The Battle of San Jacinto stands as the defining moment in Texas history – an 18-minute clash that secured our independence and changed the map of North America forever. To understand the magnitude of this triumph, we must examine the events leading up to it, the precise moments of the battle itself, and its profound aftermath. This is our story – a Texas story of courage, tactical brilliance, and the indomitable spirit of freedom.
The Road to San Jacinto
The Texas Revolution began in earnest when Mexican troops attempted to seize a small cannon in Gonzales. The Texians held on to their cannon in the small skirmish that would later be known as the first battle of the Texas Revolution. But the path to San Jacinto was paved with both triumph and tragedy.
The fall of the Alamo on March 6, 1836, saw the deaths of all defenders after a 13-day siege. Colonel William B. Travis had given it to them straight. The situation had been laid out. The options had been given. The line had been drawn. His decision had been made. And along with those brave men, he perished in defense of Texas liberty.
Just weeks later came the massacre at Goliad, where General Santa Anna ordered the execution of 342 Texian prisoners of war. These twin atrocities galvanized the Texas spirit and steeled our resolve. The cry “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” became both a rallying call and a solemn vow.
General Sam Houston, understanding that the survival of the revolution depended on preserving his army, employed a strategic retreat eastward, allowing his forces to train while awaiting the right moment to strike. This “Runaway Scrape” tested the patience of his men and the political leadership, but Houston’s foresight would soon be vindicated.
Positioning for Battle
On April 20, 1836, our Texian army of 935 men reached Lynchburg Ferry after a forced march. They captured one of Santa Anna’s supply boats and established their position about a mile back in a wooded area. Their position was naturally fortified by marshland and the San Jacinto River, with tall prairie grass concealing their front line – a tactical advantage that would prove crucial.
Around noon, the Mexican army arrived with 750 troops, marching in columns along the New Washington-Lynchburg road. Santa Anna, that tyrant who had ordered the execution of our brothers at the Alamo and Goliad, ordered his men to pitch camp in a vulnerable position. The Mexicans couldn’t see the Texians, but Santa Anna suspected their presence in the wooded grove.
A skirmish ensued as the Mexicans formed a line, met with artillery fire from the Texian “Twin Sisters” cannons – two six-pounders that had been donated to the Texas cause by the people of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Mexicans attempted to use their cannon, the aptly named “El Volcán,” but withdrew after our response.
That afternoon, Colonel Sidney Sherman led a Texian cavalry attempt to capture the Mexican cannon, but they were forced to retreat as Mexican infantry advanced. During this action, Secretary of War Thomas Rusk was nearly captured, rescued by Mirabeau Lamar in a display of bravery that would later help elevate Lamar to the presidency of our Republic. The Texians fell back to their camp, setting the stage for the next day’s battle.
The Eve of Destiny
Through the night and into the next morning, both armies prepared for what was to come. The Mexican force constructed breastworks out of pack saddles and baggage, creating a defensive position that betrayed their awareness of potential conflict. Santa Anna, however, in his characteristic arrogance, seemed unconcerned by the proximity of Houston’s army.
Meanwhile, in the Texian camp, Houston called a council of war with his officers. Some advocated for an immediate attack, while others favored waiting for Santa Anna to make the first move. Houston, weighing his options carefully, appeared to favor the latter approach – a deception that would serve his true intentions well.
The Day of Reckoning
The next morning, April 21, General Martín Perfecto de Cos arrived with 500 reinforcements, increasing the Mexican force to about 1,250 men. The Mexicans had doubled their sentries and maintained their defensive posture, but exhaustion from their forced march was evident in their lack of vigilance.
In a move that would prove decisive, Houston ordered Vince’s Bridge destroyed. This order, executed by Erastus “Deaf” Smith and his men, eliminated the possibility of further Mexican reinforcements and – more critically – cut off the primary escape route for both armies. It was a declaration that one side would be decisively victorious while the other would be utterly defeated.
Throughout the morning, the Texian camp buzzed with anticipation. Men cleaned their weapons, checked their powder, and secured extra ammunition. Many wrote letters to loved ones, aware of the gravity of what lay ahead.
