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The Battle of San Jacinto

The Battle of San Jacinto, oil on canvas by Henry McArdle, 1895.

Battle of San Jacinto; Accession ID: CHA 1989.080; Courtesy State Preservation Board, Austin, TX; Original Artist: McArdle, Henry A.; / 1836-1908; Photographer: Perry Huston, 8/3/94, post conservation. © State Preservation Board, Austin, Texas.

Battles for Texas Independence

THE BATTLE OF GONZALES

In 1835, with tensions rising with the Texans and Tejanos against the central Mexican government of General Santa Anna, the military commander of San Antonio began taking action to disarm the region. When his request for the return of a small cannon from the citizens of Gonzales was refused, Lieut. Francisco Castañeda was dispatched with 100 calvary men to seize it. Lieut. Castañeda and his soldiers were eventually attacked while they were resting at their camp about 7 miles from Gonzales, by Col. John Henry Moore and 150 Texas militia with the battle cry, ”Come and take it”. Out numbered and out-gunned, Castañeda ordered his troops back to San Antonio. Although the only casualty of the skirmish was a Mexican soldier, the Battle of Gonzales, sometimes called “the Lexington of Texas”, symbolized the beginning of the Texas War for Independence, on Oct 2nd, 1835.

THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO

On Feb 23rd, 1836, General Santa Anna and his Mexican Army nearly caught the defenders of the Alamo by surprise, but these brave Texans and Tejanos would hold out for 13 days against impossible odds. As these defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and were ready to defend their fort rather than surrender to General Santa Anna. Among their leaders were Lieut. Col. William Travis, commander of the Alamo, Col. James Bowie, famed knife fighter, and Davy Crockett, famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee.

The final assault came before daybreak on March 6, 1836, with the calls of “viva Santa Anna and viva Mexico”, on each side of the Alamo. Small arms fire and cannon blasts beat back several attacks, but the 3rd assault finally over ran the north wall. Once inside, the Mexican army turned the captured 18-pounder cannon on the southwest corner on the defenders behind the barricaded doors of the Long Barracks and the chapel. Their desperate struggle continued until all the defenders were overwhelmed. By sunrise, the battle of the Alamo had ended, as General Santa Anna entered the compound to survey the bloody scene of his military victory.

While the facts and legends of the Alamo continue to be debated by Texas historians today, there is no doubt that the Battle of the Alamo has come to symbolized a heroic struggle and the supreme sacrifice for freedom and liberty when brave Texans and Tejanos (Texas-born Citizens of Mexican and Spanish ancestors) fought and died together.

THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO

On April 21st, 1836, General Sam Houston led his 900 Texans and Tejanos to a decisive victory over General Santa Anna and his 1300 Mexican soldiers in just over 18 minutes. Battle cries, such as “Remember the Alamo and Remember Goliad” could be heard all over the battlefield. About 630 Mexican soldiers died and 730 captured, while only 9 Texans died. Santa Anna was captured the following day and held as a prisoner of war. About 3 weeks later, the Mexican general was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco ordering his armies to leave Texas and cross over the Rio Grande River; allowing the Republic of Texas to become established as an independent country.