EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article about George Morse Collinsworth victory at the first battle of Goliad in October 1835, was from a website recognizing the role of Irish, or Celt, Texians in the Texas Revolution.
While the Texans who gathered in Gonzales were heading toward San Antonio, another group, from the Matagorda area of the lower Colorado, Lavaca, and Navidad Rivers, elected George Morse Collinsworth to be their leader.
Collinsworth was a Celt and one of the founders of Richmond.
Acting under a plan said to be devised by West Point trained Colonel James W. Fannin.
These men set out to attack the fort at Goliad. The plan was to cut the Mexican line of supply from Copano to Cós at Béxar, and to deny Cós the use of the supplies and men at Goliad.
During the night, as they made their way to the old settlement at La Bahía, now called Goliad, Collinsworth stopped to allow the stragglers to catch up.
While they were halted, a detachment was sent on ahead to reconnoiter Goliad.
This detachment was talking among themselves when they heard someone call to them.
It turned out to be Ben Milam who heard them speaking English.
Milam escaped from a Mexican prison in Monterrey after taking part in the Coahuila revolt. He walked to Texas. Milam joined Collinsworth’s force.
Other Celts with Collinsworth included: James W. Moore, D.C. Collinsworth, Ira Ingram, Spirse Dooley, Thomas O’Connor, Morgan O’Brien, John Dunn, George McKnight, Patrick Quinn, Michael O’Reilley, Robert Patrick Hearn, a man named Scott, and Samuel McCullough (said to be Collinsworth’s slave, but that was just a cover to assuade those needing it.
McCullough was a free black and was there for the same reason as the others). From Refugio, and joining the group before the attack were: Edward McDonough, Hugh McDonald Fraser, Andrew Devereaux, James Shearn, and some others.
The attack was made October 9th, 1835.
The Mexican garrison was taken completely by surprise.
One of the defenders was killed and three wounded.coming events.
The victory at Goliad brought more than the objectives sought; they also found in the fort: arms, money, and supplies desperately needed by the revolutionaries.
Collinsworth then dispatched couriers to the settlements to announce the capture of Goliad.
Two of them sent to San Patricio, John Williams and John O’Toole, were captured by Mexican soldiers and taken as prisoners to Fort Lipantitlan.
Thus, the first Texans taken prisoner in the Texas Revolution were Irish.
An argument could be made; those at Refugio, who were pressed into helping the Mexican Army, were the first prisoners; but they were Irish too, as well as some local Mexicans.
