Fax: 512-936-0685. This contribution has not yet been formally edited by Britannica. Mirabeau B. Lamar's heroic actions in that conflict earned him a battlefield commission as Colonel. Painting of the Battle of San Jacinto by Henry Arthur McArdle, 1895. by Bruce Winders, Ph.D. On April 21, Texans will commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. The battle of San Jacinto was the concluding military event of the Texas Revolution. 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. Sam Houston spent the next few weeks attempting to train the recruits into something resembling a disciplined army, then continued his march toward the Sabine. Read about how a small Texas army defeated General Santa Anna's forces and gained independence for Texas. A Texan council of war, in the meantime, voted to attack, and Houston launched his 900 Texans in a risky assault that afternoon. Santa Anna’s defense collapsed as panicked Mexicans tried to flee the cavalry across the marshes. The Battle of San Jacinto lasted less than twenty minutes, but it sealed the fate of three republics. Lists are composites from Baker's Texas Scrapbook, Kemp and Kilman's The Battle of San Jacinto, Dixon and Kemp's The Heroes of San Jacinto, John Henry Brown's History of Texas, Stephen Moore's Eighteen Minutes and diverse sources including family histories and correspondents suggestions. 630 Mexicans were killed and 730 taken prisoner. As part of his surrender agreement, the president/general ordered the Mexican troops remaining in Texas immediately to retreat south of the Rio Grande. On March 13, 1836, the revolutionary army at Gonzales began to retreat eastward. Battle of San Jacinto | April 1836. The resulting "Runaway Scrape" involved most of Eastern Texas, and panicked the government. The Texian Army wins Texas Independence. 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. The lives and the liberty of a few hundred pioneers at stake and an empire won! The Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, was the defining battle of the Texas Revolution. Negotiating for Peace with Mexico The Battle of San Jacinto The former page's history now serves to provide attribution for that content in the latter page, and it must not be deleted so long as the latter page exists. “Remember the Alamo” was reportedly the battle cry during the Battle of San Jacinto, a tribute to massacres at the Alamo on March 6, 1836, and at Goliad on March 27, 1836. The Mexican army suffers 630 killed and 730 captured. By early April, Santa Anna had divided his forces in a three-pronged attack: a northern army, under General Antonio Gaona , the central army under Santa Anna and General Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma, and a coastal army under command of General Jose Francisco Urrea. Photograph of the Survivors of the Battle of San Jacinto, at a meeting of the Texas Veterans' Association at Galveston c. 1880. Painting that depicts the surrender of Mexican General Santa Anna to Texan Sam Houston after the Battle of San Jacinto. Tel: 1-800-252-9386 Image: Sam Houston. During the Texan War for Independence, the Texas militia under Sam Houston launches a surprise attack against the Fax: 512-936-2306, Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, Website Policies | Accessibility Resources | Texas Library and Archives Foundation, Inc. | Subscribe - Events Newsletter, © 2021 Texas State Library and Archives Commission. On April 16, learning that Santa Anna had isolated his army, Houston pursued him to Buffalo Bayou, arriving there at midnight on April 19, and continuing their march toward Lynch's Ferry on the 20th. Questions or concerns? Raymond K. Bluhm Jr. is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and military historian, author, and former professor of American History. Texas Library and Archives Foundation, Inc. Handbook of Texas article on the Republic of Texas. The Battle of San Jacinto was fought April 21, 1836, and was the decisive engagement of the Texas Revolution. 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). marched in the direction of Lynch's Ferry on the San Jacinto, burn= ing Harrisburg as he passed down-The Army was ordered to be in readiness to march early on the next morning-The main body effected a crossing over Buffalo Bayou, below Harrisburg on the morning of the 19th, having left the Baggage, the sick, and a sufficient camp Guard in the rear- The San Jacinto Battleground & State Historic Site marks the spot where on April 21,1836 Texas indisputably became Texas. In 1839 he planned a road from Harrisburg to the Brazos River. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. When his term ended in 1839, he began dealing in cattle and trying to promote a railroad. The Grass Fight 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. When no attack followed in the morning, the Mexican troops relaxed even further. Center row, third from left: Valentine Ignatius Burch of Tyler County, Texas. The decisive Battle of San Jacinto resulted in Texas’ independence from Mexico. