Battle of Goliad

The Battle of Goliad was the second battle of the Texas Revolution. In the early-morning hours of October 9, 1835, rebellious Texas settlers attacked Mexican Army soldiers at Presidio La Bahía, a fort near the Mexican settlement of Goliad.

In September, Texians began plotting to kidnap Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cós, who was going to Goliad to attempt to stop the unrest in Texas. At first the plan was dismissed. But within days of the Texian victory at the Battle of Gonzales, Captain Collinsworth and members of the Texian militia began marching towards Goliad. The Texians soon learned that Cós and his men had already left for San Antonio de Béxar but continued their march.

The fort at La Bahía was understaffed and could not mount an effective defense. Using axes borrowed from townspeople, the Texians were able to chop through a door and enter the fort before the Mexicans even knew they were there. After a 30-minute battle, the Mexicans surrendered. One Mexican soldier had been killed and three others wounded, while only one Texian had been injured. The majority of the Mexican soldiers were instructed to leave Texas, and the Texians took over the fort, gained $10,000 worth of supplies and several cannons. These were given to the Texian Army for use in the Siege of San Antonio de Béxar.

For the Texans, The flag represents the loss of the Mexican fort, supplies and weapons to be as though the Mexican army had lost their right arm. The Texans had "cut off" the supplies at the fort at Goliad from the Mexican army.