On April 21, 1836, Texan soldiers led a swift attack on an unsuspecting Mexican force at the Battle of San Jacinto.
The Anglo-Texans and Mexicans had been at odds since the early 1830s. Up to that time, Mexico had allowed Americans to form a colony in Texas, but it quickly grew to nearly 30,000 people, many of whom were slave owners.
Mexican leaders grew concerned about the high number of Americans living in their territory, particularly after Mexico abolished slavery in 1827. In 1830, immigration from the United States was forbidden, along with the importation of additional enslaved people. Relations between the Anglo-Texans and the government quickly deteriorated. In 1834, a Mexican politician and soldier, General Antonio López de Santa Anna, took over the Mexican government and established himself as a dictator. On March 2, 1863, Texas declared its independence from Mexico.
After a few clashes between Texans and Mexican soldiers, Texas leaders organized a temporary government on November 3, 1835. Texas troops under Colonel Benjamin Milam captured San Antonio on December 11, 1835. Enraged, Santa Anna sent a large army to San Antonio to put down the uprising.
Texan forces withdrew to the walls of the Alamo. From February 23 to March 6, 1836, Santa Anna’s forces attacked the fort until it finally fell. Many famous men died while defending the Alamo, including Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and William B. Travis.
On March 27th, Santa Anna ordered 330 Texan rebels executed after they surrendered at Goliad. Rather than crush the independence movement, these actions galvanized Texan resolve. Word of Santa Anna’s merciless treatment of the Texans quickly spread, and the ranks of the Texas Army swelled. As the Mexican Army continued its march into Texas, General Sam Houston was training about 900 men to stop them.
The two forces met on April 20 along the San Jacinto River near present-day Houston. On that day, Santa Anna tried unsuccessfully to penetrate the enemy position. He decided to rest his weary men the next day.
But there was no rest for the Texans. Houston ordered an attack instead. The cavalry quietly surrounded the Mexican flanks while ground troops crept within 200 yards of the Mexicans before being detected. The artillery opened fire while the infantry attacked the unprepared enemy with a rallying cry of “Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad!” In less than 20 minutes, the Mexican Army surrendered. Santa Anna tried to escape wearing a private’s uniform but was captured the next day.
Santa Anna signed a peace treaty three weeks later, promising that the Mexican Army would leave Texas. The Republic of Texas applied for annexation to the United States that same year, but would remain an independent sovereign country for nearly a decade. There was significant opposition from those opposed to another slave state, as well as those who wanted to avoid a war with Mexico. However, Texas became the 28th state on December, 29, 1845 and the Mexican-American War began the following April.
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A well written story about the defeat of Antonio Lopez de Sanaa Anna, who was called the Napolean of the West. Just before the attack Sam Houston had one of his troops pay an old Irish song on his flute. It was “Will You Come to the Bower”. Townes Van Zandt made a recording of it. Thank you Mystic for remembering the fathers, and heroes of Texas.
Again, ironies abound. Texas was admitted as a state in the United States in 1845. Just sixteen years later in 1861, Texas seceded from the union and joined the confederacy. At the end of the Civil War, Texas was allowed to rejoin the Union and resume its place as a state in the United States of America.
A great history lesson and update … and the responses by Steve and Conrad add even more information about the founding of Texas. I really enjoyed learning more detail from this Mystic essay than I previously knew. Thank you, again !!
GOD bless TEXAS
The book written by Brian Kilmeade, “Sam Houston & the Alamo Avengers”
is a very good read about these event
The article says Mexico abolished slavery in 1927. I’m sure you meant 1827!
We were able to visit the San Jacinto Battlefield. Well worth it.
“On March 2, 1863, Texas declared its independence from Mexico.” You mean 1836.