Volunteer companies rushed to join General Samuel Houston’s growing Texas army. Mexico would never regain the lost territory, in spite of sporadic incursions during the 1840s. Its county seat is Coldspring. San Jacinto Day is a day of state pride for Texans in the United States on April 21 each year. The Battle of San Jacinto was an important battle in the Texas Revolution (1835-1836). The battle was a rout, as hundreds of Mexican soldiers were killed or captured. San Jacinto Battlefield is a National Historic Landmark. Eighteen minutes was all it took for Houston’s troops to take control of the Mexican camp. The Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas, 8 Important People of the Texas Revolution, 10 Facts About the Independence of Texas From Mexico, Biography of Sam Houston, Founding Father of Texas, Biography of Stephen F. Austin, Founding Father of Texan Independence, The Battle of the Alamo: Unfolding Events. Mexico would futilely try for years to reclaim Texas, only finally relinquishing any claim to it after the Mexican-American War. The decisive Battle of San Jacinto resulted in Texas’ independence from Mexico. Battle of San Jacinto, (April 21, 1836), defeat of a Mexican army of about 1,200–1,300 men under Antonio López de Santa Anna by about 900 men (mostly recent American arrivals in Texas) led by Gen. Sam Houston. Today, there is a monument at the San Jacinto battlefield, not far from the city of Houston. The troops under Cos were particularly tired. Many were asleep and almost none were in defensive position. The Texans wanted to fight and several junior officers tried to convince Houston to attack. Center row, second from left: Valentine Burch. It was a humiliating defeat and for years. About 500 Mexican reinforcements arrived. The final toll for the Texans: nine dead and 30 wounded, including Sam Houston, who had been shot in the ankle. December 29, 2020. Meanwhile, Houston kept one step ahead of Santa Anna. Go. Photograph of the Survivors of the Battle of San Jacinto, at a meeting of the Texas Veterans' Association at Galveston c. 1880. His decisions were consistently proven wise. The Battle of San Jacinto - April 21, 1836 San Jacinto Battleground is the site where the army of a newly-declared independent Republic of Texas under Sam Houston attacked and defeated a division of the Mexican Army under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on April 21, 1836. Houston avoided contact with the pursuing Mexican army until his Texas army gained strength and training. The Mexican pursuit of Houston was three-pronged, and though…. The Texans had just suffered two huge losses at the Alamo and Goliad and were on the run. Texas was gone, soon to be followed by California, New Mexico, and much more Mexican territory. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Battle of San Jacinto (Fred Rider Cotten Popular History Series Book 3). In one of the most one sided battles in history, the Texian soldiers crushed Santa Annas men in 18 minutes ensuring the succe… The battle took place on April 21, 1836 near the modern town of La Porte, Texas, which is a suburb of Houston. Mexican General Santa Anna had unwisely divided his force to mop up those Texans still in rebellion after the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre. Houston set up camp nearby. Santa Anna somehow evaded execution and eventually made his way back to Mexico, where he would later resume the Presidency, go back on his word, and try more than once to re-take Texas. Mexican General Santa Anna had unwisely divided his force to mop up those Texans still in rebellion after the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre. The battle was a turning point for Texas' independence from Mexico. After an eighteen-minute fight, the remaining Mexicans surrendered, but Santa Anna slipped away in a private’s uniform. San Jacinto County (/ ˌ s æ n dʒ ə ˈ s ɪ n t oʊ / SAN jə-SIN-toh) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas.As of the 2010 census, its population was 26,384. History lends events such as the independence of Texas a certain feeling of inevitability as if it was always the destiny of Texas to become first independent and then a state in the USA. When no attack followed in the morning, the Mexican troops relaxed even further. Had Santa Anna not split his forces, Houston's army may well have been beaten by the Mexicans' superior numbers. In the meantime, more information about the article and the author can be found by clicking on the author’s name. Losses: Mexican, 630 dead, 208 wounded, 730 captured; Texan, 9 dead, 30 wounded. Go. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Santa Anna was disgraced but would make yet another comeback in Mexican politics during the Pastry War against France in 1838-1839. Battle of San Jacinto, (April 21, 1836), defeat of a Mexican army of about 1,200–1,300 men under Antonio López de Santa Anna by about 900 men (mostly recent American arrivals in Texas) led by Gen. Sam Houston. Santa Anna dictated orders to his generals: they were to leave Texas at once. Corrections? He also signed documents recognizing the independence of Texas and ending the war. Interested in participating in the Publishing Partner Program? On 20 April, the two armies met in a low area of marshland and bayous near the San Jacinto River. But at San Jacinto, Texian and Mexican soldiers used weapons of the old school — gripping wood and iron as they held the gaze of the enemy’s eyes. Three signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence were Mexican Texans. As soon as the Mexicans realized an attack was coming, Houston ordered the cannons to fire (he had two of them, called the “twin sisters”) and the cavalry and infantry to charge. On April 21, 1836 Texas earned independence from Mexico in the Battle of San Jacinto. After the Alamo and Goliad, panicked Texans fled east, fearing for their lives. The Battle of San Jacinto (Fred Rider Cotten Popular History Series Book 3) - Kindle edition by Pohl, James W.. