Remembering Goliad

True to history, when the Mexican troops returned from their bloody mission, they set about executing the wounded.

A few were put up against a wall and murdered by firing squad, but others, those too badly injured or too weak to stand, were dumped on the ground, rolled onto their faces, and shot in the back of the head. (This part wasn’t part of the re-enactment, presumably because it wouldn’t be safe to do even with bare powder loads).

Col. Fannin, the commander of the prisoners, was the last to be killed. As a last request, he asked to be shot in the chest, for some personal effects to be sent to his family, and to be given Christian burial. He presented his watch to the officer commanding the firing squad as payment for those things. The officer commanding perched him on a stool (Fannin was wounded in the leg), shot him squarely in the face, ordered his body and effects to be burned with the bodies of those killed within the walls, and stole his watch anyway. (That’s Col. Fannin in the black coat – was there ever an actor who didn’t want to die dramatically?)

The Mexican firing squad, duty done, marched off to be dismissed and break camp. Some of these guys had traveled hundreds of miles to be part of the day, and had to get back home for work on Monday. Some of the others hung around to pose for cameras and speak to spectators…

Martin Vasquez, who on Saturday portrayed General Urrea and on Sunday played Col. José Nicolas de la Portilla. (Urrea had been the officer in command of the La Bahia garrison until Fannin surrendered, whereupon he and several of his staff headed to Victoria, leaving de la Portilla in charge to do the actual slaughtering.)

Jim Wilson and son Paul Wilson, of Corpus Christi, found a quiet corner to make music for a while….

and fiddler Brian Lore did his thing right out in public…

(You’re on page 5, and there’s still a little more – click the next number below to get to it)