Palm Sunday Massacre

[Bruce Burleson]

On Palm Sunday in 1836 (it fell on March 27 that year), the Mexican President and General Santa Anna ordered the massacre of about 350 Texans (led by Colonel James Fannin) who had surrendered to him. The massacre occurred in the Texas town of Goliad. Santa Anna had defeated the Texans' forces at the Alamo a few weeks earlier, and was attempting to rid Texas (which then belonged to Mexico) of all insurrectionists. Texas had declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836.

After the massacre at Goliad, Santa Anna marched to an area near modern day Houston, chasing the remainder of the Texas army, which was under the command of Sam Houston. On the afternoon of April 21, 1836, Houston's men launched a surprise attack against Santa Anna's forces near the San Jacinto River. The Mexican forces were in the middle of a siesta, and were totally unprepared for the attack. The Texas killed almost 700 Mexicans, captured another 700 (including Santa Anna), and only lost 9 men in the effort. The Texans' battle cry was "remember the Alamo, remember Goliad." (A distant relative of mine, General Edward Burleson, was in charge of one regiment of the Texas forces.) In exchange for his freedom, Santa Anna agreed to relinquish Mexico's claims to Texas, which became an independent republic. So, the massacre on Palm Sunday at Goliad was partially responsible for the inspired fighting of the Texans at San Jacinto, and of the independence won at that battle. As Palm Sunday comes to an end (at least where I am in Texas), this little historical tid-bit is given to remind us all that the cruelty of totalitarians like Santa Anna will eventually lead to their own defeat. Let freedom ring.

[Feck]

On Palm Sunday in 1836 (it fell on March 27 that year), the Mexican President and General Santa Anna ordered the massacre of about 350 Texans (led by Colonel James Fannin) who had surrendered to him. The massacre occurred in the Texas town of Goliad. Santa Anna had defeated the Texans' forces at the Alamo a few weeks earlier, and was attempting to rid Texas (which then belonged to Mexico) of all insurrectionists. Texas had declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836.

After the massacre at Goliad, Santa Anna marched to an area near modern day Houston, chasing the remainder of the Texas army, which was under the command of Sam Houston. On the afternoon of April 21, 1836, Houston's men launched a surprise attack against Santa Anna's forces near the San Jacinto River. The Mexican forces were in the middle of a siesta, and were totally unprepared for the attack. The Texas killed almost 700 Mexicans, captured another 700 (including Santa Anna), and only lost 9 men in the effort. The Texans' battle cry was "remember the Alamo, remember Goliad." (A distant relative of mine, General Edward Burleson, was in charge of one regiment of the Texas forces.) In exchange for his freedom, Santa Anna agreed to relinquish Mexico's claims to Texas, which became an independent republic. So, the massacre on Palm Sunday at Goliad was partially responsible for the inspired fighting of the Texans at San Jacinto, and of the independence won at that battle. As Palm Sunday comes to an end (at least where I am in Texas), this little historical tid-bit is given to remind us all that the cruelty of totalitarians like Santa Anna will eventually lead to their own defeat. Let freedom ring.

I think freedom is a word that has been Hijacked by the American right ..... I cringe whenever I hear it .

[Bruce Burleson]

I think freedom is a word that has been Hijacked by the American right ..... I cringe whenever I hear it .

What word would you use instead? And why have you allowed such a small percentage of the world population to hijack a perfectly good English word?

[piscator]

"Choice"

[Bruce Burleson]

"Choice"

OK. Let choice ring.

[piscator]

the Texicans were very brave, especially at the Thermopylae of The Alamo

don't know too much about the events leading up to The Alamo...what inspired them to sacrifice themselves when they had other options?

freedom? most were Americans at one point or another, and would have likely been welcomed back if a Texas Republic went bust, no?

by the standards of the (Post Napoleonic) day, was Santa Anna particularly oppressive or confiscatory?

[Bruce Burleson]

don't know too much about the events leading up to The Alamo...what inspired them to sacrifice themselves when they had other options?

freedom? most were Americans at one point or another, and would have likely been welcomed back if a Texas Republic went bust, no?

by the standards of the (Post Napoleonic) day, was Santa Anna particularly oppressive or confiscatory?

I'm sure each of the 185 or so of the defenders of the Alamo had his own reasons for wanting to fight. Actually, many of the defenders were from Europe - a substantial number of Irish were there. Generally, they were driven by the desire to find a new land with sufficient space where they could carve out their own life and be free from oppression. Many of them were malcontents. All of the individual motivations were collectivized by the leadership of Colonel William Barrett Travis, the Alamo commander, an attorney who was only 26 years old at the time. You should read his letter sent from the Alamo. Here it is:

http://www.mohicanpress.com/battles/ba02003.html

So, as is often the case, the leadership of one person caused individual motivations to coalesce, and led to an act of bravery (or stupidity, depending on your POV). In any event, they all entered into the realm of mythology as a result of their decision to stay and fight.

Santa Anna was probably no more oppressive than most rulers of his age, but the Texan spirit was driven by individualism, and Santa Anna wanted nothing to do with that. There was probably an element of ethnic bias on both sides that fed the general animosity between them.

[Bruce Burleson]

Double post