San Jacinto Day

Tyler Morning Telegraph ^ | 4/20/2008

[SwinneySwitch]

Battle That Gained Texas Independence Observed Today

Today is San Jacinto Day, a state holiday observing the April 21, 1836, battle near Houston in which a Texas army led by Gen. Sam Houston defeated Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

Historians cite it as the decisive battle in Texas gaining independence from Mexico. Sam Houston's approximately 900 men, infuriated by the deaths of about 550 comrades at the Alamo and the Goliad massacre, took just 18 minutes to win a battle that left 630 Mexican soldiers dead and another 730 in captivity, according to historical accounts. Santa Anna agreed to pull back his other armies.

Only nine Texans died at San Jacinto, won with relative ease because Santa Anna failed to post lookouts during a siesta and camped just beyond a ridge that left him vulnerable to a sneak attack.

An inscription on the monument's base spells out why some historians have listed the battle as among the most important in human history:

"The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Almost one third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty."

[SwinneySwitch]

“Remember the Alamo”, “Remember Goliad”

[Eurale]

Thank God for Emily West Morgan!

[Izzy Dunne]

Remember Emily Morgan.

[basil]

And remember to tell the Reconquestas (sp?) to STFU!

Proud to be a Texan, today and everyday.

[mikethevike]

Someone should mail this to Absolut eh?

[Allegra]

Ping!

[LS]

My birthday-—San Jacinto Day! And a great day it was!

[ladtx]

Gen. Santa Anna Brought Before A Wounded Gen. Sam Houston, After The Battle Of San Jacinto

[savedbygrace]

Speaking of Sam Houston:

The 67 ft Sam Houston Statue on US75 in Huntsville, TX, sure is impressive, especially at night approaching from the south. There is a double bend in the highway, so it looks like you’re headed straight toward a ginormous apparition in the middle of the highway.

[ladtx]

[Howie66]

“Remember the Alamo”, “Remember Goliad”

You beat me too it!!

[savedbygrace]

Did I say US75? Silly me. It’s Interstate 45.

[SwinneySwitch]

Have a Happy Day!

[thackney]

My client has this as a holiday.

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

[ElkGroveDan]

I think I will forward this around the building where I work today, which has more than its share of reconquista foot soldiers.

[Froufrou]

the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Almost one third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty."

And which La Rasa would happily deny and rename Aztlan.

[Rightly Biased]

Remember Goliad

[Americanexpat]

That averages out to about 35 Mexican soldiers killed every minute during the course of the battle. The Texans armed with single shot muskets, rifles and pistols and tomahawks and knives. Pretty savage fighting to say the least.

[r-q-tek86]

Also Aggie Muster day.

[r-q-tek86]

I hit “post” too fast. Forgot to say welcome home.

How long you gonna be here this time?

[Allegra]

I hit “post” too fast. Forgot to say welcome home.

Thank you. It is GREAT to be home!

How long you gonna be here this time?

I'm taking an extended break. I'll be home for two to three months this time (arriving back in the Sandbox in the heat of summer....GAAAH!). I need a respite from all of that. I need to get reacquainted with HOME. :-D

Gig 'em!

[tioga]

Home is where the heart is. Welcome.

[Allegra]

Thank you!

Home is wonderful. I haven't heard sirens followed by "Incoming...incoming...take cover, take cover, take cover.." in over a week.

Don't miss it one bit.

[tioga]

I had a conference last week...featured a trauma surgeon who spent a year at Abu Ghraib hospital.......fascinating and terrifying all at once. Too many pics of what those roadside bombs are doing. Glad you can relax awhile.

[TexasRepublic]

Pretty savage fighting to say the least.

Methinks they were PO'd. I'm surprised the Texans took prisoners. The Mexican massacre of Texan captives at Goliad was a total butchery.

[Pistolshot]

Houston kept 'retreating' towards Washingington-on-the-Brazos to stay in fron of Santa Ana's army. His troops wanted to fight, and getting ready to abandon him, but Houston kept them on the move eastward.

Santa Anna used his horsemen to try to catch Houston, crossing the Sabine(?) in an effort to cut him off. Houston had the brdges burned and fords covered after Santa Anna had crossed, cutting him off from his main force.

On that morning, Houston had two cannon, Santa Anna, none. Houstons troops knew what was at stake and the fury and anger with the massacre at Goliad and the Alamo were fresh on their minds.

During the attack, the Mexicans who realized they were being over-run held up their hands surrendering saying..."Me no Alamo."

Santa Anna tried to escape dressed as a wagoneer, was captured and put together with other prisoners. His disguise was given away by the other soldiers when they recognized him and began to stand at attention and salute. He also had a missing leg from battles in Tampico.

[Tennessee_Bob]

And happy 1 year wedding anniversary to my wife and myself!

Texan by birth, Tennesseean by choice.