Texas wins independence at San Jacinto
Texans are an independent bunch, but we come by it honestly. After all, our independence was won on the battlefield 174 years ago on April 21, 1836 at a place known as San Jacinto.
This hard won victory came after the Mexican Army chased Sam Houston and a disintegrating army halfway across 
Texas. Finally, the Texans turned and fought and in the 18 minute battle and the skirmishes that lasted until dark, the Texas Army commanded by Sam Houston killed 700 Mexican soldados and captured 730. General Santa Anna, the self proclaimed Napoleon of the West, was among those captured although it was the following day. He was dressed as a common soldier trying to make his escape.
In the weeks before the final battle, Texas forces were in disarray and the Texas provisional capitol at Washington-on-the Brazos was abandoned and moved to Harrisburg and later to Galveston to avoid capture by Santa Anna’s forces. The President of the Republic of Texas, David G. Burnet, repeatedly ordered Sam Houston to stand and fight. Instead, Houston kept his forces moving toward the Sabine River, where General Pendleton Gaines of the U.S. Army had forces gathered in case Santa Anna tried to cross into Louisiana, part of the United States. Instead of crossing the Sabine, Houston had his forces turn toward Harrisburg which was to the southeast. Houston’s subordinate officers continually threatened to mutiny and stand and organize the fight themselves. Houston said he would shoot the first one to disobey his orders.
The civilians of Texas were in fear for their lives and they too fled toward Louisiana in a flight called The Runaway Scrape. They were also unhappy with the ragtag Texas Army and their leader, Sam Houston.
The final battle came when Houston met with the Texas Secretary of War, Thomas Rusk and the two agreed on Houston’s plan for a frontal assault on the Mexican forces. Santa Anna had camped with the San Jacinto River, Buffalo Bayou, and Vince’s Bayou blocking any escape. Santa Anna did not believe the Texas Army would stand and fight.
It was a miscalculation on the Mexican General’s part as Houston and his forces crossed approximately 900 yards of open field and literally walked to within yards of the Mexican lines before they were discovered. By then it was too late and the slaughter commenced. Santa Anna’s generals had failed to post guards and the Mexican soldiers were sleeping after a hard march to get where they were camped. Some say Providence had a hand in the Texas Victory.
There are many books and publications detailing the final battle, but it was the fervor of the Texas soldiers who fought through the Mexican lines with shouts of “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad”, that carried the day. Texas Scout Deaf Smith had burned the only route of escape for the Texans or the Mexicans when he destroyed Vince’s Bridge. For the Texans, it would be total Victory or Death.
General Sam Houston was shot through the ankle during the battle and had two horses shot out from under him. He was a true Texas Hero. Santa Anna was captured by Texas soldiers and he surrendered his forces to the Texans. He was kept alive and later ordered his forces to leave Texas, thus ending that round of organized hostilities between the two countries.
Sam Houston was vindicated, and Texas Independence was secured on that day, April 21, 1836. It’s a reverent day in Texas History and is recognized by historians as one of the most significant and decisive battles in the world. As a result of the Texas victory, almost one third of the nation’s current lands changed sovereignty.
I’m David out in Real Texas
Texan by the Grace of God
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Even Queen Elizabeth II has a good sense of Texas history & uniqueness. After all, her birthday is on San Jacinto Day, April 21.
Her remarks, from the steps of the Texas Capitol,
visiting Austin in May, 1991:
“One hundred and fifty years ago, the British consul in Texas reported to our Foreign Office that ‘Texans are rough and wild, but their consistency and courage are admirable.’
“Quite a number of principal characters in it (Texas history) had their origin in the old country,” she said.
“Some of the heroes of the Alamo were migrants from Britain, as were many of the people who settled your land.
“In more recent years, Texans have been busy reversing the trend,” she noted.
“The new world has returned to develop the old.
Texan strength and Texan expertise have notably helped us to find and use the oil fields in the North Sea.”
She evoked wild cheering when she talked about Texas’ reputation.
“No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty,”
the Queen said,
looking up from her text as the crowd erupted,
waving flags and applauding.
“Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born Texans.
(And then the crowd really went wild . . . ! )
“That sense of confidence and optimism is a priceless asset in an increasingly competitive world,” she said.
(Pretty neat stuff from the Queen of All the English-Speaking Peoples of the World, eh? — JJW)
Sam Houston “was a true Texas Hero.” ???
