Battle of San Jacinto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of San Jacinto |
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| Part of the Texas Revolution | |||||||
.jpg) The Battle of San Jacinto – 1895 painting by Henry Arthur McArdle (1836–1908) |
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| Centralist Republic of Mexico | Republic of Texas | ||||||
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The Battle of San Jacinto was a very important fight during the Texas Revolution. It happened on April 21, 1836, near what is now La Porte and Deer Park, Texas. This battle was the final and most important one, deciding the outcome of the war.
General Sam Houston led the Texan Army. They fought against the Mexican army, led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The battle was incredibly fast, lasting only about 18 minutes. The Texan Army won a major victory.
General Santa Anna, who was also the president of Mexico, tried to escape. He was captured the day after the battle. Later, he signed a peace treaty. This treaty ordered the Mexican army to leave the area. It helped Texas become an independent country, known as the Republic of Texas.
Sam Houston became a hero. The battle cries "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad" became famous. They reminded Texans of earlier, difficult events in the war.
Contents
The Road to San Jacinto
Changes in Mexican Government
General Antonio López de Santa Anna became president of Mexico in 1833. At first, he supported a government where states had more power. But then, he changed his mind. He started making the central government much stronger. This meant he had more control.
Santa Anna canceled the Mexican Constitution of 1824. This took away local power from states like Coahuila y Tejas (which included Texas). This made many people in Texas, both Tejano (Mexicans living in Texas) and Anglo settlers, very upset.
Stephen F. Austin, an important Texan leader, was in Mexico City. He suggested that Texas should become a separate state. Because of this, the Mexican government held him captive for most of 1834.
Colonel Juan Almonte was sent to Texas. His job was to try and calm the settlers. He also secretly gathered information about the people and their resources. This information would be useful if there was a fight.
General Cos Arrives in Texas
In 1835, Santa Anna sent General Martín Perfecto de Cos to Texas. Cos was made the military leader there. He set up his headquarters in San Antonio on October 9. This led to the Siege of Béxar, where Texan forces surrounded Cos's army.
After two months, General Cos surrendered on December 9. This meant the Mexican army left Texas. Many Texans thought the war was over. Some volunteers even went home.
However, Mexico's Minister of War, José María Tornel, issued a decree. It said that foreigners joining the rebellion would be treated very harshly if captured. This showed that Mexico was still serious about keeping Texas.
The Fall of the Alamo
Santa Anna led a large Mexican army into Texas. On February 23, 1836, they captured Béxar. They then attacked the Alamo, a fort defended by Texan soldiers.
The Texan commanders, William B. Travis and James Bowie, tried to negotiate. But Santa Anna refused to talk about surrender. He offered safety to Tejanos inside the Alamo if they left. Many took this offer.
General Cos, who had surrendered earlier, rejoined Santa Anna's army. Other Mexican forces, led by General José de Urrea, won battles against Texan groups near Goliad.
On March 2, 1836, Texan delegates met at Washington-on-the-Brazos. They signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. This declared Texas a free country.
On March 6, the Mexican army launched its final attack on the Alamo. After an intense battle, the Alamo fell. All the Texan defenders were killed. A few survivors, like Susanna Dickinson and Joe (an enslaved person who belonged to Travis), were sent to Gonzales. They carried the news of the Alamo's fall.
The Runaway Scrape
After the Alamo fell, General Sam Houston arrived in Gonzales. He told the Texan volunteers there that Texas was now independent. When news of the Alamo's defeat reached them, Houston decided to retreat.
The Texan army and many civilians began to flee eastward. This event became known as the "Runaway Scrape." People left their homes, burning what they couldn't carry. Heavy rains made the roads muddy, slowing everyone down.
Houston learned that Colonel James Fannin and his men had surrendered at Goliad. This meant Houston's army was the last hope for Texas. He knew his soldiers were not well-trained. So, he continued to avoid direct battles, even though his troops were eager to fight. Many soldiers became frustrated and some even left the army.
On March 31, Houston stopped his army at Groce's Landing on the Brazos River. For two weeks, the Texans rested and practiced military drills. They also received two new cannons, called the Twin Sisters.
Meanwhile, Santa Anna was trying to capture the temporary Texan government. Government officials barely escaped to Galveston Island. Santa Anna believed the rebellion was almost over. He wanted to block the Texan army's retreat and end the war for good.
On April 16, the Texan army reached a crossroads. They chose the road to Harrisburgh. There, they captured a Mexican messenger. This messenger carried important information about Santa Anna's small force. Houston realized Santa Anna was close by and vulnerable. He gave a powerful speech, urging his men to "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad." The Texan army then quickly moved towards Lynchburg.
The Battle of San Jacinto
The battle took place in an area with thick oak trees and marshes. This land was familiar to the Texans but new to the Mexican soldiers. Houston's army, about 800 men, arrived at Lynch's Ferry on April 20. Santa Anna's force of 700 men arrived a few hours later.
The Texans set up camp in a wooded area. This spot offered good cover but left them no way to retreat. Santa Anna, against the advice of his officers, chose a less protected spot. His camp was on a plain near the San Jacinto River. It was bordered by woods on one side and marsh on another. The two camps were about 500 yards apart.
There were a couple of small fights that day. The Texans used their Twin Sisters cannons to push back Mexican soldiers. Later, Mexican cavalry forced Texan cavalry to retreat. During one skirmish, Mirabeau B. Lamar, a Texan volunteer, bravely rescued another Texan.
Throughout the night, Mexican troops built defenses using saddles and brush. On April 21, General Cos arrived with 540 more soldiers. This brought the Mexican force to about 1,200 to 1,500 men. Many of Cos's men were new recruits. They were tired from marching for over 24 hours without rest or food.
