San Jacinto, 21 April 1836
On 21 April 1836, six weeks after the fall of the Alamo, Sam Houston's army of about 900 Texians and Tejanos surprised General Antonio López de Santa Anna's camp beside Buffalo Bayou and the San Jacinto River, near present-day La Porte. In about 18 minutes the Mexican force of some 1,300 collapsed; most were killed or captured, while the Texians lost nine dead. Santa Anna was captured the next day and signed the Treaties of Velasco, ending the Texas Revolution.
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This battle is part of the full atlas, open to Patreon members. Free battles include Yorktown, Waterloo, The Alamo, Antietam, Little Bighorn, Belleau Wood, Omaha Beach, Ia Drang.
The battle, stage by stage
- 20 April 1836, morning
The armies meet
After six weeks of retreat since the fall of the Alamo, Sam Houston's army of about 900 has turned to fight. It camps in the oak timber along Buffalo Bayou, near its junction with the San Jacinto River. Santa Anna, chasing the Texas government with part of his army, arrives on the open prairie to the south-east. The Texians' two cannon — the 'Twin Sisters', a gift from the people of Cincinnati — duel with the Mexican 12-pounder.
- 20 April, afternoon
Cavalry skirmish
Santa Anna pulls back to camp on rising ground backed by the marshes of Peggy Lake and the river. Colonel Sidney Sherman takes about 85 horsemen out against the Mexican rearguard and is nearly cut off; Private Mirabeau B. Lamar rescues two comrades under fire and is promoted to command the cavalry the next morning.
- 21 April, morning
Breastworks and reinforcements
The Mexicans throw up a barricade of packs, saddles and brush in front of their camp. About 9 AM General Martín Perfecto de Cos arrives with some 540 men, worn out from marching all night, raising Santa Anna's strength to about 1,300. Houston sends Deaf Smith to destroy Vince's Bridge, eight miles west, cutting the only road out for either side. Through the heat of the afternoon the Mexican camp settles down to rest.
- 21 April, about 4 PM
The Texian line forms
Houston forms his army in a single line along the edge of the timber, screened by the swell of the prairie: Sherman's 2nd Regiment on the left, Burleson's 1st in the centre, Colonel George Hockley with the Twin Sisters, Henry Millard's regulars, and Lamar's 60 cavalry on the right. A fife and drum strike up a popular love song, 'Will You Come to the Bower?'
- About 4:20 PM
The advance
The line moves silently across the open prairie, about 900 yards, unseen until it is almost on the barricade. The Twin Sisters are wheeled forward to within 200 yards and open with grapeshot and scrap iron; the infantry hold their fire until the last moment.
- About 4:30 PM
"Remember the Alamo!"
Shouting 'Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!' the Texians fire a volley and storm the breastworks. Houston is shot in the ankle and has his horse killed under him. Taken by surprise in the middle of their siesta, the Mexicans break almost at once — the fighting proper lasts about 18 minutes. Lamar's cavalry scatters the Mexican horse on the southern flank.
- About 5–6 PM
Slaughter at Peggy Lake
The rout becomes a massacre as Texians pursue fleeing soldiers into the marsh and shallow water of Peggy Lake, where hundreds are shot or drowned. Colonel Juan Almonte surrenders about 400 men. Mexican losses are about 650 killed and 300 captured; the Texians lose 9 killed and about 30 wounded. Santa Anna, found in a private's clothes the next day, is brought before the wounded Houston and orders his remaining armies out of Texas — the Republic of Texas is won.
Paintings and photographs
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