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FANNIN BATTLEGROUND VISITORS GUIDE Welcome to Fannin Battleground State It Was in the Climax of What Historians State Historic Site Historic Site

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FANNIN BATTLEGROUND VISITORS GUIDE Welcome to Fannin Battleground State It Was in the Climax of What Historians State Historic Site Historic Site FANNIN BATTLEGROUND VISITORS GUIDE Welcome to Fannin Battleground State It was in the climax of what historians state historic site Historic Site. On March 19 and 20, call “The Goliad Campaign” during the 734 FM 2506 • Fannin, TX 77960 1836, the Battle of Coleto Creek was Texas Revolution. The site, with its 512.463.7948 FANNIN impressive stone obelisk, is a memorial www.visitfanninbattleground.com fought here between Texian forces commanded by Col. James W. Fannin to the brave men who helped shape the Preserve the Future BATTLEGROUND and Mexican forces led by Gen. José future of Texas. Help the Texas Historical Commission preserve the state historic site de Urrea. past while touring this historic attraction. Please be respectful of historic structures. We hope you enjoy your visit and encourage you to celebrate Texas heritage with younger generations. See the Sites From western forts and adobe structures to Victorian mansions and pivotal battlegrounds, the Texas Historical Commission’s state historic sites exemplify a breadth of Texas history. Come explore the real stories at the real places. Plan your next trip at www.texashistoricsites.com TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 25K 07/11 A BRIEF HISTORY By the summer of 1835, Santa Anna—now dictator After word spread that the Alamo had fallen on of Mexico—grew tired of the continued agitation against March 6, 1836, Gen. Sam Houston ordered Col. Fannin his authority in Texas, and began to take steps to enforce to destroy Presidio La Bahía—which he and a large force Mexican rule. He ordered Gen. Martín Perfecto de of Texian volunteers had been fortifying from Mexican Cos to Texas. Cos and his troops reached Goliad, took attack—and retreat to Victoria. control of Presidio La Bahía, and on October 5 continued On March 19, Fannin and about 300 men began the their march to San Antonio. Within four days Texians retreat with Gen. Urrea’s forces only two hours behind. seized the Presidio from Mexican troops in a surprise Fannin’s lead quickly evaporated due to disturbances along attack. Meanwhile, after reaching San Antonio, troops the way. Soon they were caught in the middle of an open under Gen. Cos were held under siege by Texian forces, prairie near Coleto Creek, outnumbered by the Mexicans. and were captured in early December. As a result of For the rest of the day, the Texians successfully fought these actions, Texian forces expelled all Mexican military off attacks by the Mexican soldiers, but by nightfall the from Texas. Texians were completely surrounded. With seven dead and In response, the Mexican government enforced the 28 wounded, Fannin faced the prospect of fi ghting through Tornel Decree in late December 1835. Th is decree was Urrea’s lines or remaining on the fi eld. Realizing that they initially issued by the Mexican government in response would have to leave their wounded, including Fannin, the Texas Governor Jim Ferguson visits Fannin Battleground, March 3, 1916 to plundering by pirates upon Mexican coastal towns Texians reworked their defenses, dug trenches, and waited and outposts. When it became clear that Texian for sunrise. Background insurgents were intent upon armed response to the Th e next morning, the Mexican troops resumed fi re. Various factors contributed to the circumstances that Mexican military presence, the decree was invoked. It When it was impossible to continue fi ghting, Fannin and led to the Texas War for Independence. Settlers living stated that all foreigners attacking Mexico (through action his offi cers surrendered. It is believed they drafted surrender in the Mexican Province of Tejas included groups and or by supplying arms to those with that intent) would be terms, which consisted of a guarantee they would be treated individuals from Europe and the United States. These deemed pirates and mercilessly dealt with as such. as prisoners of war and all prisoners would eventually gain settlers were attracted by the land and incentives promoted freedom by release to the United States. Urrea told Fannin by the Mexican government. Americans also hoped to bring Aftermath that he could not ratify those terms, but would use his slaves into the province, even though Mexico had already Th e consequences of the infl uence with Mexican President and General Santa Anna abolished slavery. In exchange for settlement, colonists were Battle of Coleto Creek were on their behalf. expected to become Mexican citizens and convert to Roman far reaching. Th e execution Fannin and his men were Catholicism if they did not already belong to that faith. In of Fannin and most of marched to nearby Goliad 1830, however, Mexico closed its borders with the United his command at Goliad and held prisoner. Despite States in response to signs of unrest due to Mexican ignited the Texas cause. Th e Urrea’s belief that the prisoners political upheaval and change spurred in part by the subsequent Texian victory at would be treated well, Santa abandonment of the liberal 1824 Mexican constitution. San Jacinto helped to secure Anna ordered the prisoners With the border closing, Mexican authorities restricted the independence of Texas. executed. Th e Mexicans spared trade and imposed custom duties on import and export Today, part of the site of 20 physicians, orderlies, and items in an attempt to halt the progress of American the Battle of Coleto Creek is interpreters, and another 28 settlers into Texas. Rather than controlling unrest, these preserved as a memorial to prisoners escaped. Deemed Col. James Walker Fannin actions served to deepen antipathy toward rule by Santa the soldiers who fought here a massacre, the execution of Fannin’s command on March Anna among many Texas residents. Many Spanish-speaking in 1836. Walk the grounds 27, 1836, served to infl ame the Texas cause. When Texian Texians hoped for a return to the 1824 constitution, while and honor the place where forces attacked Santa Anna’s command on April 21, 1836, at others, such as the American settlers, hoped for union with Fannin surrendered, taking a moment to remember those San Jacinto, the battle cry rang out “Remember the Alamo! the United States. who helped forge Texas’ destiny. Remember Goliad!” .
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