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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, October 9, 2025, will mark the 190th anniversary of |
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the Battle of Goliad, the second confrontation of the Texas |
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Revolution; and |
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WHEREAS, The Battle of Goliad was part of the Goliad Campaign |
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of 1835, which resulted in critical victories for Texas forces; |
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after emerging as president of Mexico in 1834, Antonio López de |
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Santa Anna was determined to suppress any movements that supported |
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federalism and opposed his rule; in September 1835, General Santa |
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Anna ordered his brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos, to |
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chastise the "Texians," as Anglo residents were called at the time, |
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for their attitude and to investigate Anahuac citizens who refused |
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to pay duties to the central Mexican government; and |
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WHEREAS, General Santa Anna's efforts to suppress rebellion |
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were resisted by militia and newly formed committees of safety and |
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correspondence; one group of Texians led by Captain James W. Fannin |
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Jr. of the Brazos Guards began planning to intercept General Cos at |
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Copano or Goliad and prevent his march toward San Antonio de Béxar; |
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however, that plan was deterred when the Texians decided to instead |
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join forces in Gonzales, where the first armed clash of the Texas |
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Revolution occurred on October 2, 1835; three days later, General |
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Cos departed from Goliad, leaving behind only a small garrison at |
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the nearby Presidio La Bahía del Espíritu Santo; and |
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WHEREAS, Two Texian companies combined in Victoria under the |
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leadership of Captain George M. Collinsworth to carry out the plan |
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to stop General Cos, and after recruiting additional volunteers, |
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the group totaled some 120 men; during the journey to Goliad, one of |
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the Texians received word that General Cos had already left town, |
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but Captain Collinsworth's company was undeterred; and |
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WHEREAS, On October 9, the Texians arrived at Presidio La |
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Bahía at about 11 p.m., taking the garrison by surprise; the ensuing |
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battle lasted approximately 30 minutes before the Texian forces |
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successfully captured the presidio from the Mexicans, who saw 3 of |
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their soldiers killed, 7 wounded, and 21 taken prisoner, and no |
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Texians were killed in the conflict; Goliad was located along an |
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important route between the city of Béxar and the port of Copano on |
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Aransas Bay, making Texian control of the town essential in the |
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eventual defeat of General Cos in the siege of Béxar; and |
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WHEREAS, The Battle of Goliad was a crucial victory in the |
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early days of the Texas Revolution, and it remains a symbol of the |
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indomitable spirit that has defined and shaped the destiny of the |
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Lone Star State throughout the nearly two centuries that have |
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followed; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commemorate the 190th anniversary of the Battle of Goliad |
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and honor the sacrifices of all those who took up arms to help |
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secure Texas independence in 1836. |