Editing Texas Revolution (section)

===Goliad Campaign===
{{Main|Goliad Campaign}}
Urrea reached Matamoros on January 31. A committed federalist himself, he soon convinced other federalists in the area that the Texians' ultimate goal was secession and their attempt to spark a federalist revolt in Matamoros was just a method of diverting attention from themselves.<ref name=reid122>Reid (2007), p. 122.</ref>  Mexican double agents continued to assure Johnson and Grant that they would be able to take Matamoros easily.<ref name=reid131>Reid (2007), p. 131.</ref>  While Johnson waited in San Patricio with a small group of men, Grant and between 26 and 53 others roamed the area between the Nueces River and Matamoros.<ref name=reid141>Reid (2007), pp. 141–143.</ref>  Although they were ostensibly searching for more horses, it is likely Grant was also attempting to contact his sources in Matamoros to further coordinate an attack.<ref name=reid133>Reid (2007), p. 133.</ref>

Just after midnight on February 27, Urrea's men [[battle of San Patricio|surprised Johnson's forces]]. Six Texians, including Johnson, escaped; the remainder were captured or killed.<ref name=stuart84>Stuart (2008), p. 84</ref>  After learning of Grant's whereabouts from local spies, Mexican dragoons ambushed the Texians [[battle of Agua Dulce|at Agua Dulce Creek]] on March 2.<ref name=reid142>Reid (2007), p. 142.</ref>  Twelve Texians were killed, including Grant, four were captured, and six escaped.<ref name=stuart87>Stuart (2008), p. 87.</ref>  Although Urrea's orders were to execute those captured, he instead sent them to Matamoros as prisoners.<ref name=stuart88>Stuart (2008), p. 88.</ref>

[[File:La Bahia Presidio Chapel, South on U.S. Route 183, Goliad (Goliad County, Texas).jpg|thumb|right|alt=A large stone complex, several stories high. Two crosses top the structures in the foreground.|[[Presidio La Bahía]], also known as Fort Defiance, in Goliad]]
On March 11, Fannin sent Captain [[Amon B. King]] to help evacuate settlers from the mission in Refugio. King and his men instead spent a day searching local ranches for centralist sympathizers. They returned to the mission on March 12 and were soon besieged by Urrea's advance guard and de la Garza's [[Victoriana Guardes]].<ref name=stuart91>Stuart (2008), pp. 91–92.</ref>  That same day, Fannin received orders from Houston to destroy Presidio La Bahía (by then renamed Fort Defiance) and march to Victoria. Unwilling to leave any of his men behind, Fannin sent [[William Ward (Texas)|William Ward]] with 120 men to help King's company.<ref>Reid (2007), pp. 93–94.</ref><ref name="auto"/>  Ward's men drove off the troops besieging the church, but rather than return to Goliad, they delayed a day to conduct further raids on local ranches.<ref>Stuart (2008), pp. 95–96.</ref>

Urrea arrived with almost 1,000 troops on March 14.<ref>Reid (2007), p. 97.</ref>  At the [[battle of Refugio]], an engagement markedly similar to the battle of Concepción, the Texians repulsed several attacks and inflicted heavy casualties, relying on the greater accuracy and range of their rifles.<ref>Hardin (1994), p. 165.</ref>  By the end of the day, the Texians were hungry, thirsty, tired, and almost out of ammunition.<ref>Reid (2007), p. 102.</ref>  Ward ordered a retreat, and under cover of darkness and rain the Texian soldiers slipped through Mexican lines, leaving several severely wounded men behind.<ref name=stuart103and4>Stuart (2008), pp. 103–104.</ref>  Over the next several days, Urrea's men, with the help of local centralist supporters, rounded up many of the Texians who had escaped. Most were executed, although Urrea pardoned a few after their wives begged for their lives, and Mexican Colonel [[Juan José Holzinger]] insisted that all of the non-Americans be spared.<ref name=stuart103and4/>

By the end of the day on March 16, the bulk of Urrea's forces began marching to Goliad to corner Fannin.<ref>Stuart (2008), p. 109.</ref>  Still waiting for word from King and Ward, Fannin continued to delay his evacuation from Goliad.<ref name="hardin166"/>  As they prepared to leave on March 18, Urrea's advance guard arrived. For the rest of the day, the two cavalries skirmished aimlessly, succeeding only in exhausting the Texian oxen, which had remained hitched to their wagons with no food or water throughout the day.<ref>Roell (2014), p. 58.</ref><ref>Stuart (2008), p. 113.</ref>

The Texians began their retreat on March 19. The pace was unhurried, and after travelling only {{convert|4|mi|km}}, the group stopped for an hour to rest and allow the oxen to graze.<ref name=hardin166>Hardin (1994), p. 166.</ref>  Urrea's troops caught up to the Texians later that afternoon, while Fannin and his force of about 300 men were crossing a prairie.<ref name=stuart122>Stuart (2008), p. 122.</ref>  Having learned from the fighting at Refugio, Urrea was determined that the Texians would not reach the cover of timber approximately {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} ahead, along Coleto Creek.<ref name=hardin168>Hardin (1994), p. 168.</ref>  As Mexican forces surrounded them, the Texians formed a tight hollow square for defense.<ref name=stuart122/>  They repulsed three charges during this [[battle of Coleto]], resulting in about nine Texians killed and 51 wounded, including Fannin. Urrea lost 50 men, with another 140 wounded. Texians had little food, no water, and declining supplies of ammunition, but voted to not try to break for the timber, as they would have had to leave the wounded behind.<ref name=hardin171>Hardin (1994), p. 171.</ref>

The following morning, March 20, Urrea paraded his men and his newly arrived artillery.<ref name=stuart148>Stuart (2008), p. 148.</ref>  Seeing the hopelessness of their situation, the Texians with Fannin surrendered. Mexican records show that the Texians [[Unconditional surrender#Surrender at discretion|surrendered at discretion]]; Texian accounts claim that Urrea promised the Texians would be treated as prisoners-of-war and granted passage to the United States.<ref name=stuart143to6>Stuart (2008), pp. 143–146.</ref>  Two days later, a group of Urrea's men surrounded Ward and the last of his group less than {{convert|1|mi|km}} from Victoria. Over Ward's vehement objections, his men voted to surrender, later recalling they were told they would be sent back to the United States.<ref>Roell (2014), p. 62.</ref><ref>Stuart (2008), p. 167.</ref>

On [[Palm Sunday]], March 27, Fannin, Ward, Westover, and their men were marched out of the presidio and shot. Mexican cavalry were stationed nearby to chase down any who tried to escape.<ref name=hardin173>Hardin (1994), p. 173.</ref> Approximately 342 Texians died,<ref name=hardin174>Hardin (1994), p. 174.</ref> and 27 either escaped or were spared by Mexican troops.<ref name=stuart188>Stuart (2008), p. 188.</ref>   Several weeks after the [[Goliad massacre]], the Mexican Congress granted an official reprieve to any Texas prisoners who had incurred capital punishment.<ref name=vazquez314>Vazquez (1985), p. 314.</ref>