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The Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836)
Tall Men With Long Rifles 1935 ^ | 1935 | Creed Taylor to James T. DeShields

Posted on 03/21/2010 7:20:51 AM PDT by Texas Fossil

The Battle of San Jacinto

As related by DeWitt Colonist Creed Taylor to James T. DeShields and published in "Tall Men With Long Rifles" 1935.

The morning of April 21 dawned bright and crisp. It was to be a great day for Texas. From their crude pallets the boys sprang up as if for a joyous holiday. Merry jests went the rounds, and the camp wits spared neither high private nor officers. "If you get bumped off, Bill, won't you will me your coonskin cap?" Tomlinson said to a comrade: "You can take the cap now; I'll wear a Mexican officer's hat on parade tomorrow,"' rejoined the confident comrade. And he was as good as his word, for he did wear a dead Mexican officer's uniform the next day.

(Excerpt) Read more at tamu.edu ...


TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: battle; jacinto; san; texas
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Each year we should remember this battle because it is an example of the impact of a few men in a very short period of time who reshaped the history of a nation.

"It was the great Napoleon, I believe, who said "quarter hours decide the destinies of nations." And so it was at San Jacinto."

I appologize to any that are offended by some of the language and references, but it was written in 1935. You cannot judge historic events by current norms of civility.

There are some conclusions in the article that I do not agree with, but it is a very vivid description of the event. The battle is said to have lasted 18 minutes.

--

In light of the events that happened in Washington DC yesterday, are we approaching one of those pivital moments in the history of our Nation?

1 posted on 03/21/2010 7:20:51 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
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To: Texas Fossil

2 posted on 03/21/2010 7:26:14 AM PDT by GregoTX (Beans, Bullets, Batteries.)
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To: GregoTX

Thank you Sir, for the pic of the only Texas battle flag to fly over the battle of San Jacinto.

We are 1 month away from the anniversary of the battle and events yesterday in DC drove me to make this post early.


3 posted on 03/21/2010 7:30:09 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
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To: Texas Fossil
"The sun was sinking in the horizon as the battle commenced; but, at the close of the conflict, the sun of liberty and independence rose in Texas, never, it is to be hoped, to be obscured by the clouds of despotism."
Thomas J. Rusk


Would that we could say the same after this insane health care vote is over with.

God Bless Texas!

4 posted on 03/21/2010 7:42:51 AM PDT by smokingfrog (You can't ignore your boss and expect to keep your job... WWW.filipthishouse2010.com)
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To: Texas Fossil
I found it interesting that you posted something on the Battle of San Jacinto. I was playing the Johnny Lee & Lane Brody version of The Yellow Rose of Texas when I saw your thread. I love the story of Emily West.

I had been thinking allot about the Texas revolution lately, and the conditions that led up to it. I live close to the San Jacinto monument, and go there often.

Remember Goliad. Remember Gonzales. Remember the Alamo.

5 posted on 03/21/2010 7:43:27 AM PDT by GregoTX (Beans, Bullets, Batteries.)
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To: Texas Fossil

Texas can do without the other 49.


6 posted on 03/21/2010 7:54:58 AM PDT by achilles2000 (Shouting "fire" in a burning building is doing everyone a favor...whether they like it or not)
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To: Texas Fossil

Great read, thanks for posting this.


7 posted on 03/21/2010 7:59:23 AM PDT by King_Corey (www.kingcorey.com)
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To: GregoTX
Remember Goliad. Remember Gonzales. Remember the Alamo.

Yes, but always Remember "San Jacinto". Too often we forget what that short battle set in motion. Freedom is a condition that MUST be cherished, and protected at all cost.

8 posted on 03/21/2010 8:00:29 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
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To: Texas Fossil
"Yes, but always Remember "San Jacinto". Too often we forget what that short battle set in motion." Freedom is a condition that MUST be cherished, and protected at all cost.

Truer words were never spoken. You are right. I mentioned only the other three, as those were "battle cries" at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Thank you for posting this. If you make another post on San Jacinto day, be sure and ping me.

9 posted on 03/21/2010 8:06:10 AM PDT by GregoTX (Beans, Bullets, Batteries.)
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To: achilles2000
I did WWII with a bunch of Texans and I am a believer.
10 posted on 03/21/2010 8:14:20 AM PDT by ANGGAPO (Leyte Gulf Beach Club)
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To: GregoTX

I will ping you, because I intend to post again on April 21. Unless someone beats me to it. Not sure what I will post yet, but in light of our current political turmoil, this example is very very important.


