Battle of San Jacinto

The Battle of San Jacinto was a pivotal battle in the Texas Revolution, fought on April 21, 1836. It took place near present-day Houston, Texas, along the banks of the San Jacinto River. The battle lasted for just 18 minutes, but its outcome was decisive for the independence of Texas from Mexico.

Background

After the Texian forces under General Sam Houston were defeated at the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre, many Texans were demoralized. However, Houston was able to gather a force of about 900 men as he retreated eastward, with the pursuing Mexican forces under General Antonio López de Santa Anna following closely.

Mexican Army and Santa Anna

The Mexican Army, under the leadership of Santa Anna, had been pursuing the Texians with the goal of quashing the rebellion. Santa Anna's forces were battle-hardened, having recently defeated the Texians at the Alamo and Goliad. They numbered around 1,200 to 1,300 troops.

Texian Forces

On the Texian side, morale was low after the defeats at the Alamo and Goliad. However, Houston managed to rally his troops, and by the time of the Battle of San Jacinto, he had around 900 men. Many of these soldiers were volunteers, including recent arrivals from the United States, such as the "Twin Sisters" cannons, which had just arrived.

The Battle

The battle took place in the afternoon of April 21, 1836. Houston's forces surprised the Mexican army, catching them during their afternoon siesta. The Texians attacked with the famous battle cry, "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!"

The Texians overwhelmed the Mexican camp, which was caught off guard and unprepared. The fighting lasted for only about 18 minutes, during which the Texians inflicted heavy casualties on the Mexican forces. Santa Anna attempted to rally his troops, but the chaos and surprise of the attack were too much to overcome.

Capture of Santa Anna

During the confusion of the battle, Santa Anna attempted to escape by disguising himself as a common soldier. However, he was captured the following day on April 22, 1836, hiding in tall grass. His capture essentially ended the fighting and marked the effective end of the Texas Revolution.

Aftermath

The Battle of San Jacinto was a resounding victory for the Texians. They suffered minimal casualties, with only around 9 killed and 30 wounded, while the Mexican forces suffered around 630 killed and 208 captured.

Santa Anna, while in captivity, was forced to sign the Treaties of Velasco, which recognized Texas as an independent republic. However, the Mexican government later disavowed these treaties.

The Battle of San Jacinto is remembered as a turning point in the Texas Revolution. It secured Texas' independence from Mexico and led to the establishment of the Republic of Texas, which later joined the United States as the 28th state in 1845. The battle remains a significant event in Texas history, celebrated annually as San Jacinto Day on April 21st.