Goliad in Goliad County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Grave of Colonel J. W. Fannin and His Men
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 11, 2010
1. Grave of Colonel J. W. Fannin and His Men Marker
>After battle of Coleto (March 19 - 20, 1836), where a Texas Army under Col. James Walker Fannin met defeat by Mexicans in superior numbers, the Texas soldiers were held in Presidio La Bahia, supposedly as war prisoners. However, by order of Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, approximately 400 of Fannin's men were marched out and massacred on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836. The wounded were shot one by one in the fort compound. Col. Fannin was the last to die. Because of their profession, Drs. J. H. Barnard, J. E. Field and Jack Shackelford were spared; about 25 men were saved by a Mexican woman, "The Angel of Goliad". Approximately 30 escaped by feigning death or by swimming the San Antonio River. The Texans' corpses were stripped and partly burned, but left unburied. This atrocity three weeks after the fall of the Alamo gave Texans part of the battle cry--"Remember the Alamo! Remember La Bahia!"--under which decisive victory was won at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Gen. Thomas J. Rusk and the Texan Army afterwards marched here and gathered the bones of Fannin's men from the terrain. From Presidio La Bahia the remains were carried in procession to the grave, and there given a military funeral and burial on June 3, 1836.
Erected 1968 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Notable Events • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical date for this entry is March 27, 1967.
Location. 28° 38.763′ N, 97° 22.822′ W. Marker is in Goliad, Texas, in Goliad County. Marker is at the intersection of Fannin Monument Road and Cabrera Road on Fannin Monument Road. Marker is at the Fannin Burial Monument - about 0.3 mile south of Goliad State Park and Presidio La Bahia. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Goliad TX 77963, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. La Bahía Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Fannin Burial Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Angel of Goliad (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Pitiful Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Strategic Location (approx. 0.2 miles away); Replica of Texas Independence Flagpole (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Stroke of Very Good Luck (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to the Ignacio Zaragoza Birthplace / Bienvenido a la Casa Natal de Ignacio Zaragoza (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Goliad.
Also see . . . Goliad Campaign. (Submitted on September 10, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional keywords.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 11, 2010
2. "Fannin Burial Monument - Goliad State Park Historic District
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 11, 2010
3. Inscription at the foot of the monument
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 11, 2010
4. Names of Colonel Fannin's men - inscribed on the face of the monument
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 11, 2010
5. Grave of Colonel J. W. Fannin and His Men Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,426 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 9, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 10, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
