DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Goliad — and friend, this one carries some weight. Goliad is one of the three first Texas municipalities. Let that settle for a second.
Before the Republic, before the revolution, before most folks even knew this land by that name — this place was already here. It started as an old Aranama Indian village the Spanish called Santa Dorotea. Then in 1749, Presidio La Bahia and Mission Espiritu de Zuniga were established on this ground.
Roots don't get much deeper than that. Now, the name La Bahia — that's Spanish for 'the Bay' — stuck around for a long while. But on February 4, 1829, it was changed.
Changed to Goliad. And here's the thing the marker wants you to know: that name is an anagram honoring the Mexican patriot Hidalgo — the H dropped clean away and the letters rearranged. Goliad.
It's right there if you look. Before that name change even came, this place was already a crossroads of ambition and unrest. The expeditions of Magee and Gutierrez came through in 1812.
Henry Perry rode through in 1817. James Long made his push in 1821. Early stirrings, every one of them, of the events that would eventually lead to the Texas Revolution.
And when that revolution finally caught fire, Goliad didn't wait around. On October 8, 1835, Captain George Collingsworth, Ben Milam, and forty-eight men took the Mexican garrison. Forty-eight men.
Then on December 20, 1835, the Goliad Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Goliad flag was unfurled. This town declared itself before anyone else told it to. Defender Captain Philip Dimmit held the position until February 7, 1836, when Colonel James Walker Fannin took command.
Then came the order — General Sam Houston's order — to evacuate Goliad. On March 19, Fannin moved his men toward Victoria. Nine miles out, a large Mexican army overtook them.
Fannin and his men fought until night. They surrendered the next morning. From La Bahia Prison, they were marched out.
And on Palm Sunday — March 27, 1836 — they were massacred and partially cremated. That's not embellishment. That's the marker.
And it deserves to be said plainly. After Texas won its independence, General Thomas Rusk's army returned to those men. In June of 1836, they gave them military rites and burial.
That's what honor looks like when it arrives late but still comes. Goliad has been the county seat since 1836. It was incorporated in 1840, built on its present site, and in 1844 received four leagues of land in a grant signed by President Sam Houston himself.
A town that began as a village, became a fort, declared independence, buried its dead, and kept right on standing. That's Goliad.
What the marker says
One of the three first Texas municipalities. Old Aranama Indian village called Santa Dorotea by the Spanish. Presidio La Bahia and Mission Espiritu de Zuniga established 1749. Here early events leading to the Texas Revolution were expeditions of Magee-Gutierrez, 1812; Henry Perry, 1817; James Long, 1821 Name changed Feb. 4, 1829, from La Bahia (the Bay) to Goliad. Honoring (in anagram) Mexican patriot (H)idalgo. Capt. George Collingsworth, Ben Milam and 48 men took Mexican garrison Oct. 8, 1835. Goliad Declaration of Independence signed Dec. 20, 1835, and Goliad flag unfurled. Defender Capt. Philip Dimmit succeeded by Col. James Walker Fannin, Feb. 7, 1836. On order of Gen. Sam Houston to evacuate Goliad, Fannin on Mar. 19, moved toward Victoria. Overtaken 9 miles out by a large Mexican army, Fannin and his men battled until night, surrendered next morning. From La Bahia Prison they were marched out, massacred and partially cremated on Palm Sunday, Mar. 27, 1836. After Texas won independence, Gen. Thomas Rusk's army gave them military rites and burial, June 1836. Goliad County Seat since 1836. Incorporated 1840 and built on present site. Received 4 leagues of land in grant signed by President Sam Houston, 1844. (1965)