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Sam Houston
Note
that if any links below prompt you for a password, use Texas.
In the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, Texas forces under
General
Sam Houston caught Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna's army by surprise. Much of the Mexican army
had had a hard march to catch up with the Texans. They were expecting
to do battle the next morning. The Texans decided not to wait, and attacked
during the afternoon, while many of the tired Mexicans were sleeping.
The Texans didn't have a proper military band, which would usually
be used to help set the pace of marching and also to rally the troops.
There were a few amateur musicians in the army, but they didn't know
any military marching tunes. Instead they played "Come
to the Bower," a popular song of the day.
Santa Anna had failed to post adequate guards, and the Texans attacked
over the ridge line that separated the two forces. For many of the Mexicans,
their first warning of the attack came as the Texans swept into their camp
firing their weapons.
Map of San Jacinto Battlefield
To prevent the Mexicans from receiving more reinforcements, Houston
had ordered the nearby Vince's Bridge cut. This also took away the Mexican
army's main retreat route. Many of the Mexican soldiers, unprepared to
fight the battle they now found themselves in, attempted to escape by jumping
into Peggy's Lake and swimming away. Texas forces stood on the shores of
the lake and fired at the retreating Mexicans.
The battle was short and deadly. Within about 18 minutes, the Texans
had won the battle. Houston reported that 630 Mexicans were killed and
730 were taken prisoner. The Texans lost only two men.
Santa Anna
One
of those who escaped by swimming Peggy's Lake was Santa Anna himself. He
was captured the next day, dressed as a common soldier. The Texans who
captured Santa Anna didn't recognize him at first, but his fellow prisoners
did. Other Mexican soldiers called Santa Anna "El presidente," alerting
the Texans that they had captured the Mexican leader.
Santa Anna, as dictator of Mexico, had the power to grant Texas independence.
In order to secure his own freedom, he signed treaties granting Texas full
independence.
Learn More . . .
The Handbook
of Texas Online features a detailed article about the battle.
The San
Jacinto Monument and Museum and the San
Jacinto Battleground State Historic Complex are dedicated
to preserving the memory of the battle.
