Goliad Campaign

Date	February 18 – March 27, 1836
Location	Texas Gulf Coast
Result	Mexican victory

Belligerents

Mexico

Texian rebels; later the Republic of Texas

Commanders and leaders

José de Urrea

Frank W. Johnson
James Grant †

James Fannin ^W, (POW), †

Strength

1,500 regulars, militia, and cavalry

500
9 cannons

Casualties and losses

est. 350 killed, wounded or missing

472 KIA, executed, or imprisoned
9 cannons captured
28 captured but escaped

Frank W. Johnson
James Grant †

The Goliad Campaign was the 1836 Mexican offensive to retake the Texas Gulf Coast during the Texas Revolution. Mexican troops under the command of General José de Urrea defeated rebellious immigrants to the Mexican province of Texas, known as Texians, in a series of clashes in February and March.

When Mexico transitioned to a centralized government in 1835, supporters of federalism took up arms. Colonists in Texas, primarily immigrants from the United States, revolted in October 1835 and by the end of the year had expelled all Mexican troops from their province. With hostilities temporarily suspended, Frank W. Johnson and James Grant gathered volunteers for a planned invasion of the Mexican port town of Matamoros. James Fannin commanded troops stationed at Fort Defiance in Goliad.

Unbeknownst to the Texians, on February 18 Urrea led a large contingent of troops from Matamoros into Texas to neutralize the rebels gathered along the coast. His troops easily defeated Johnson's small force at the Battle of San Patricio on February 26. Several days later, informants revealed Grant's location, and on the morning of March 2, 150 Mexican troops ambushed Grant's men at the Battle of Agua Dulce. The Mexican army then turned northward, headed towards Goliad. On March 12, they encountered a group of Texian soldiers, under the command of William Ward at Refugio. The Texians repulsed Mexican attacks for several days. On March 15, as their ammunition ran short, Texians retreated from Refugio. Many were killed or captured.

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Wikipedia