Fort Goliad

Fort Goliad (1749-1842) - First established as Presidio La Bahia in 1749 by the Spanish Army in present day Goliad County, Texas. Control passed to Mexico after the Mexican War of Independence and to Texican control after the Texas Revolution. Known as Fort Defiance (1) and Fort Goliad during the Texas Revolution. Abandoned in 1842. Also known as Fort Bahia. Presidio La Bahia Chapel Presidio La Bahia Bastion Presidio La Bahia Entrance History Presidio La Bahia Entrance Door Presidio La Bahia Marker The Presidio La Bahia was twice captured by Mexican rebels during the Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821) but recaptured by Spanish troops. At the start of the Texas Revolution (1835-1836) a group of Texians captured the Mexican garrison and took control of the Presidio La Bahia, which they named Fort Goliad and later renamed Fort Defiance (1). Texian Colonel James W. Fannin, Jr. rebuilt the fort which was later captured by Mexican General Jose de Urrea. Colonel Fannin and the garrison abandoned the fort but were later captured and killed by the Mexicans in the infamous Goliad Massacre on 27 Mar 1836. The Presidio La Bahia was restored between 1963 and 1968 to look exactly as originally constructed. Current Status Presidio La Bahia is owned and operated by the Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Goliad County, Texas. Location: Presidio La Bahia, Goliad County, Texas. Maps & Images Lat: 28.645904 Long: -97.382226 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 184' Sources: Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 763 Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 160 Links: North American Forts - Fort Goliad Wikipedia - Presidio La Bahia Texas On-Line Handbook - Presidio La Bahía Visited: 1 Dec 2011