Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 24, 2013

The Battle of Goliad was the second skirmish of the Texas Revolution. Early on October 9, 1835, rebellious Texas settlers attacked the Mexican Army soldiers garrisoned at Presidio La Bahía (pictured), a fort near the Mexican Texas settlement of Goliad. It was halfway between the Mexican garrison at San Antonio de Béxar and the major port of Copano. Texians were plotting to kidnap Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cos, who was en route to Goliad, although they knew before their arrival that he had departed for San Antonio de Béxar. The garrison at La Bahía was understaffed and could not mount an effective defense of the perimeter. Using axes borrowed from townspeople, the Texians chopped through a door and entered the complex before the bulk of the soldiers were aware of their presence. After a 30-minute battle, the Mexican garrison surrendered. The majority of the Mexican soldiers were instructed to leave Texas, and the Texians confiscated $10,000 worth of provisions and several cannons, later used in the Siege of Béxar. The victory isolated Cos's men in Béxar from the coast, forcing them to rely on a long overland march to request or receive reinforcements or supplies. (Full article...)

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