Delegates at the convention declared freedom from Mexico on March 2, 1836 and named Sam Houston as commander of the Texan Army. Houston took command of the army on March 11th.
Houston did not arrive in time to relieve the small force that was under siege at the Alamo, and when the Alamo fell, Houston received news from his scouts that Santa Anna was marching his army eastward.
Houston knew his ragtag army was ill equipped to meet an army of veteran soldiers, so he ordered a series of retreats and managed to stay ahead of the Mexican army, all the while, training and supplying his troops as best he could.
During this time, Houston had to contend with constant low moral and desertions because his men wanted to fight instead of drill, and many had families to protect from the Mexican army that marched in several small detachments burning and pillaging through Texas toward Louisiana.
Finally, after constant pressure from Texas President David G. Burnet and Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk as well as his own troops, Sam Houston decided to fight. On April 17, 1836, the Texan army turned south.
Battle of San Jacinto Begins
On April 20th, the two armies arrived and the San Jacinto River and an artillery engagement ensued. Sidney Sherman led a small group of Texas cavalry against the Mexican cannon and was repulsed.
Mexican reinforcements arrived early the next morning, bringing the number of men under Santa Anna’s command to around 1,400, nearly double the 783 under Sam Houston’s command.
Around 3:30 in the afternoon, the Texan army began its advance. Kept from sight by a low rise, the Texans completely surprised the Mexican troops. Shouting the battle cries, “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” the Texans routed the Mexican army. The battle lasted only 18 minutes and soon became a slaughter.
Six hundred and thirty Mexican soldiers were slain and 730 were captured as opposed to only eight Texans killed and around 30 wounded. Santa Anna was captured as well as all the Mexican supplies and weapons along with $12,000 in silver.
The Battle of San Jacinto completely crushed the Mexican occupation of Texas. As a result of being captured, Santa Anna issued an order for all Mexican troops to withdraw south of the Rio Grande and the Republic of Texas was born.
Texas remained an independent nation until it joined the Union on December 29, 1845.
Source:
Lamar, Howard R, ed. The New Encyclopedia of the American West. New Haven and London, Yale University Press.
