“Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” was the battle cry at San Jacinto, an 18 minute skirmish that defeated the Mexican Army and won Texas Independence. Most people know about the Alamo. But among the other shameful acts of Generalissimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was the massacre at Goliad.
A small force of men gathered at La Bahia in Goliad. Colonel James Fannin tried to take his troops to the aid of Travis at the Alamo, but through a comedy of errors found himself trapped in the open and surrounded by the enemy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Coleto The Battle of Coleto lasted 2 days. Surrounded, outnumbered, and low on food, water and ammunition, Fannin and company voted to surrender, believing they would be treated humanely. They weren’t.
Back at Goliad Fannin’s force and the prisoners of several other battles were gathered and held while Mexican General Urrea tried to evade his orders from Santa Anna. Jose Nicolas de la Portilla felt he had to carry out those orders, the execution of all Texan combatants as pirates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goliad_massacre
Some 445 Texians were shot, clubbed, or knifed to death. Fannin was given special treatment, but this is not his story.
Twenty-eight of the prisoners managed to escape. Some pretended to be dead. Four or five ran. One of this group was Dillard Cooper. His story in his own words can be read here: http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/goliaddiverse.htm#cooper
After his heroism, he settled in Llano. He died in poverty and is buried here.
Be respectful of the dead. Look for a camoed soda tube in a tree. Also find the other caches hidden in the cemetery.
Park on St Mary Street to avoid blocking traffic on the narrower St Matthew.