PRESIDIO LA BAHIA

1
History Under Nine Flags

• PRESIDIO LA BAHIA
• GOLIAD, TEXAS

2
Presidio La Bahia

• The history of Presidio La Bahia can be explained
  by the nine flags that have flown over its walls
  including
• The Flag of France
• The Flag of Spain
• The Flag of the Republic of the North
• Dr. James Longs Flag
• The Flag of the Republic of Mexico
• Phillip Dimmitts Bloody Arm Flag
• The Flag of the Texas Republic
• The United States Flag
• The Confederate States Flag

3
France

• The establishment of a French Fort by La Salle on
  Garcitas Creek causes Spanish authorities to
  search for the French.
• After discovering the remains of the Fort (The
  French effort had failed) The Spanish establish
  Presidio La Bahia on the site of the fort
• It is Called Presidio La Bahia (Fort of the Bay)
  because of its original location on Matagorda Bay.

4
French Explorer La Salle
5
Spain

• Spanish authorities moved the Presidio several
  times before it was established at the current
  location by colonizer Jose de Escandon.
• The Presidio housed soldiers that protected
  Mission Espiritu Santo.
• Spanish Soldiers from the Presidio assisted
  American troops in their fight for freedom during
  the American Revolution.
• Soldiers and Settlers from Presidio La Bahia were
  instrumental in the establishment of the cattle
  industry in Texas

6
Jose de Escandon
7
Spanish Presidio Soldier
8
Republic of the North

• During the years before Mexico won its
  independence from Spain, filibusters attempted to
  invade Texas.
• Augustus Magee and Bernardo Gutierrez led an army
  of adventures, Native-Americans and Tejanos to
  capture the Presidio. Their force was called the
  Republican army of the North.
• During the occupation of the Presidio the Spanish
  laid siege to the fort. It was the longest siege
  in Texas history.
• The Republican Army of the North was defeated at
  the Battle of the Medina.

9
Dr. James Long

• Long and a small group of men captured the
  Presidio in 1821.
• Long was attempting to establish an independent
  country.
• Long was captured by Mexican authorities and was
  later killed by a guard while trying to escape.

10
Dr. James Long
11
Mexico

• Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821
• Anglo-American colonists began to become
  dissatisfied with Mexican rule in the 1830s.
• The Texas Revolution against Mexico began in
  1835.
• Presidio La Bahia was captured by the Texans
  commanded by James Collingsworth.

12
Phillip Dimmitt

• After the capture of the Presidio by
  Collingsworth and his men, Phillip Dimmitt became
  the Texan commander.
• Dimmitt designed a flag that portrayed a bloody
  arm with a sword representing the idea that
  Texans would rather cut off their right arm than
  live under the dictatorship of Santa Anna.
• The first Texas Declaration of Independence for
  Texas was signed in Our Lady of Loreto Chapel by
  Dimmitt and his men

13
Fannins Command

• James W. Fannin became the commander of the
  Presidio in early 1836.
• Fannin and his command were defeated in battle
  at Coleto by the forces of Mexican General Jose
  Urrea.
• Fannin and his men were massacred by order of
  dictator Santa Anna on Palm Sunday 1836.

14
James Walker Fannin
15
Republic of Texas

• During the time that Texas was a Republic, the
  remains of Fannin and his men were interred in a
  mass grave by Texan troops.
• The Presidio fell into ruins following the Texas
  Revolution. Our Lady of Loreto Chapel was used by
  Irish and Mexican Catholic families in the area.

16
Our Lady of Loreto Chapel
17
United States of America

• In 1844, the Presidio was acquired by the city of
  Goliad.
• The property was purchased by the Catholic church
  in 1853.

18
Confederate States

• The Presidio was in ruins during the time that
  Texas joined the Confederate States.
• Many local citizens formed military units that
  fought in the War Between the States.

19
Restoration

• In 1963, historian and philanthropist Kathryn
  Stoner OConner spearheaded efforts to restore
  the Presidio.
• Architect Rayford Stripling and other national
  experts were employed to restore the structure.
• Presidio La Bahia is a National Historic Landmark.

20
Rayford Stripling
21
Kathryn Stoner OConner Family
22
The Presidio before restoration
23
The Presidio Today