By mid-afternoon, Mexican discipline had begun to wane. Santa Anna, believing Houston would not attack that day, ordered his men to rest. Many Mexican soldiers stacked their arms and settled in for their traditional siesta. Some accounts suggest Santa Anna himself retired to his tent with a young woman captured during the campaign, though this detail may be Texas folklore rather than established fact.
The Hour of Attack
At 3:30 PM, Houston ordered the Texian troops to parade and prepare for battle. Though outnumbered, the men were enthusiastic, their morale heightened by the memories of the Alamo and Goliad. The Texian army organized into two regiments of infantry under the commands of Colonel Edward Burleson and Colonel Henry Millard, with Colonel Sherman commanding the cavalry on the left wing and Colonel Mirabeau B. Lamar (the same who had rescued Rusk the previous day) leading the cavalry on the right.
The Texian line advanced silently across the open prairie, using low terrain to approach undetected. The element of surprise would prove to be the decisive factor in the coming engagement. Houston, atop his white horse Saracen, rode back and forth along the line, positioning his troops and offering final words of encouragement.
At 4:30 PM, the battle began as Texian artillery, positioned within 200 yards of the Mexican breastwork, opened fire with grape and canister shot. The “Twin Sisters” announced the beginning of Texas independence with fire and thunder. Colonel Sherman’s regiment initiated the action on the left wing, and the entire Texian line advanced rapidly.
As they charged, the Texians shouted, “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” – a cry that both honored their fallen countrymen and struck terror into the hearts of the Mexican soldiers who had participated in those atrocities. The sound of nearly a thousand voices raised in righteous anger must have been deafening to the surprised Mexican troops.
The Fury of Texian Vengeance
Colonel Pedro Delgado, a Mexican officer who survived the battle, later wrote of the terrifying advance: the Texians came on like demons, with rifles raised and faces contorted with rage. The Mexican sentry line managed to fire a volley, but had no time to reload before the Texian line crashed into their position.
The Texians received enemy fire but continued without halting, engaging in close combat immediately upon reaching the Mexican line. Many Mexican soldiers, awakened from their afternoon rest, had no time to form up or even retrieve their stacked weapons before the Texians were upon them.
Our men overran the Mexican breastwork, capturing their cannon in a gallant charge, with hand-to-hand fighting ensuing across the battlefield. Many Texians, lacking bayonets, used their rifles as clubs, breaking several at the breech – a testament to the fury with which they fought.
The Mexican officers attempted to rally their men, but the Texian attack had been too sudden, too ferocious. Mexican Colonel Juan Almonte managed to form approximately 100 men into a defensive square, but they were quickly surrounded and surrendered when they realized the battle was lost.
Collapse and Pursuit
After just 18 minutes of intense fighting, the Mexican lines completely collapsed, and their troops retreated in disarray. What began as an organized withdrawal quickly devolved into a panicked rout as the Texians pressed their advantage.
The fleeing Mexican soldiers attempted to escape in whatever direction seemed safest – many heading east toward Peggy Lake. Here, the destruction of Vince’s Bridge proved decisive, as the Mexican troops found themselves trapped between the advancing Texians and the boggy waters of the lake and bayou.
The Texians pursued with vengeful energy, the memories of the Alamo and Goliad driving them forward. Some Mexican soldiers attempted to surrender, calling out “Me no Alamo! Me no Goliad!” – but in the heat of battle, with blood up and memories of murdered comrades fresh, many Texians gave no quarter.
Sam Houston, leading from the front throughout the engagement, had two horses shot from under him and was wounded in the ankle by a musket ball, yet continued to command his forces. He eventually ordered his men to take prisoners, recognizing the strategic and moral value of capturing rather than killing the defeated Mexicans.
By 6:00 PM, over 600 Mexican soldiers had surrendered. The Texians secured the battlefield, capturing one cannon (still loaded), four stands of colors, all camp equipment, stores, and baggage. This included about 600 muskets, 300 sabers, 200 pistols, several hundred mules and horses, and nearly twelve thousand dollars in specie.
The Capture of Santa Anna
Santa Anna himself fled the battlefield at the first sign that his line was breaking. Shedding his distinctive uniform for that of a common soldier, he escaped on horseback toward Vince’s Bayou, only to find the bridge destroyed. He was forced to spend the night hiding in the woods.