As the morning passed without a Texan attack, Mexican officers relaxed. By afternoon, Santa Anna allowed Cos's tired men to sleep. His own troops also rested, ate, and bathed.
Houston ordered Deaf Smith to destroy Vince's Bridge. This bridge was the only escape route for Santa Anna's army. Houston then arranged his Texan forces for battle. Colonel Edward Burleson led the center. Colonel Sidney Sherman commanded the left side. The Twin Sisters cannons were on the right, supported by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Millard's companies. Colonel Mirabeau B. Lamar led the cavalry on the far right.
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At 4:30 p.m., the Texan Twin Sisters cannons fired, starting the battle. After one shot, the Texans charged, yelling "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!" They rushed into the Mexican defenses. Mexican soldiers were caught by surprise. Santa Anna and his officers tried to organize their men, but it was too late.
The Texan soldiers quickly took over the Mexican camp. Within 18 minutes, Mexican soldiers fled. The fighting continued for some time as Texans pursued the fleeing soldiers.
Many Mexican soldiers tried to escape through a marsh to Peggy Lake. Texan riflemen shot at them from the banks. Texan officers, including Houston, tried to stop the intense fighting. However, the Texan soldiers were very angry and seeking justice for the events at the Alamo and Goliad. They did not listen.
In this battle, 650 Mexican soldiers were killed, 208 were wounded, and 300 were captured. Only 11 Texans were killed or fatally wounded, and 30 were wounded, including General Houston.
Mexican Retreat and Santa Anna's Capture
Santa Anna escaped towards Vince's Bridge. He found the bridge destroyed and hid in the marsh. He was captured the next day, dressed as a private soldier. Other Mexican prisoners recognized him, revealing his identity.
Santa Anna was brought before General Houston, who had been shot in the ankle. Texan soldiers wanted Santa Anna to be executed immediately. To save his life, Santa Anna offered to order the remaining Mexican troops to stay away. He wrote to General Vicente Filisola, the senior Mexican official, ordering a retreat to Béxar.
General Urrea wanted to continue fighting. But Filisola decided against it. Spring rains had made the roads muddy, and the troops were running out of food. Many soldiers became ill. Filisola knew his army could not win another battle in such conditions.
For several weeks, Santa Anna negotiated with Texan leaders. He proposed two treaties, one public and one private. The Treaties of Velasco required all Mexican troops to withdraw south of the Rio Grande. They also stated that prisoners of war would be released. Santa Anna secretly promised to try and get Mexico to recognize the Republic of Texas. He also agreed to recognize the Rio Grande as the border.
When the Mexican army retreated in mid-May, many families who had supported them left Texas. People who had been enslaved also followed the army to Mexico, where they could be free.
Aftermath and Legacy
Military Outcomes
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When Mexico learned of Santa Anna's defeat, flags were lowered in mourning. Mexican authorities refused to accept any agreements signed by a prisoner. They did not recognize the Republic of Texas. General Filisola was replaced by Urrea.
For years, the unburied Mexican soldiers lay on the battlefield. Houston and Santa Anna both refused to order their burial. Margaret "Peggy" McCormick, who owned the land, asked Houston to bury them. Houston replied that she should be honored her land was the battle site. Her family buried some, but hundreds were never found. Years later, many remains were buried in a large trench on the site.
Many Texans expected the Mexican army to return. Many American volunteers joined the Texan army after the victory. Texan leaders ordered all Tejanos between the Guadalupe and Nueces rivers to move east or to Mexico. Some who refused were forced to leave. New American settlers took over land once owned by Tejanos. Hundreds of Tejano families moved to Mexico in the following years.
Mexico used the idea of retaking Texas to raise taxes and prioritize its army. However, larger expeditions were often delayed. Money was needed for other rebellions in Mexico. In 1843, leaders from both nations declared a truce.
The Republic of Texas is Formed
On June 1, 1836, Santa Anna was supposed to return to Mexico. But soldiers, many new volunteers from the United States, demanded his execution. Mirabeau B. Lamar, now Secretary of War, insisted that the government must not be pressured. However, on June 4, soldiers seized Santa Anna and held him.
Elections were held to choose new leaders for Texas. Voters chose Houston as the first president. They also approved the constitution and asked to join the United States. Houston sent Santa Anna to Washington, D.C., and from there, he was sent home.
Santa Anna had been removed from power in Mexico during his absence. When he returned, the Mexican press criticized him for his actions at Goliad. He was disgraced until he became a hero in the Pastry War the next year.
Remembering San Jacinto
The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site became a National Historic Landmark in 1960. The site features the 570 ft (170 m) San Jacinto Monument. This monument was built by the Public Works Administration. It was authorized on April 21, 1936, and dedicated on April 21, 1939. The monument cost $1.5 million.
Each April, the site hosts a San Jacinto Day festival. It includes a re-enactment of the battle.
Both the Texas Navy and the United States Navy have named ships after the Battle of San Jacinto.
- The Texan schooner San Jacinto sailed in 1839 but was wrecked in 1840.
- The first USS San Jacinto was a United States Navy frigate. It was launched in 1850 and served during the American Civil War. It was wrecked in 1865.
- The SS San Jacinto was a civilian passenger ship built in 1903. It was sunk by a German U-boat on April 21, 1942.
- The second USS San Jacinto was a United States Navy light aircraft carrier. It served in World War II from 1943 to 1947.
- The third USS San Jacinto is a guided missile cruiser. It served in the U.S. Navy from 1988 to 2023.
The veteran battleship USS Texas became a museum ship in 1948. It was given a permanent home near the San Jacinto Monument. Its arrival was planned for April 21, 1948. This was the 112th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de San Jacinto (1836) para niños
 | Madam C. J. Walker |
 | Janet Emerson Bashen |
 | Annie Turnbo Malone |
 | Maggie L. Walker |
