Presidio de Bahai

Presidio de Bahai

Goliad, Texas

October 19, 2019

The Presidio is another landmark that we would have cycled past had the route not been changed due to road construction. The Presidio played a big role in the Texas Independence battles. Throughout history, the Presidio changed hands multiple times. However, in October 1835, Texas volunteers swarmed the garrison and Colonel Sandoval surrendered.

Colonel James Fannin became commander of the troops at La Bahia and renamed the presidio Fort Defiance. Fannin attempted to send help to the Alamo but trouble with a supply wagon along with reports of General Urrea's army marching towards Goliad halted the effort.

After the fall of the Alamo, General Sam Houston ordered Fannin to fall back to Victoria. However, at the banks of Coleto Creek, General Urrea and his men attacked; Fannin surrendered. The surrender terms were not honored by General Santa Anna, and the prisoners were executed in an event known as the Goliad Massacre.

Partial text of massacre marker:

"After battle of Coleto (March 19-20, 1836), where a Texas Army under Col. James Walker Fannin met defeat by Mexicans in superiour 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…This atrocity three weeks after the fall of the Alamo gave Texans part of the battle cry—'Remember the Alamo! Remember La Bahia!' (added by me, some reports state 'Remember Goliad')—under which decisive victory was won at San Jacinto on April, 1836.

Gen. Thomas J. Rusk and the Texas 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."

Col.  Fannin and his men's grave site.

Adding to the drama of the massacre was Francisca Alavez .

Francisca Alavez, Angel of Goliad.

Statue of honor triangulating the Presidio and Fannin grave.

Historical marker. Presidio in background. Marker text: "Amid the cruelties of the Texas War for Independence, one notable woman committed acts of bravery and compassion. Francisca Alavez (also known by similar names) accompanied Mexican Army Capt. Telesporo Alavez to Texas in March 1836. In seven incidents between March and April. She intervened with Mexican troops under command of Gen. Jose De Urrea to help captured Texian prisoners at Agua Dulce, Copano, La Bahia, Victoria, and Matamoros.

Statue with Fannin's grave in background:

On Mar. 20, Maj. William P. Miller and 75 of his Nashville Battalion were captured as the unloaded their ship a t Copano Bay. Alavez insisted that binding cords which cut off circulation be removed and food and water provided. The men were moved to Presidio La Bahia at Goliad, where hundreds of Col. James Fannin’s troops were already held after their capture at Coleto Creek. Al least 342 men were taken out of the fort on Mar. 27 and shot under order of Gen. Santa Anna in what was termed the Goliad Massacre. Alavez helped save the lives of men including 16-year-old Benjamin Hughes. Another survivor, Dr. J. H. Barnard, recalled that she pleaded for the lives of many men, helped sneak out some troops at night and hid some of the men. Her humanitarian acts included tending to wounds and sending messages and provisions to those still imprisoned.

The Texas Centennial of 1936 revived interest in Alavez with articles, a play, and a bronze bust and historical commemorations, such as a resolution from the Texas Legislature in 2001, have helped confirm Dr. Barnard’s assertion that 'Her name deserves to be recorded in letters of gold among those angels who have from time to time been commissioned by an overruling and beneficent power to relieve the sorrows and cheer the hearts of men.' ”

End of tour, time to head home and await the next Mission Tour de Goliad. 

Goliad Mission Espiritu Santo

Mission Espiritu Santo

Goliad, Texas

October 19, 2019

A tour of Texas History

One of the great benefits of touring all over Texas is the opportunity to see the local sights and get a taste of Texas history. 

In previous years, the Missions Tour de Goliad would have us cycle past the missions, the Presidio, and Fannin Memorial as part of our tour route. However, this year construction on Highway 183 caused the tour directors to temporarily change the route. Hence, after the ride and great sausage wraps for lunch, Christine and I decided to tour the historical sights on our own.  

Above sign:

Mission Espiritu Santo

A mission for the Aranamas

Originally established near present Matagorda Bay, Mission Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga was moved to this San Antonio River location in 1749. Here, for more than 70 years, the Francisican missionaries taught the native Aranama people the religious principles and craft skills they needed to become good Spanish citizens on the remote northern frontier. The immense herds of cattle that supported the mission population became the foundation for the ranching industry of modern Texas.

