San Jacinto

On April 19th the Texans prepared their defensive position near the confluence of the Buffalo Bayou & the San Jacinto River facing open prairie with the bayou & a grove of trees protecting their rear. On the morning of April 20th Santa Anna began his march across the prairie but a blast from the "Twin Sisters" forced him back to a clump of trees. Col. Sydney Sherman charged Santa Anna's men in a preliminary skirmish wounding two Texans, one mortally. During this engagement, a private from Georgia, Mirabeau Lamar, so distinguished himself that Houston placed him in charge of the cavalry. At about 9:00 AM April 21st, Houston got word that General Cos had arrived by crossing Vince's bridge bringing with him additional troops increasing Santa Anna's force to about 1,500. Houston ordered Deaf Smith to destroy the bridge to prevent the arrival of any additional Mexican support which would also cut off the only viable escape route. Houston organized his troops of about 910 brave patriots in a simple line formation with Sherman's volunteer regiment on the far left, Edward Burleson's on his right, George Hockley in command of the artillery on Burleson's right, Henry Millard's infantry on his right & the cavalry under command of Lamar on the far right. At about 3:30 in the afternoon, under a beautiful Texas sky, the remaining hope for Texas Independence moved silently across no man's land being instructed to hold their fire until they got the order. They were no doubt a ragged, unkept group of men after 40 days on the march. Only one company Cpt. William Wood's "Kentucky Rifles" wore uniforms. Once Deaf Smith rode up & advised Houston that Vince's Bridge was destroyed, the "Twin Sisters" were wheeled into position & fired iron slugs into the enemy barricade. With that, the entire line led by Col. Sherman charged yelling "Remember Goliad!" and "Remember The Alamo!" stopping within a few yards of the enemy to open fire. After this volley the Texans fell to the ground expecting the Mexicans to return fire but Sgt. Manuel Flores remained standing & yelled, "Get up! For Santa Anna's men are running!" Having caught the Mexicans totally by surprise, the battle, which lasted less than 20 minutes, was a complete rout. The Mexicans suffered 700 killed & 208 wounded. 730 were taken prisoner. During the battle Santa Anna disappeared. The next morning a search party was sent out and a Mexican fugitive clothed as a common soldier was found hiding in the tall grass near Vince's Bayou. When he was returned to camp his identity was revealed when another soldier cried, "El Presidente!" Santa Anna demanded treatment as a prisoner of war stating, "You can afford to be generous. You have captured the Napolean of the West!" To which Houston replied, "What claim have you to mercy, when you showed none at the Alamo or at Goliad?" Ultimately, Santa Anna agreed to evacuate Texas & on May 14th, 1836 The Treaties of Velasco were signed by Santa Anna & interem Texas President David G. Burnet formally establishing the Republic of Texas. A panel on the San Jacinto Monument declares the Battle of San Jacinto to be "one of the decisive battles of the world." That might be right for as a result of this 18 minute battle, "nearly a million square miles of territory changed sovereignty." Texas would ultimately be admitted as the 28th state to the United States under President James K. Polk December 29, 1845.

Born March 2, 1793 Sam Houston enlisted to fight the British in the War of 1812 where he rapidly rose from Pvt to 1st Lt. He was nearly fatally wounded by an arrow to the groin at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend & shot in the shoulder & arm during an assault on a Creek fortification. After the war he opened a legal practice in TN & in 1822 was elected to the US House of Representatives & then as 6th Governor of TN. He left for Texas in 1832 & immediately involved himself in the politics of the region. He attended the Convention of 1833 taking the radical position of Texas independence. He later attended the Consultation of 1835 where he was made Commander in Chief of the fledgeling army. On April 21, 1836 Houston surprised Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto defeating him in a rout that lasted less than 20 minutes leading to Texas independence. He was elected twice as President of the Republic of Texas & served as US Senator from the state of Texas & as Texas' 5th Governor before retiring from politics in 1861. He died in Huntsville July 26th, 1863 with his wife Margaret at his side. His last words were "Texas! Texas! Margaret..."