Posted: 4/21/2014 10:11:11 AM EDT
On April 21, 1836, Texian forces under General Sam Houston defeated the Mexican Army, commanded by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, in the decisive victory of the Texas Revolution. The battleground was an area of marshy ground cut through with a lot of waterways. After the Mexican forces arrived on scene, General Houston had his scouts, led by Deaf Smith, burn the only bridge to cut off any possible retreat. They attacked the Mexican forces, who were unaware of the Texans' advance, in their camp, and resistance quickly disappeared.
Painting of the battle:
Battle map:
"Houston disposed his forces in battle order about 3:30 in the afternoon while all was quiet on the Mexican side during the afternoon siesta. The Texans' movements were screened by trees and the rising ground, and evidently Santa Anna had no lookouts posted. The battle line was formed with Edward Burleson's regiment in the center, Sherman's on the left wing, the artillery under George W. Hockley on Burleson's right, the infantry under Henry Millard on the right of the artillery, and the cavalry under Lamar on the extreme right. The Twin Sisters were wheeled into position, and the whole line, led by Sherman's men, sprang forward on the run with the cry, "Remember the Alamo!" "Remember Goliad!" The battle lasted but eighteen minutes. According to Houston's official report, the casualties were 630 Mexicans killed and 730 taken prisoner. Against this, only nine of the 910 Texans were killed or mortally wounded and thirty were wounded less seriously. Houston's ankle was shattered by a rifle ball. The Texans captured a large supply of muskets, pistols, sabers, mules, horses, provisions, clothing, tents, and $12,000 in silver."
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qes04
Replicas of the "Twin Sisters", the Texian's two cannons:
Santa Anna surrenders to Houston:
San Jacinto Monument:
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site map:
Further readings:
http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/batsanjacinto.htm
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/texas/battle-san-jacinto.htm
http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/
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