may work: no
Are there any geocaches at this location?:
No
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Visit Instructions:
Two pictures are required for this Waymark. Please take a close up picture of the artillery. Take a second with the artillery in the distance and capture as much of the surroundings as possible. Name the Waymark with first the name of the area and second what the artillery is. An example would be if it were a cannon in front of the Montgomery Armory you would name the Waymark: Montgomery Armory Cannon.