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THE HISTORY OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE
While at Beason’s Crossing, Sam Houston learned of the massacre of Fannin’s men and watched the arrival of about 800 Mexican troops from San Antonio, under the command of General Sesma, gather on the west side of the Colorado River.
Even though Houston’s ranks grew to as many as 1500, he realized that this was not the time or the place to make his stand against “the Napoleon of the West.”
On March 27, 1836, Houston retreated to San Felipe, instructed his men to burn the town, then crossed the Brazos, and left a small band of men to prevent the Mexicans from crossing the river.
He marched his Army northeast to Groce’s plantation. There, he spent two weeks drilling his men and collecting more reinforcements. During this time, Santa Anna joined Sesma, crossed the Colorado, and marched to San Felipe. After encountering the small band left by Houston to repel their crossing, Santa Anna decided to march south to Fort Bend and link up with all of his troops in Texas. From there, he intended to pursue Houston all the way to the Sabine, if necessary, and rid Texas of the settlers and the rebellious government.
At Fort Bend, Santa Anna received a report that officers of the rebellious government were at Harrisburg, so he dashed with an army of just 900 men to try to capture them, leaving the larger part of his army to continue to aggregate. Meanwhile, Houston learned of Santa Anna’s move and realized that this was the mistake he had been waiting for. On April 14, 1836, Houston began to move his army east. By the next day, Santa Anna arrived at Harrisburg, to find that the rebellious government had retreated to Galveston. He led his army in an unsuccessful pursuit and then returned to Harrisburg and burned it to the ground.
He then marched his army to Lynch’s Ferry, on the banks of the San Jacinto River, where Buffalo Bayou enters the river, in hopes of encountering Houston.
Houston arrived at Harrisburg on April 18 and found it in ashes. He then crossed Buffalo Bayou over Vince’s Bridge and camped along its south bank, in the woods.
The Twin Sisters, two artillery canons, were positioned on the edge of the woods, overlooking a large grassy plain. On his arrival, Santa Anna saw the Twin Sisters but had no idea how many men Houston had.
He positioned his army on the opposite side of the grassy plain, with the river and Peggy’s Lake, a swamp, to his east. His men spent the evening of April 20 cutting brush and digging barricades in anticipation of a dawn attack.
By early morning, April 21, Santa Anna was reinforced by another 500 men, led by his brother-in-law, General Cos. Unbelievably, no attack occurred at dawn, and by noon the exhausted Mexican Army retired for an afternoon siesta. At 3 p.m., that afternoon, Houston gathered his men and said, “we view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid. None is at hand. We must now act or abandon all hope. Rally to the standard and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues. Be men, be free men, that your children may bless their father’s name.”
Earlier that afternoon, Houston had ordered Deaf Smith to burn down Vince’s Bridge. This would ensure that Santa Anna could not be reinforced by his troops gathered at Fort Bend and would also prevent either army from retreating. As soon as Houston got the signal from Smith that the bridge was destroyed, he led the column of 783 angry Texians across the knee high grassy plain, atop his large white stallion.
He would require two more steeds and medical aid to his shattered ankle because of the musket balls he stopped during the battle. Shouting, “Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad”, the Texicans slaughtered Santa Anna’s Army. The battle lasted a mere 18 minutes resulting in 630 Mexicans dead, 730 captured.
Just 8 Texans were killed and 24 wounded. Santa Anna was captured the next morning and brought to the wounded General Houston. The “Napoleon of the West” surrendered and commanded his remaining Army to return to Mexico. Thus, the new Republic was born, and Sam Houston was hailed the “Hero of San Jacinto.”
