Battle of San Jacinto

Sam Houston and the small army of Texas retreated eastward following the fall of the Alamo in the spring of 1836. Sam Houston’s men were eager to meet the Mexican Army. They wanted a fight to gain revenge for the Alamo and Goliad. 

On the morning of the April 19, the Texian army set up camp on the San Jacinto River. Here, the army prepared their defenses on the edge of a grove of trees. Their rear was protected by trees and the bayou, while before them was an open prairie. 

On the following morning, Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna came marching across the prairie. A shot from the Texan's "Twin Sisters" cannons brought him to a sudden halt. Falling back to a clump of trees a quarter of a mile distant, Santa Anna formed in line of battle. Colonel Sidney Sherman, at the head of the Texas cavalry, charged the Mexican army, but accomplished little except to inspire the Texians. 

The morning of April the 21st found men from both sides ready for battle. The main forces of the Texas army was about 750 men. They faced an army of over 1500 Mexican soldiers. Early in the morning, Houston sent Deaf Smith, a Texas spy, with two or three men, to destroy Vince's bridge over which the Mexican army had passed. This cut off the Mexican’s only escape route. However, Houston did not attack in the morning, he waited until mid-afternoon, when the Mexican army, tired from their forced march, rested. 

When Houston's long awaited order to advance was given at 4:30 pm, the Texians did not hesitate. When within seventy yards the word "fire" was given, the Texian shouts of "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad" rang along the entire line. The Battle of San Jacinto was over within 18 minutes – the fasted victory for any army in history. 700 Mexicans were killed in the battle with another 730 taken as prisoners. Eleven Texians died, with 30 others, including Houston, wounded.