Fly the Lone Star proudly today folks.
The surrender of Santa Anna
Posted on 04/20/2011 10:40:26 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
At 4:30 p.m. on April 21, after scout Deaf Smith announced the burning of Vince's Bridge (cutting off the primary avenue of retreat for both armies), the main Texan battle line moved forward. A fifer played the popular tune "Will you come to the bower I have shaded for you?" General Houston personally led the infantry, posting the 2nd Volunteer Regiment of Colonel Sidney Sherman on his far left, with Colonel Edward Burleson's 1st Volunteer Regiment next in line. In the center, two small brass smoothbore artillery pieces (donated by citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio, and known as the "Twin Sisters," pictured right) were wheeled forward under the command of Major George W. Hockley. They were supported by four companies of infantry under Captain Henry Wax Karnes. Colonel Henry Millard's regiment of Texas regulars made up the right wing. To the extreme far right, 61 Texas cavalrymen under newly promoted Colonel Mirabeau B. Lamar planned to circle into the Mexicans' left flank. Lamar had the day before been a private in the cavalry, but his daring and resourcefulness in a brief skirmish with the Mexicans on April 20 had led to his immediate promotion to colonel.
The Texan army moved quickly and silently across the high-grass plain, and then, when they were only a few dozen yards away, charged Santa Anna's camp shouting "Remember the Alamo!" and "Remember Goliad!," only stopping a few yards from the Mexicans to open fire. Confusion ensued. Santa Anna's army primarily consisted of professional soldiers, but they were trained to fight in ranks, exchanging volleys with their opponents. Many were also ill-prepared and unarmed at the time of the sudden attack. General Manuel Fernández Castrillón desperately tried to mount a semblance of an organized resistance, but was soon shot down and killed. His panicked men fled, and Santa Anna's defensive line quickly collapsed.
Hundreds of the demoralized and confused Mexican soldiers routed, and many ran into the marshes along the river. Some of the Mexican army rallied and attempted to push the Texans back, but their training had left them ill-equipped to fight well-armed American frontiermen in hand-to-hand combat. General Juan Almonte, commanding what was left of the organized Mexican resistance, soon formally surrendered his 400 remaining men to Rusk. The rest of Santa Anna's once-proud army had disintegrated into chaos.
During the short but furious fighting, Houston was wounded in the left ankle and Santa Anna escaped. In 18 minutes of combat, the Texan army had won, killing about 630 Mexican soldiers, wounding 208 and taking 730 prisoners. This battle is an important one, though not remembered by many Americans.
The battle only took 18 minutes.
The surrender of Santa Anna
Aftermath
During the battle, Santa Anna disappeared and a search party consisting of James A. Sylvester, Washington H. Secrest, Sion R. Bostick, and a Mr. Cole was sent out the next morning. When discovered, he had shed his ornate general's uniform, and when surrounded and compelled to surrender, he was initially thought to be a common soldier. However, when grouped with other captured soldiers, he was enthusiastically saluted as "El Presidente," revealing his true identity to the Texans. Houston spared his life, preferring to negotiate an end to the overall hostilities and the withdrawal from Texas of Santa Anna's remaining columns.
On May 14, Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco, in which he agreed to withdraw his troops from Texan soil and, in exchange for safe conduct back to Mexico, lobby there for recognition of the new republic. However, the safe passage never materialized; Santa Anna was held for six months as a prisoner of war (during which time his government disowned him and any agreement he might enter into) and finally taken to Washington, D.C. There he met with President Andrew Jackson, before finally returning in disgrace to Mexico in early 1837. By then, however, Texan independence was a fait accompli, although Mexico did not officially recognize it until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War in 1848.
As a native from Pasa(get-down)dena, Texas - HOORAY!
Several of my friends didn’t realize it was a very important anniversary today, so I’ve taken it upon myself to educate them.
The best thing about April 21 is that I can wake up that morning knowing that I will have a better day on April 21 than Santa Anna did.
I just recently discovered that one of Mrs. Mad’s direct ancestors was Samuel McCarley. Houston and his army camped on his Spring Creek Ranch and burned 4,000 fence rails and butchered cattle on their way to San Jacinto.
Bump.
Fly the Lone Star proudly today folks.
The surrender of Santa Anna
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Your welcome, brother. Indeed, freedom first. All else will take care of itself aws long as we remain free!
Great post.
Thanks.
God bless Texas.
If you like Texas history, get and read The Eighteen Minutes, the battle of San Jacinto. It is a fairly recent and meticulously researched story of the battle and events prior.
You can trod the battle field just out of Houston and see and feel the panic of the Mexicans as they were roused from Siesta and driven into the marsh and slain by the hundreds.
used about $12 bucks
“The Eighteen Minutes”
Many years ago I read an article in the El Paso Times, that if I remember correctly was written by Frank Feulle III. He was editor of the newspaper then. It discussed the battle of San Jacinto in historic perspective. He connected this battle with 2 others in the history of man where a few individuals so impacted the destiny of masses of people during a short battle. The article likened this to the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae and another battle that I cannot correctly recall. I clipped the article but can no longer find it in my files.
There is some subtle history of the Texas revolution that is not recorded in text books. The associations of the old 300 families and the Mexican government was more than just immigration. Things changed in Mexico City when Santa Anna came to power and that sealed the destiny of the war to come. When Stephen Austin was imprisoned in Mexico City, the die was cast. The Revolt included anglo settlers, Tejano inhabitants and some who just came for the battle for freedom (they hated despots).
Freedom once experienced is the most intoxicating of substances. From which you never recover.
The primary reason for the revolution of the Texans was the trashing of the Constitution by Santa Anna.
Obama is begging for a revolution by trashing the Constitution and utterly disregarding the law. Obama is a Santa Anna like tyrant
Trivia.......
The painting depicts Sam Houston with a wounded right leg.
His right leg was actually wounded
Unfortunately it is not "just" the Commie Dems that trash the Constitution. The Commies own the Dem Party and the blind Globalist in the Republican party are close behind them on the Traitors list.
The "Tea Party" is an appropriate name for the POed citizens. Defy "We the People" at your peril.
Could you run that one by me again? Happy San Jacinto Day!
Who's got Santa Anna's Leg?
And the Twin Sisters were not brassy broads, but iron 4 pounder cannon.
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