Texas Independence Won at the

Battle of San JacintoChapter 12

The Road to San Jacinto

• The Texas cause seemed hopeless in March of 1836.• Santa Anna was anxious to return to Mexico, as he believed the

Texas rebellion was crushed. However, his most trusted aide persuaded him to delay his return to Mexico until Central and East Texas were occupied by Mexican troops.

Sam Houston’s Texas Army• Houston knew that the Texas campaign was not over, when he attended the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos.• Houston was named commander in chief of the Texas army, so he left for Gonzales.

Houston’s Texas Army • Two days after he arrived in Gonzales, Houston learned that the Alamo had fallen.• Houston picked up fewer than 400

untrained volunteers and ordered a retreat eastward toward the Colorado River hoping to pick up more men.

• Houston also ordered Fannin to retreat from Goliad, blow up the garrison, and join him with the badly needed 300 men.

Retreat of Houston’s Army

• Houston’s army began its with- drawal from Gonzales on Sunday, March 13, 1836.• Juan Seguin destroyed all those

possessions that could not be carried and helped civilians in the area to escape.

Retreat of Houston’s Army

• Houston’s army crossed the Colorado River at Burnham’s Crossing and waited there, so it could drill and allow the civilians to cross the river to safety.• Houston’s scouts learned that Fannin

and his soldiers had been captured at Goliad.

Houston’s Retreat (continued)

• Houston again ordered a retreat to the Brazos River, which caused anger and resentment

among many of Houston’s officers and soldiers. Their homes were being destroyed, and their families were fleeing from Mexican troops.

Houston’s Retreat (continued)

• Houston felt his troops were too weak to oppose the Mexican army, and he knew that as the Mexican army was drawn

farther east, their supply lines would become longer and that in East Texas the Texans would get help from the United States.

The Runaway Scrape• The Alamo disaster, the massacre of Fannin’s unit, and Houston’s decision to continue the retreat to San Felipe panicked the families living between the Colorado and Brazos rivers.• Hundreds of settlers on the Colorado and

Brazos Rivers fled towards Louisiana when they learned that Santa Anna was marching eastward after his victory at the Alamo.

The Runaway Scrape (continued)

• Women, children, slaves, horses, cattle, and creaking wagons trudged along muddy roads and suffered from lack of

food, spring rains, and sickness on a miserable journey to the Sabine River.

Houston’s Army • Houston’s army reached the Brazos River on March 28, 1836, where Houston posted two companies and continued northward to Groce’s plantation

Houston Trains His Army

• At Groce’s plantation, Houston wisely trained his army in the fundamentals of warfare despite the troops’ complaints and the urging of

President David G. Burnet to attack Santa Anna.

The Mexican Army Advances

• After crossing the Colorado River, the Mexican forces advanced eastward toward the Brazos River, which they reached at San Felipe on April 7.

• Santa Anna failed to dislodge the two Texas companies guarding the Brazos River, so he moved 30 miles downriver.

Santa Anna Continues to Advance

• Santa Anna learned that President Burnet and his cabinet were only 30 miles away at Harrisburg.• When he reached Harrisburg,

Santa Anna learned the government had moved to Galveston Island.

Houston Moves His Troops

• After receiving two six-pound cannons—named “The Twin Sisters,”• Houston moved his troops southeast- ward toward the San Jacinto River.

Houston Moves His Troops(continued)

•Next Houston moved the Texas army to the west bank of Buffalo Bayou on April 18, where

he planned to meet the Mexican army.

Routes of the Two Armies

Eve of the San Jacinto Battle

• About 850 Mexicans were camped on the edge of the prairie along the San Jacinto River with marshland and

swamp extending to the right and rear of the army about ¾ mile from Houston’s camp.

Soldiers of San Jacinto

• Mirabeau B. Lamar commanded the Texas cavalry.

Juan Seguin led the

courageous Tejanos.

The Day of the BattleApril 21, 1836

• General Cos and 450 mostly inex- perienced soldiers arrived at Santa Anna’s camp.• Santa Anna did not post guards

around the camp and allowed the army to rest, including himself.

The Day of the Battle (continued)

• Houston ordered Deaf Smith and Henry Carnes to destroy the bridge across Vince’s Bayou in order to

cut off a path of retreat for both the Texas and Mexican armies.

The Battle• After a council of war at noon, at 3:30

P.M., Houston ordered his officers to assemble the troops for an immediate attack.

The Battle (continued)

• The Texans moved out of the woods across the open prairie.

• “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad” was the cry, as the Texans opened fire with rifles and cannons.

The Battle (continued)

• The Mexican officers tried to rally their troops, but the effort was futile, as total confusion occurred.

• Many of the soldiers, including Santa Anna, attempted to flee from the battle.

The Battle (continued)

• The Texans were upon the enemy camp before the Mexicans knew an attack was underway.

• The “Twin Sisters” blew a hole in the Mexican fortifications, and the Texans stormed through the enemy’s lines,

seized the Mexican artillery, and engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

The Battle (continued)

• The Mexican cavalry and many fleeing soldiers were cut down by Lamar’s cavalry and the Texas army.

• The organized resistance lasted 18 minutes, but the killing continued until dark.

Role of the Texas Navy

• Even though only four ships made up the Texas navy, it played an important role in the Texas Revolution.• The Texas Navy brought supplies to the

Texas armies, and it cut off supplies to the Mexican divisions.

Losses of the Texas Army at San Jacinto

• Fewer than ten Texans were killed or fatally wounded.

• Thirty others were injured, including General Houston, whose ankle had been shattered by a cannon ball.

Losses of the Mexicans at San Jacinto

• Houston listed 630 Mexicans killed and 730 prisoners taken.

• Santa Anna was also captured, which was a great achievement for the Texans, as it kept Santa Anna from rejoining his other

troops still in Texas.

Santa Anna’s Capture

• If Santa Anna had escaped, he might have continued the war.

Velasco--Capital of Texas

• President Burnet moved the government from Galveston to Velasco at the mouth of the Brazos River.• Santa Anna was taken to Velasco

to sign two treaties with the Texas government.

The Public Treaty of Velasco

• Santa Anna agreed to 1. Never fight against the

Texans again2. Order all Mexican troops out

of Texas immediately3. To exchange the Texas and

Mexican troops captured in the fighting

The Secret Treaty of Velasco

• Santa Anna promised to work for Mexican recognition of Texas independence.

• The Texas government pledged to release Santa Anna and give him an escort back to Mexico.

• Santa Anna agreed to work in Mexico to set the Texas boundary at the Rio Grande.

President David Burnet

• Burnet was determined to carry out the terms of the Velasco Treaties, and he refused to permit the execution of Santa Anna.

• This angered many Texans who prevented the Invincible from sailing to Mexico.

• Santa Anna was imprisoned for several months and then was finally allowed to leave Texas.

The Meaning of San Jacinto

• Texas won its independence from Mexico in one of the most decisive battles in history.

• The news of the defeat of the Mexican forces and the capture of Santa Anna soon spread throughout Texas and allowed those who had fled in the Runaway Scrape to return to their homes.