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. After days of retreat, Houston’s men relished the attack, taking the resting Mexican force by surprise (during the Mexicans’ siesta), shouting, "Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad!" As battles go, San Jacinto was but a skirmish; but with what mighty consequences! Email TSLAC, Tel: 1-800-252-9605 The Battle of San Jacinto April 20, 21 1836 At the Battle of San Jacinto, the Texas army under General Sam Houstan defeated the Mexican army under Santa Anna. On the day following the battle, a small party discovered Santa Anna and brought him into camp, unaware at first of the importance of their prisoner. In 1836 Briscoe was appointed chief justice of Harrisburg by Sam Houston. Fax: 512-463-5436 Mexican Killed and Wounded. Name AlternateNames Army Site Id; Adams, Thomas Jefferson: Texian: San Jacinto: 1: … His mounted troops rode around the Mexican flanks while the Texan battle line moved quickly and quietly directly across the open prairie. In the meantime, more information about the article and the author can be found by clicking on the author’s name. After an eighteen-minute fight, the remaining Mexicans surrendered, but Santa Anna slipped away in a private’s uniform. They were within 200 yards (183 m) of the Mexican camp when discovered. On 20 April, the two armies met in a low area of marshland and bayous near the San Jacinto River. The Battle of the Alamo Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-San-Jacinto-1836, Texas State Historical Association - The Handbook of Texas Online - Battle of San Jacinto, National Park Service - American Latino Heritage - San Jacinto Battlefield La Porte, Texas, The Civil War - The Battle of San Jacinto. Text and/or other creative content from this version of Texas Revolution was copied or moved into Battle of San Jacinto with this edit on June 24, 2015. Then with the cries "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember La Bahia" or "Remember Goliad" ringing along their lines, the Texans swooped down on the dismayed Mexican army, pursuing and butchering them long after the battle itself had ended. Mexico would never regain the lost territory, in spite of sporadic incursions during the 1840s. Today, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site and Monument preserves the site of this important battle and commemorates the Texans’ victory over Mexico, as well as the battle’s lasting effect on the history of the United States. Texan Killed and Wounded. Houston ordered Erastus "Deaf" Smith to destroy the bridge-a move that prevented further swelling of Mexican ranks, and likewise prevented retreat by both the Mexican and Texan armies. Updates? The Treaties of Velasco, The Archives War BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO(1836) The actual battle of San Jacinto lasted less than twenty minutes, but events leading to the battle had long been in the making since the oppressive Mexican edict of April 6, 1830, prohibiting further emigration of Anglo-Americans from the United States to Texas. The phrase has been attributed to both General Sam Houston and Col. Sidney Sherman, men who fought in the Battle of San Jacinto. Although these articles may currently differ in style from others on the site, they allow us to provide wider coverage of topics sought by our readers, through a diverse range of trusted voices. Open for archival research Some interesting facts about the Battle at San Jacinto April 21, 1836 Inscribed on the exterior base of the San Jacinto Monument is: Measured by its results, San … Image: Surrender of Santa Anna, by William H. Huddle, First-Hand Accounts: John Forbes, Sam Houston, Lyman Rounds, Thomas J. Rusk, William P. Zuber, Related Link: San Jacinto Museum of History, << The Battle of the Alamo | The Treaties of Velasco >>, The Long Expedition “If you’re a Texan, you got to come to San Jacinto. Among the latter was General Houston, whose ankle was shattered. Center row, second from left: Valentine Burch. Texas History Series by Texas Historian, Len Kubiak of Rockdale, Texas. This battle ended the war, and Texas earned its independence from Mexico. About 500 Mexican reinforcements arrived. The Battle of San Jacinto lasted less than twenty minutes, but it sealed the fate of three republics. Texans lost only 9 killed or mortally wounded; thirty were less seriously wounded. Let us know. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Battle of San Jacinto lasted less than twenty minutes, but it sealed the fate of three republics. 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 Turtle Bayou Resolutions, Sam Houston's Call for Volunteers Alphabetical List of San Jacinto Veterans. Neither the Texas nor Mexican governments accepted the treaties, however, and a state of war existed throughout most of the Republic of Texas' existence. 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. At the battle of San Jacinto he was captain of Company A, Infantry Regulars. The Republic of Texas | Early Statehood | Giants of Texas History | Native American Relations, Rangers and Outlaws | Texas Characters | Flags and Maps | The Texas Constitution. Mexico would never regain the lost territory, in spite of sporadic incursions during the 1840s. Nine hundred and ten Texas troops under Gen. Sam Houston attack approximately 1,200 Mexican troops under President Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, located at the bend of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou, in present-day La Porte. This 1,200-acre park includes the towering San Jacinto Monument and the San Jacinto Museum of History. I don’t understand why this … Nine Texans are killed and 30 wounded. This holiday is always followed by Nicaragua Independence Day on September 15th, creating a two-day break. 