The following afternoon, April 22, a Texian patrol captured a Mexican soldier in a common private’s uniform near the bayou. The captive was brought back to the Texian camp, where Mexican prisoners, upon seeing him, began saluting and referring to him as “El Presidente.” Thus was the “Napoleon of the West” discovered – attempting to flee dressed as a common foot soldier.
When brought before Houston, who was resting under a tree due to his wounded ankle, Santa Anna reportedly declared: “That man may consider himself born to no common destiny who has conquered the Napoleon of the West. And now it remains for him to be generous to the vanquished.” Houston’s reputed response was simply: “You should have remembered that at the Alamo.”
Santa Anna, fearing for his life, agreed to sign the Treaties of Velasco, ordering all Mexican forces in Texas to retreat south of the Rio Grande and effectively ending the Texas Revolution with a decisive victory for the cause of independence.
The Cost of Freedom
The battle’s brevity belies its significance and the cost it incurred. The Mexicans suffered 630 killed, many wounded, and over 600 captured. Our losses were 6 killed in battle and 6 more who later died from wounds – a remarkably small price for such a momentous victory, yet still a painful sacrifice for a young nation with a small population.
Among the Texian dead were Privates Lemuel Blakely, John Tom, Milas R. Jones, Thomas P. Fowl, and Christopher A. Stivers, along with Second Lieutenant John C. Hale. These names deserve to be remembered alongside the more famous heroes of our revolution, for their sacrifice was no less meaningful.
The Birth of a Republic
San Jacinto’s 18-minute duration forever changed the map of North America. Mexico lost nearly a million square miles of territory, while our victory secured Texas’s independence. The battle stands as testament to Texian courage, tactical brilliance, and our indomitable spirit of freedom.
On May 14, 1836, Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco, which recognized Texas independence in exchange for his life and safe passage back to Mexico. Though the Mexican government would later repudiate these treaties, claiming Santa Anna had signed under duress, the practical reality was established: Texas had won its independence on the field of battle.
The Republic of Texas was born, with Sam Houston elected as its first president in September 1836. The land secured by the victory at San Jacinto would eventually become the 28th state of the United States, but for nine years, Texas stood as a fully independent nation among nations.
Legacy and Lessons
The Battle of San Jacinto provides enduring lessons for Texans today. First, it demonstrates the power of strategic patience – Houston’s decision to retreat, train, and choose the right moment to fight saved the revolution. Second, it shows the importance of decisive action when opportunity presents itself – the 18-minute battle was brief because the Texians seized the initiative and never relinquished it.
Most importantly, San Jacinto reminds us that Texans can overcome any odds when united in purpose. The brave men who fought there came from diverse backgrounds – some were longtime Texas settlers, others recent arrivals from the United States, Europe, and Mexico itself. What united them was not their past, but their shared vision for the future – a free and independent Texas.
The San Jacinto Monument, standing 570 feet tall (15 feet taller than the Washington Monument), marks the battlefield today. Its inscription reads, in part: “Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty.”
The Spirit Lives On
As we reflect on this decisive battle, we must remember that the same spirit that drove those men to victory at San Jacinto lives on in every Texan who believes in self-determination and liberty. The battle may have lasted only 18 minutes, but its legacy endures almost two centuries later.
In today’s world, where centralized power seems to grow ever more distant from the people it governs, the lessons of San Jacinto remain vitally important. Just as Houston and his men fought for the right to determine their own destiny, free from distant rulers who neither understood nor cared for their unique needs and values, so too must modern Texans remain vigilant in defense of our distinct character and right to self-governance.
To paraphrase Sam Houston himself, Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may. The battle of San Jacinto wasn’t just a military victory – it was the birth of a spirit of independence that continues to define what it means to be a Texan.
No matter what form it takes, the consensus is that Texas is a nation. It is recognized by those outside of Texas who either love us or hate us. Although their recognition is not something that Texans need, it’s something that we have.
The power of the San Jacinto moment lies in its simplicity – ordinary men, fighting for an extraordinary cause, changed the course of history through courage, determination, and an unwavering belief in their right to self-government. That moment continues to inspire us today, as we carry forward the torch of Texas independence and self-determination.
