Presidio La Bahia, the 261-year-old “Fort of the Bay” National Historic Landmark near Goliad, TX, welcomed -– “with a bang” -- a new member to the walled bastion’s arsenal yesterday. http://www.presidiolabahia.org/index.html

Thanks to the generosity of a group of undisclosed private citizens known as “The Cannoneers,” the Presidio took delivery of and fired its newly acquired, solid bronze, Verbruggen-style cannon, believed to be of the type used 250 years ago. The purchase price was undisclosed.

The full-size artillery piece was displayed and demonstrated at a news conference for media members and visitors. Journalists also got a look at the recently completed 3½-year, $500,000 renovation to the highly revered military complex. Details on the March 27-28 Silver Anniversary re-enactment of the “Goliad Massacre,” which occurred in 1836 during the Texas Revolution, also were provided.

The cannon barrel was acquired from Don W. Morgan of Austin, TX, who found it at Fort Ligonier, Pennsylvania, in 1964. After many battles during the French and Indian War in 1758, that British fortification was abandoned. Retreating British and Colonials burned the cannon carriages and buried the disabled cannons to prevent their capture.

“The cannon was found along the path of the retreat and is considered an authentic artifact,” said Newton M. Warzecha, Presidio Director since 1991. “The Smithsonian Institute’s historical military section has verified from photographs that the barrel is of the type of the 1750 period.”

Through Morgan’s extensive research of historical documents and the expertise of consultants, a historically correct carriage, accurate in all details, was reproduced. In fact, the cannon has already seen “Texas service.”

The cannon was fired on the Gonzales, TX, square on Oct. 1, 1966, for the “Come and Take It” celebration. The slogan had been used in 1835 at a minor skirmish, “The Battle of Gonzalez,” when a small group of Texians successfully resisted Mexican forces which had orders to seize their cannon.

“This small field piece, used as an infantry support, fired a loaded canister of small iron balls from a two-inch bore,” Warzecha explained. “It was considered particularly deadly against cavalry. The entire gun assembly weighs about 1,000 pounds, yet is so well-balanced, a single man can easily move and position it.

“The cannon is very similar in style to several of the old iron cannons presently displayed here at the Spanish and Mexican Colonial citadel and at the nearby Fannin Memorial Monument,” he added. “Its acquisition was part of our overall plan in remodeling and re-designing the museum.”

Renovation... Re-enactment

During the past 3½ years, the fortress has quietly undergone its most extensive refurbishing since the original restoration to its 1836 appearance in the mid-1960s with funds from the Kathryn Stoner O’Connor Foundation.

The complex, owned by the Catholic Diocese of Victoria which purchased the site in 1853 from the City of Goliad for $1,000, contains the 231-year-old Lady of Loreto Chapel, still used weekly as a parish church.

More than $500,000 in improvements to the fort, museum and chapel complex were completed this month with funds provided by members of The Presidio La Bahia Foundation, its Advisory Board, the Friends of the Fort and numerous individuals and area foundations.

A feature news release and still photographs on the renovation are at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/Texas-Revolution/Massacre-Re-enactment/prweb3715064.htm. A recent four-minute video of the Presidio and its Living History Program are at: http://www.kiiitv.com/news/86213732.html. Fan us on Facebook: http://bizwire.pr/PresidioLaBahia

About 5,000 persons are expected for the Silver Anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Coleto Creek in March 1836 and the ensuing Palm Sunday “massacre” of the 342 Texians who had surrendered to the Mexican army.

About 150 costumed re-enactors on both sides of the opposing forces will fill the air with gritos (cries), noise and smoke from black powder muzzle-loaders and cannons.

For the balance of this news release, click on: http://www.presidiolabahia.org/media_guide/03-18-2010.htm