Commemorating the 190th anniversary of the Battle of Goliad.

89(R) HCR 160 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R33010 TBO-D

By: Lowe

H.C.R. No. 160

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, October 9, 2025, will mark the 190th anniversary of

the Battle of Goliad, the second confrontation of the Texas

Revolution; and

WHEREAS, The Battle of Goliad was part of the Goliad Campaign

of 1835, which resulted in critical victories for Texas forces;

after emerging as president of Mexico in 1834, Antonio López de

Santa Anna was determined to suppress any movements that supported

federalism and opposed his rule; in September 1835, General Santa

Anna ordered his brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos, to

chastise the "Texians," as Anglo residents were called at the time,

for their attitude and to investigate Anahuac citizens who refused

to pay duties to the central Mexican government; and

WHEREAS, General Santa Anna's efforts to suppress rebellion

were resisted by militia and newly formed committees of safety and

correspondence; one group of Texians led by Captain James W. Fannin

Jr. of the Brazos Guards began planning to intercept General Cos at

Copano or Goliad and prevent his march toward San Antonio de Béxar;

however, that plan was deterred when the Texians decided to instead

join forces in Gonzales, where the first armed clash of the Texas

Revolution occurred on October 2, 1835; three days later, General

Cos departed from Goliad, leaving behind only a small garrison at

the nearby Presidio La Bahía del Espíritu Santo; and

WHEREAS, Two Texian companies combined in Victoria under the

leadership of Captain George M. Collinsworth to carry out the plan

to stop General Cos, and after recruiting additional volunteers,

the group totaled some 120 men; during the journey to Goliad, one of

the Texians received word that General Cos had already left town,

but Captain Collinsworth's company was undeterred; and

WHEREAS, On October 9, the Texians arrived at Presidio La

Bahía at about 11 p.m., taking the garrison by surprise; the ensuing

battle lasted approximately 30 minutes before the Texian forces

successfully captured the presidio from the Mexicans, who saw 3 of

their soldiers killed, 7 wounded, and 21 taken prisoner, and no

Texians were killed in the conflict; Goliad was located along an

important route between the city of Béxar and the port of Copano on

Aransas Bay, making Texian control of the town essential in the

eventual defeat of General Cos in the siege of Béxar; and

WHEREAS, The Battle of Goliad was a crucial victory in the

early days of the Texas Revolution, and it remains a symbol of the

indomitable spirit that has defined and shaped the destiny of the

Lone Star State throughout the nearly two centuries that have

followed; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas

hereby commemorate the 190th anniversary of the Battle of Goliad

and honor the sacrifices of all those who took up arms to help

secure Texas independence in 1836.