11 posted on 03/21/2010 8:15:40 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
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To: Texas Fossil
Thanks for the post. The following sketch shows that in effect the two armies were basically confined to a piece of land with no escape route. When Deaf Smith destroyed Vince's Bridge it was fight to the death or surrender. Our backs are pretty much to the wall again, imo.


12 posted on 03/21/2010 8:19:48 AM PDT by deport
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To: ANGGAPO

My father served in Germany, Belgium and Czechoslovakia. He was an armorer. He maintained quad 50’s and Bofors.

He saw Dachau about 2-3 weeks after liberation.

Then he came back to farm here in Texas and raise his family. A modern day Cincinatus. The family has owned/operated some of the land here for over 110 years.

Some of my ancestors were born in Texas during the Republic.


13 posted on 03/21/2010 8:22:17 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
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To: smokingfrog

Thanks for the quote by Thomas J. Rusk. I had never seen it before.

God Bless Texas! And God Bless the United States of America!

Enemies of “We the People” are put on notice. This will end badly for you.


14 posted on 03/21/2010 8:28:21 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
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To: Texas Fossil

A Yellow Rose bump 4 later when I’m off cell phone.


15 posted on 03/21/2010 8:29:04 AM PDT by prisoner6 (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered! I am a FREE MAN!)
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To: deport
The following sketch shows that in effect the two armies were basically confined to a piece of land with no escape route.

General Houston and his men followed Santa Anna all across Texas, but when they got here, both armies had climbed into the ring.


16 posted on 03/21/2010 8:42:21 AM PDT by GregoTX (Beans, Bullets, Batteries.)
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To: GregoTX

Thanks for the photo’s. Great view of the monument with lay of the land.


17 posted on 03/21/2010 8:49:34 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
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To: Texas Fossil

Thank you very much, I have never seen this wonderful account. I remember when we discovered that Deaf Smith was an ancestor in the ‘70s. We asked my grandma if this was true, and if so, why she had never said anything about it. She replied, “he was just my [great] uncle, we never thought anything about it.”

Now that’s a Texan, God rest her soul.


18 posted on 03/21/2010 9:07:21 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Gone Galt and loving it)
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To: GregoTX

folks forget, well Texans do not but, after the battle at the Alamo,SantaAna ordered his men to dismember and set fire to the dead and wounded.

Makes me weep just typing this


19 posted on 03/21/2010 9:10:23 AM PDT by advertising guy (Consumer Of Confiscated Liquers Czar)
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To: Texas Fossil
Some good reading about the battle:

At close range, the two little cannon, drawn by rawhide thongs, were wheeled into position and belched their charges of iron slugs into the enemy barricade. Then the whole line, led by Sherman's men, sprang forward on the run, yelling, "Remember the Alamo!" "Remember Goliad!" All together they opened fire, blazing away practically point-blank at the surprised and panic-stricken Mexicans. They stormed over the breastworks, seized the enemy's artillery, and joined in hand-to-hand combat, emptying their pistols, swinging their guns as clubs, slashing right and left with their knives. Mexicans fell by the scores under the impact of the savage assault.

General Manuel Fernández Castrillón, a brave Mexican, tried to rally the swarthy Latins, but he was killed and his men became crazed with fright. Many threw down their guns and ran; many wailed, "Me no Alamo!" "Me no Goliad!" But their pleas won no mercy. The enraged revolutionists reloaded and chased after the stampeding enemy, shooting them, stabbing them, clubbing them to death. From the moment of the first collision the battle was a slaughter, frightful to behold. The fugitives ran in wild terror over the prairie and into the boggy marshes, but the avengers of the Alamo and Goliad followed and slew them, or drove them into the waters to drown. Men and horses, dead and dying, in the morass in the rear and right of the Mexican camp, formed a bridge for the pursuing Texans. Blood reddened the water. General Houston tried to check the execution but the fury of his men was beyond restraint.

Source: http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/batsanjacinto.htm

20 posted on 03/21/2010 9:19:15 AM PDT by GregoTX (Beans, Bullets, Batteries.)
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