A Strategic Location

A Strategic Location. . , The view from this bastion makes it easy to see why the Spanish chose to locate Presidio La Bahía on this ground. The San Antonio River provided a ready water supply. The fort's garrison could easily watch over Mission Espíritu Santo, only a short distance to the northwest. Mounted soldiers set out from Presidio La Bahía on patrols to combat hostile Indians as well as keep out "foreigners" such as the French, the English, and, later, the Americans., Bastions like this one served as platforms on which cannons could be placed. Rounded watch towers constructed of stone protected sentinels from both the weather and the enemy., This bastion would have overlooked the original town of Goliad that extended to the walls of the fort. Much of the town was destroyed in 1835-36. Following the Texas Revolution, the town of Goliad was relocated to the north side of the San Antonio River. It can be seen in the distance to the northwest., "The ruins of Goliad occupy much room, covering the top of the hill; which, on one side, the north-east, looks down on the beautiful valley of the San Antonio, and on the other, the south-west, on the boundless prairie, stretching out, level as the sea." , George C. Furber, the Twelve Month Volunteer (1846)