Bayonets and other artifacts were recovered from the grounds of a power plant along the San Jacinto River. The artifacts had been hidden on land overgrown by trees and shrubs
Posted on 04/17/2009 12:13:05 PM PDT by zaphod3000
On the heavily wooded grounds of a Texas power plant, archaeologists have found the spot where Mexican troops under the command of Col. Juan Almonte surrendered to Sam Houston's force of Texas irregulars along the San Jacinto River, ending Texas' war of secession.
The 1836 surrender "resulted in the loss of all Mexican territory west to California," said archaeologist Roger Moore of Moore Archaeological Consulting in Houston, who led the team that found the site.
"The whole continental expansion of the U.S. to the West Coast hinged on this battle," he said. The discovery was announced Thursday.
SNIP
The Battle of San Jacinto occurred six weeks after the battle of the Alamo, in which Mexican forces led by Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna besieged the fortress and eventually killed all 350 secessionists inside, including Davy Crockett and James Bowie. Santa Anna then went after Houston's troops with an overwhelming force, but, confident in his chances, he made the fatal mistake of splitting his troops.
SNIP
In a battle that lasted only 18 minutes, Houston's forces routed the Mexicans, who threw down their guns and ran. [Mexican Col. Juan] Almonte was able to slow them down in another gully and organize them into a cohesive mass that surrendered without further casualties. "It probably saved their lives," Moore said, because the enraged Texans would probably have slaughtered the Mexicans if they had been running away individually.
Santa Anna was later captured nearby and was persuaded to order all his troops out of Texas.
Most of the locations of the battle are well known, but not the site of the surrender, which had been mismarked by veterans of the battle in 1890.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Bayonets and other artifacts were recovered from the grounds of a power plant along the San Jacinto River. The artifacts had been hidden on land overgrown by trees and shrubs
When Perry denied talking succession?
We may have to sharpen them up to be reused.
How cool.
It is almost San Jacinto Day!
After 800 Texans annihilated Santa Ana’s army in 18 minutes at the Battle of San Jacinto in April, 1836, Texas stood as an independent Republic until it agreed to join the US in 1845. Sam Houston told Andrew Jackson that the US needed Texas a lot more than Texas needed the US, and he was right.
If Texas had remained an independent Republic, it would have followed its own Manifest Destiny to expand to the Pacific Ocean, and today we would have a country on the North American continent which is not a socialist state, but a beacon for individualism, freedom and liberty which was once true of America.
Now dat growed some.
***The 1836 surrender “resulted in the loss of all Mexican territory west to California,”***
Ah, no. This only gave the Texans the land north of the Rio Grande to it’s headwaters. it did not end the war as Adrian Woll and his Mexican troops later recaptured San Antonio.
The land west to California was not gained till after the Mexican-American war.
How about that the LAT actually carried an article on this war with out siding with the Mexicans.
In a battle that lasted only 18 minutes, Barack Obama's forces routed the Mexicans, who threw down their guns and ran.
I wouldn’t say lazy, if you have limited space for an article of course things need to be simplified. Like when Hollywood condensed the novel Six Days of the Condor to Three Days of the Condor.
The most commonly accepted number of Alamo defenders is 185, including the 32 men from Gonzales who arrived a couple of days before the final assault. Some modern historians put the number higher. I have seen 250 cited as a likely number, but 350 would certainly represent the upper most limit of any estimate.
Also, to refer to the Alamo as a "fortress" is a misnomer. It was a wore out old mission with collapsing walls, covering over 3 acres, and was indefensible given the number of men inside.
Santa Ana's army numbered approx. 5,000, about 1,600 of which actually participated in the final assault on March 6, 1836. The early legend of the Alamo produced tales that Mexican casualties at 1,500+, which is impossible. Based on what I have read, I believe about 600 Mexican KIA and WIA is probably pretty close, but some of those "modern historians" again place the number much lower. Cannon fire from the Alamo into the advancing units was devastating, but once the flimsy walls were breeched, there was not much to hold the Mexicans back -- except Davey swingin' Old Betsy and Bowie slashing his 'Arkansas Toothpick' at the Mexicans.
The Battle of San Jacinto was on April 21, 1836, and is marked by San Antonio holding its splendid Fiesta week every year to encompass that date.
I actually didn't pick up much agenda from the article, which surprises the heck out of me, given the source.
I agree with your recap of the causes leading up to the revolution. It is certainly true that many of the colonists, especially those under the leadership of Austin, entered their relationship with Mexico in good faith, but it seems that a clash of cultures was inevitable. Mexico's loss of Texas can ultimately be attributed to its immigration policy of the day and its inability to protect its northern border. Any lessons there to be heeded?
My 6x great grandfather was present at this battle, for which he received a land grant from the new nation of Texas. Unfortunately, any thoughts that he may have had on the events of this day have not survived the passage of time.
I’m conducting business in the Houston area, and yesterday I got a chance to visit the San Jacinto battlefield. I was told that they’re having a re-enactment of the battle (slaughter) of San Jacinto on April 25th. I will be spending that Saturday watching SantaAnna running for his life in abject fear, as the brave Texans settle the score with the Mexican Army over the Mexican Army massacres at Goliad and the Alamo.
Absolutely! I discovered an encampment of Minnesotans just south of Gainesville last week. They were easy to spot. They were having a cook out of meatless lasanga with goat cheese and organic yogurt and calling it a barbeque. They were complaining about the stifling 78 degree heat and it was obvious they had evaded the mandatory flea and tick dip station at the Oklahoma border.
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