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. He personally led the remaining 600 men after Houston. Shielded by trees and a rise in the terrain, the Texans were able to advance with some security. The Texans won the final and decisive engagement with Mexico in the Texas Revolution on April 21, 1836 at the Battle of San Jacinto. or 512-463-5465 Look to it, you Texans of today, with happy homes, mid fields of smiling plenty, that the blood of the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto sealed forever. Corrections? Front row, second from right: George Petty of Washington County. Nine of Houston’s men had been killed or mortally wounded, and about 30 wounded less seriously, in this heavily lopsided victory. The Texas Declaration of Independence Santa Anna attempted unsuccessfully to probe the Texan position, and there was an exchange of artillery fire. Ten reading parts and five illustrations. News of the March 27 massacre at Goliad led several men to leave the army to assist their families to flee before the advancing Mexican army. 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. Meanwhile, Mexican General Santa Anna marched his army to crush the Texan rebels. Volunteer companies rushed to join General Samuel Houston’s growing Texas army. In spring of 1836, the Texan Revolution was coming to a close. The Texans fired at close range and rolled over the hasty Mexican breastworks. The United States would go on to acquire not only the Republic of Texas in 1845 but Mexican lands to the west after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War in 1848. Citizens of the new Republic of Texas responded to the destruction of the Alamo and massacre of the unarmed Texans captured at Goliad with outrage. 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. (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.). The Battle of San Jacinto didn’t just gain Texas its independence, it led to Texas becoming a state which helped the U.S. achieve its Manifest Destiny, completely changing the landscape of the world. The Goliad Massacre Interested in participating in the Publishing Partner Program? It commemorates an important military victory that took place on this day in 1856. Image: Erastus "Deaf" Smith. Birth of a Republic Learn how Sam Houston turned a steady retreat into a surprise attack, … At that moment, Houston’s artillery opened fire, and the Texan infantry charged. Losses: Mexican, 630 dead, 208 wounded, 730 captured; Texan, 9 dead, 30 wounded. About 3:30 in the afternoon, during the Mexican siesta period, Houston distributed his troops in battle array, bracketing the line with the "Twin Sisters" cannon. Non-students of history may be tempted to ask if a battle that occurred nearly two hundred years ago is … The Battle of San Jacinto has been called "one of the most decisive battles in the history of the world." The Siege of Bexar Texas Revolution: The Battle of San Jacinto. Three Mexican states joined Texas in the revolt against the dictatorship of Santa Anna. This article is of interest to the following WikiProjects: Click on image for larger image and transcript. The Texan Army was made up of many native-born Mexicans, some of whom were killed at the Alamo. San Jacinto Battlefield is a National Historic Landmark. It crossed the Colorado River on March 17 and camped near present Columbus on March 20, recruiting … A readers theater play for the 7th grade Texas The Mexican pursuit of Houston was three-pronged, and though…. Descriptive Summary: Creator: San Jacinto Descendants: Title: A Guide to the San Jacinto Descendants Records, Dates: 1965-Abstract: Organizational records and membership files of San Jacinto Descendants, a group founded by Dr. Albert Walling, II, in 1965 to perpetuate the memory of the men who fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and to promote the study of Texas history. by advance appointment. That afternoon, General Sidney Sherman engaged the Mexicans in a skirmish that almost resulted in a full scale battle. Houston avoided contact with the pursuing Mexican army until his Texas army gained strength and training. Battle of San Jacinto is a national holiday in Nicaragua observed on September 14th each year. The Battle of San Jacinto, Prints and Photographs Collection, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. 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). While the battle only lasted 18 minutes, its ramifications were great. On May 14, 1836, the public and private treaties of Velasco, were signed by Presidents David G. Burnet and Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The Mier Expedition The victory at San Jacinto gave Texas its independence from Mexico and opened the door for the continued westward expansion of the United States. The Battle of San Jacinto was not a battle against the Mexican people. or 512-463-5458 They confirmed the Mexican retreat and declared an end to the war. Santa Anna decided to rest his new and tired troops before attacking, but he failed to post sentries. Republic of Texas Currency, See Also: Handbook of Texas article on the Republic of Texas, Tel: 512-463-5474 By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Click on image for larger image and transcript. 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. Battle of San Jacinto: National holiday: 2025: Sun: Sep 14: Battle of San Jacinto: National holiday: 2026: Mon: Sep 14: Battle of San Jacinto: National holiday: While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be … Image: General Sidney Sherman. Battle of San Jacinto, which takes its name from San Jacinto River, Three signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence were Mexican Texans. The Texan army, meanwhile, had been in retreat since March 13, when it left Gonzales after learning of the Fall of the Alamo. The next day, Houston learned that General Martin Perfecto de Cos had crossed over Vince's Bridge with reinforcements. Texas, one and indivisible!-- Omissions? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Cavalry across the marshes Inc. Handbook of Texas article on the Republic of Texas more information about the and. 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