During the assembly at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836, while Santa Anna was shelling the walls of the Alamo, a declaration of independence was adopted for the State of Texas, one whose model had been written sixty years before by Thomas Jefferson.
On that day, Texas was declared to be the independent Republic of Texas.
After the fall of the Alamo, General Sam Houston took charge of the Texas Army.
In order to gain time and troops from the surrounding countryside, Houston ordered a general retreat.
His orders were carried to the fort at Goliad where General Fannin had 500 men who had been denied by Fannin to help defend the Alamo.
Fannin tarried too long, and he and his force were captured on the way and sent back to Goliad.
A few days later three hundred ninety were marched up the road and executed.
The officers, including Fannin, were told of the fate of their men, then executed.