 The purpose of the mission, along with its military fortress, was to secure the Texas coastline from the French and to Christianize the native Karankawa Indians. The Franciscan priests also tried to gather the local Coco, Copane, and Cujane Indians. Like the French settlement at Matagorda Bay, the Spanish fort and mission there did not last long, failing to grow crops and attract the local peoples to convert.

As a result, the mission was moved in 1726 near present-day Victoria, Texas, where the Tamique and Aranama peoples lived. This site lasted for 26 years until Spanish officials recommended moving the mission to secure the area between Bexar and East Texas from the encroachment of the French and English.
(Actually, the French colonized this part of Texas before the Spanish. A fort was established in 1685 near Matagorda Bay by explorer Robert Cavalier de La Salle. Recall that the first Spanish mission was near Matagorda Bay in 1722).

In 1749 Mission Espíritu Santo and Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de Bahía were moved to what is now Goliad, Texas, one on each bank of the San Antonio River. (The Presidio will be featured later). The first structures were "jacales" or log structures sealed with mud. The cabin on the right is the only log-mud noted on the grounds). 

The mission became the first large cattle ranch in Texas, with nearly 40,000 free roaming cattle at the height of production in about 1778.

After the history lesson, it was time to enter the chapel and tour the interior.

The museum on the premises contained a replica of the outer defenses.

Across the San Antonio river is the Presidio La Bahai which will follow soon. Our tour of history continues.

Tour de Goliad

/ .

Missions Tour de Goliad
Goliad, Texas
October 19, 2019

Line up was beside Goliad's impressive court house on the square.

Christine and I were the only riders from San Angelo. Not too surprising as it is a 5 hour drive from San Angelo to this south east town close to the Gulf of Mexico.

 Yes, I was impressed by the court house.

Line up shots will be from several view points as we were quite scattered out. Mostly these were the 65 mile riders.

Mostly 50 mile riders.

Mixture of 50 and 30 mile riders. As can be seen, the town square buildings were part of the historic part of town.

It was a beautiful day. Temperature ranged from mid 70's-80's during the ride with about a 5 mph wind.

 I could probably get some arguments but most of the 50 mile route was relatively flat.

Much appreciated volunteers hosting a rest stop.

Don't want to whine but most of the roads had #3 chip seal.

Good scenery, though, and a small climb coming up.

Decline. Not steep but provided a good roll.

By Faith Ranch. Hope they do well and get ample rain.

Well water rig. Since in the middle of a field, would be easy to run a circular irrigation system.

Starting to angle back toward town.

These yellow (weeds) flowers were the only wild flowers left for the season.

Even though the patches be small, flowers are flowers.

Rest stops were plentiful and well spaced out.

There was a friendly group of riders who frequently teased me about not being able to stay up with Christine. Every time I would get close, she would speed up and drop me again. (Editor's note: If you have the e-power, use it!)

I could use the excuse that I was too busy taking pictures of cows and barns to keep up with Chris.

Not sure where the other cows were in this field but this one had plenty to eat.

An astute person would pick up on the rest stop trend. Each one had a few more riders who stopped. As mentioned it was a beautiful day, but it kept getting a little warmer and warmer. Ergo: more riders would stop for refills and refreshments.

There is a little story with this and the following picture. As cyclists know, a lone rider goes for a ride. If two, then it is a race. Christine had just passed this guy and he took off after her.

Didn't take him too long for him to realize she was on her electric bike and he was being dropped whether he wanted or not. (Now he knows how I feel).

Long rolling inclines usually topped out at 5%.

The long gradual inclines masked that most were 5%. (Being compulsive, I counted about 28 inclines that topped at 5%. The rest were 3-4%)

Not sure why pushing bikes. They had 30 mile bib color and we hadn't gone over tough steep hills so maybe just out for a stroll.

Not far to finish at this point.

Finish line was at one of Goliad's parks.

Off to the right was the after ride lunch serving line.

Great sausage rolls in a picnic atmosphere.

Thanks to the Goliad ride volunteers for a good ride and nice lunch.

Departing the park provided another good view of the Court House.