Perhaps, until he supported the Union
in the War of Northern Agression. Maybe
we can assume he had just become
senile and forgot the importance of
“free and sovereign” statehood. Many
saw him as a traitor to Texas and
The Confederate States of America.
Dammit!!! I wish the South had won—
we’d still be getting foreign aid from
the stupid Yankees!!
I think Houston WAS a true Texas hero. First of all, he refused to listen to those who felt he should kill Santa Anna right off the bat. If he had, we may still be Mexican citizens. Houston’s objective was Texas, not revenge.
As for the Civil War, Houston felt so strongly about his battle to get Texas INTO the Union, that he was heartsick that they so quickly wanted to LEAVE the Union. He felt SO strongly, that he left his office, rather than agree to turn his back on what he had worked so hard to achieve.
Indeed, Secretary Rusk was alive and available to confer with Houston only because of the heroism of Mirabeau Bonaparte Lamar.
Lamar joined the retreating Texas army at Groce’s Settlement, as a private, and a few days later arrived with it at what was to be the battleground of San Jacinto. On the afternoon of April 20 during skirmishes by the Texas cavalry, Col. Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War, in the front of this second cavalry charge, was hemmed in by several Mexican dragoons. It was sure that he would be put to the sword because while Santa Anna watched this fight, he ordered his bugler to sound the “Deguello.” Pvt. Lamar, on a big stallion, charged into the ring of Mexican cavalrymen surrounding Col. Rusk, knocked over one horseman with his horse, and thereby made an opening through which both he and the Secretary of War could escape.
As Lamar and the Texas cavalry retreated to the woods, Lamar rushed to the rescue of another comrade’s life. Walter Lane, a nineteen-year-old boy born in Ireland and raised in Baltimore, had been brushed off his horse when a Mexican lance touched him on the shoulder. His wound was slight, but he was on the ground and unable to defend himself when another Mexican lancer rushed to attack him. Lamar rode up in time to shoot the Mexican lancer with his pistol. Killing the Mexican lancer, and putting the others to flight, Lamar extricated his comrade-in-arms who jumped behind another Texas cavalryman on a rawboned sorrel mare and made it back to the Texas camp. This boy, who owed his life to Lamar’s daring intervention, later became a Confederate general.
Legend adds that Lamar then rode coolly in front of the Mexican lines back to his own squad, that the Mexican cavalrymen paused to applaud Lamar’s brave feats, that they acknowledged their admiration by a volley as he passed, and that Mirabeau reined in his horse and acknowledged this tribute with a bow. It was a deed the Black Prince would have envied.
The next morning Lamar was acclaimed commander of the cavalry, but he refused the post out of consideration for the regular officers. These very officers, however, after Colonel Rusk had invited him to join his staff, added their insistence to that of the men, and Lamar took command of the cavalry corps.
As the main Texas army advanced to the fife and drum music of “Come to the Bower I Have Shaded For You, Our bed shall be roses all spangled with dew,” Lamar and his sixty cavalrymen swept forward on the right wing like an avenging fury.
Mirabeau B. Lamar—the knightly gentleman, affectionate, loyal husband, romanticist poet, whose Huguenots ancestors fled France because of persecution for their Christian beliefs—went on to become the second President of the Republic of Texas and “father of education” in our great State.
Great story Tom…..everyone should know ‘the old stories’ and how it all adds to the lore and blessings of being a Texan.
Great article!!!! We all need reminding of how blessed we are, and how much we owe to those who fought to create “TEXAS”. Mom is here with us for awhile, she it 89 and doing pretty well. She is proud of “little David” that lived across the street and she watched grow up!!!
Keep on writing!!! Sandy
Over the years this country has been blessed with great men, brave and courageous men, smart men who happened along at just the right time and in the right place. Houston was one of them, even though he had many personal battles to fight. He was in the right place at the right time. So were Washington, Adams, Jefferson and others so numerous they can’t be mentioned. Each appeared on the scene at the proper place and at the proper time. We, and this country have been truly blessed by our creator.
Where are the great men now, at a time when we desperately need them? I don’t see any around, and I am saddened that we have no brave, courageous, intelligent, smart (there is a difference between intelligent and smart) leaders who can lead this country back to its greatness.
Warthog,
I so totally agree. It makes me sad every day to see the direction towards which we are letting ourselves be led.
….And if visitors and readers will click on Carol’s name above, the link will take you to her website where you can learn even more about the Great State.