Atta Girl Francisca "Panchita" Alavez

The survivors told their stories and it is thanks to them that we know of the bravery of this woman, this hero of the massacre of Goliad.

This incredible woman, Francisca “Panchita” Alavez has been immortalized with the term “The Angel of Goliad”. Francisca, was the wife of Captain Telesforo Alavez, commander of Mexican Centralista forces in the Copano and Victoria region under Gen. Jose de Urrea's command.

Numerous accounts place Francisca with the movements of Captain Alavez on assignment in Copano Bay, Goliad, Victoria and Matamoros, where she assisted Texian prisoners at all locations.

There are written accounts by some of the men that Panchita saved from certain death:

to Rueben Brown, whose life she saved at San Patricio, and who was again to share her mercies as a "Prisoner of Matamoros," he referred to "a Mexican lady named Alvarez."

to Dr. Jack Shackleford, whom she befriended in his darkest hour, and who first proclaimed her virtues to the world, she was "Pacheta Alevesco, wife of Captain A."

to Dr Joseph Barnard to whom we are mainly indebted for the little we know concerning her, she was "Señora Alvarez * - * [who] arrived at the Copano with her husband [who was one of Urrea's officers.]"

to Benjamin F. Hughes lad of fifteen, whom she saved on that fatal Palm Sunday at Goliad, she was "a young lady, Madame Captain Alvarez, evidently of distinction."

Other Texans who owed her their lives knew her only as "the wife of a Mexican officer."

There is also an account of an instance where near Victoria, Madame Alavez and one other Mexican lady of distinction literally stopped an execution by jumping between the executioners and the prisoners and proclaiming that the shooters would have to shoot them before shooting the prisoners.

Although there have been variations listed of Panchita's last name, Mexican military records confirm Telesforo Alavez serving under the command under General Urrea, so it is just a matter of the early Texans not being familiar with the correct Mexican name that the variations exist.

It is said that Senora Alavez returned to Mexico City with the Captain and was there abandoned by him (he had another wife). At that time she returned to Matamoros, penniless but she received help from Texians who knew of her humanitarian efforts.

Although some accounts state that Panchita disappeared from history when she returned to Matamoros, other accounts place her on the King Ranch and say that she died there and is buried there in an unmarked grave. It is also said that many of her descendants use the name Alvarez and other of her descendants include foremen of major divisions of the King Ranch, first Mexican-American to play high school football in Kingsville, brothers Bobby Cavazos, Gen.Richard O. Cavazos and Dr. Lauro Cavazos, former president of Texas Tech University and Secretary of Education 1988-1990, the first Hispanic to serve in the U. S. Cabinet, the Alvarez clan is alive and well in Kingsville, Corpus Christi and all over South Texas. 

http://www.theoutlaws.com/people2.htm 

http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/goliadangel.htm#fate

http://www.andrewbutlerphotos.com/keyword/texas%20historical%20marker/8/1278295101_RWqPgF8#!i=1278295101&k=RWqPgF8&lb=1&s=XL