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. The Texans, still enraged over the massacres at the Alamo and Goliad, showed little pity for the Mexicans. The Battle of San Jacinto is commemorated by Texans because it resulted in the surrender of-----Santa Anna. His critics called him a coward, but Houston felt he would only get one shot at defeating the much-larger Mexican army and preferred to pick the time and place for battle. James Fanin. Sherman rounded up about 60 horsemen and charged anyway. Many of Santa Anna’s best officers fell early and loss of leadership made the rout even worse. Santa Anna, on the other hand, split his force, sending some units to secure his long supply line while others sought to capture the provisional Texan government. Every kid who has gone through elementary school in or around Houston has been to the San Jacinto Monument on a field trip (and skinned a knee going down the stairs of the Battleship Texas, the WWI and II era ship which some kids mistakenly thought helped Sam Houston win the battle of San Jacinto). When Houston learned what Santa Anna had done, he knew the time was right and turned to meet the Mexicans. The park is located in La Porte, about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of downtown Houston. For the Mexicans: about 630 dead, 200 wounded and 730 captured, including Santa Anna himself, who was captured the next day as he tried to flee in civilian clothes. This contribution has not yet been formally edited by Britannica. Houston held a good defensive position and wanted to let Santa Anna attack first, but in the end, he was convinced of the wisdom of an attack. In the wake of the Alamo debacle, with Mexican forces approaching, Houston and the troops under his command at Gonzales began an organized... San Jacinto Monument, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, LaPorte, Texas, U.S. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. On the afternoon of April 20, as the two armies continued to skirmish and size each other up, Sidney Sherman demanded that Houston send a cavalry charge to attack the Mexicans: Houston thought this foolish. Many Mexicans tried to surrender, saying “me no La Bahía (Goliad), me no Alamo,” but it was no use. Fought along the San Jacinto River, near the site of what was to be the city of Houston, the battle ensured the success of American settlers in the Texas Revolution (War of Texas Independence). Front row, second from right: George Petty of Washington County. The siege of the----- took place during the Revolutionary Era in Texas History. 13. At that moment, Houston’s artillery opened fire, and the Texan infantry charged. the decision to take some to time to improve his troops. Cover title. In the wake of the Alamo debacle, with Mexican forces approaching, Houston and the troops under his command at Gonzales began an organized withdrawal to the northeast, accompanied by fleeing civilians. The Battle of San Jacinto was not a battle against the Mexican people. Cassidy. Part of the Texas Revolution of 183536, it was fought between a Mexican army led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna and the Texian force of Sam Houston. The Mexicans were taken completely unawares. Santa Anna’s defense collapsed as panicked Mexicans tried to flee the cavalry across the marshes. Native Americans (Used twice) 28. Texas Revolution: The Battle of San Jacinto. An account of the Battle of San Jacinto written by Sam Houston and sent to David G. Burnett, President of the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston’s picture is a photograph by Elwood M. Payne, of an etching made from a daguerreotype in the San Jacinto Museum of History. General Sam Houston, sensing Santa Anna's mistake, engaged him on the shores of the San Jacinto River. This 1,200-acre park includes the towering San Jacinto Monument and the San Jacinto Museum of … San Jacinto was Houston's finest hour. In either case, history would be much different today. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. Thickly forested with oak trees and dotted with marshes, it was alien territory to the Mexicans, but not to the Texans. These articles have not yet undergone the rigorous in-house editing or fact-checking and styling process to which most Britannica articles are customarily subjected. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the ​Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Following Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821, the newly formed Republic of Mexico encouraged American immigrants to settle in Texas, which was part of the Mexican State of Coahuila y Tejas. The significance of this short battle cannot be overestimated. Center row, third from left: Valentine Ignatius Burch of Tyler County, Texas. Panicked Mexicans tried to flee only to find themselves trapped by the river or bayou. General Sam Houston led a force of about 900 Texans against General Antonio Santa Anna and slightly larger Mexican force. Houston wisely refrained. Let us know. Manifest Destiny 13. The troops were becoming increasingly impatient, however, by the time they reached Buffalo Bayou, a few miles southeast of present-day Houston. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican-American War, resul… The worst part of the slaughter was at the edges of the Bayou, where fleeing Mexicans found themselves cornered. On the following day, April 21, Santa Anna received some 500 reinforcements under the command of General Martín Perfecto de Cos. Nicaragua 10 Cordobas Banknote, Year 2007 – Face and Back 10 cordobas, Nicaragua, featuring Hacienda San Jacinto, series A 2007 banknote, back. As most of the men were volunteers, they did not have to take orders from anyone if they didn’t want to and often did things on their own. Omissions? Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on Britannica.com with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. The Battle of San Jacinto, which takes its name from San Jacinto River, took place on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas. Santa Anna chased the fleeing Texans, alienating many with his policies of driving off Anglo settlers and destroying their homesteads. Nine of Houston’s men had been killed or mortally wounded, and about 30 wounded less seriously, in this heavily lopsided victory. Tensions had long been simmering between rebellious Texans and Mexico. Merchants 21. Within 24 hours, some 600 Mexicans had been killed and more than 700 captured, including eventually Santa Anna himself, who was then freed after he came to terms with Houston to end the war. After the battle, many of the victorious Texans clamored for the execution of General Santa Anna. Why did Texans attack a Mexican fort at Goliad? Somewhat amazingly, Santa Anna's generals did as they were told and retreated out of Texas with their armies. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). For the Mexicans, San Jacinto was the start of a long national nightmare that would end with the loss of not only Texas but also California, New Mexico, and much more. Houston and his officers spoke with Santa Anna for hours before deciding on a course of action. Mexican President/General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna marched north with a massive army to put down the rebellion. The Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, was the defining battle of the Texas Revolution. Following the fall of the Alamo and the Texan’s defeat at Goliad, Sam Houston deliberately let himself run out of territory at San Jacinto. (Legend holds that Santa Anna was slow to respond to the assault because he was romantically involved with a woman when the attack unfolded, but that account is probably apocryphal.). San Jacinto, Battle of. Frontispiece “Battle of San Jacinto” is a photograph of a painting by Henry A. McArdle. He defeated the Texans at the legendary Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. Meanwhile, Mexican General Santa Anna marched his army to crush the Texan rebels. In April of 1836, Santa Anna learned that Houston was moving east. This was followed by the Goliad Massacre, in which some 350 rebellious Texan prisoners were executed. The Mexican army retreated, effectively ending the only realistic chance they ever had of re-taking Texas. When Houston didn’t attack at first light, Santa Anna assumed he would not attack that day and the Mexicans rested. San Jacinto 27. His reluctance to attack Santa Anna's unified force and his refusal to let the captured dictator be executed are two good examples. The Mexicans did not flinch and before long, the horsemen were trapped, forcing the rest of the Texan army to briefly attack to allow them to escape. The Battle of San Jacinto – Texas History. What was the main reason that the new nation of Texas was in Debt? The battle of San Jacinto was the concluding military event of the Texas Revolution. Sam Houston and the meager army of Texans retreated eastward following the fall of the Alamo in the spring of 1836. From their crude pallets the boys sprang up as if for a joyous holiday. It commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto between the Texan army and Mexican forces, which took place on April 21, 1836. They were within 200 yards (183 m) of the Mexican camp when discovered. The Mexicans were thoroughly routed, and hundreds were taken prisoner, including General Santa Anna himself. Shouted the Texian troops led by Gen. Sam Houston when they surprised the Mexican army that was camped here in 1836. As it was, the Mexicans' crushing defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto proved decisive for Texas. At about 3:30, the Texans began silently marching forward, trying to get as close as possible before opening fire. Did Davy Crockett Die in Battle at the Alamo? Updates? December 7, 2020. Cholera 12. Santa Anna attempted unsuccessfully to probe the Texan position, and there was an exchange of artillery fire. What decision by Sam Houston paid off at the Battle of San Jacinto? Houston arrived with about 1,400, settling down some 500 yards away. In addition, Santa Anna's generals had the strength to defeat the Texans: had Santa Anna been executed, they likely would have kept fighting. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-San-Jacinto-1836, Lone Star Junction - Battle of San Jacinto, 21 April 1836, National Park Service - American Latino Heritage - San Jacinto Battlefield La Porte, Texas, Texas State Historical Association - The Handbook of Texas Online - Battle of San Jacinto, The Civil War - The Battle of San Jacinto. One version, measuring approximately 8 feet (2.4 m) by 14 feet (4.3 m), is installed in the Texas Senate chamber of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas. Which Texas leader surrendered and was executed along with his soldiers because of his defense of Goliad at the battle of Coleto Creek? The Mexican government offered settlers from the United States land at cheap prices. Santa Anna set up camp on April 19, 1836, in a marshy area bordered by the San Jacinto River, Buffalo Bayou and a lake. Lone Star Nation: the Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence. Santa Anna had set up camp on the San Jacinto Prairie (now in Harris County) with roughly 700 men. Updated March 24, 2019. The Texans fired at close range and rolled over the hasty Mexican breastworks. Mexican politicians made great plans to get Texas back, but deep down they knew it was gone. The Texan Army was made up of many native-born Mexicans, some of whom were killed at the Alamo. to protect settlers from Mexican soldiers. The Battle of San Jacinto proved to be the decisive engagement of the Texas Revolution and effectively secured independence for the Republic of Texas. Were within 200 yards ( 183 m ) of the Texas Revolution ( 1835-1836 ) at about 3:30, Mexicans. Destroying their homesteads to sign a treaty, effectively ending the war the... 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