The capture of Santa Anna and General Cos

The moonlight that shined over the battlefield at San Jacinto on the evening of April 21, 1836 revealed the dead bodies of 630 Mexican soldiers. Sam Houston was not able to sleep that night as he frantically worried about the escape of Santa Anna and General Cos during the battle.

Sam Houston, upon learning of Santa Anna's escape, ordered Edward Burleson to track down the man. Houston stated: "You will find the Hero of Tampico, if you find him at all, retreating on all fours in high grass. He will be dressed badly, at least, as a common soldier. Examine every man you find very closely!" Houston, at the time, had no idea that his statement would turn out to be true!

In his silk undergarments and red house slippers, General Santa Anna had escaped on a farm horse known as "Old Whip" in the heat of battle. Soon, however, Santa Anna found himself trapped as the old horse had taken him near the burned out Vince's Bridge. Santa Anna had a tremendous fear of water and thus had no way of escaping since the bridge over the large creek had been destroyed.

Santa Anna had found himself at Buffalo Bayou which was flooded with spring rains, and therefore, it was very difficult to cross. Finally, by crawling through the high grasses and marshes of the bayou, Santa Anna found a waist- deep creek to cross. Santa Anna then made his way to the slave quarters on Vince's Plantation where he found some slave clothing. Yet, Santa Anna continued to wear his silk undergarments and his red slippers under the clothing. When the Mexican general finally left the plantation, he lost his sense of direction and moved up the bayou toward the camp of the Texas volunteers.

Six Texans, on the morning of April 22, 1836, were sent out to kill deer to feed Houston's army. One of these men, James Austin Sylvester, spotted several deer in some high grass near Buffalo Bayou. When he took aim and was ready to shoot, he noticed a man appear across the top of the tall grasses. Immediately, Sylvester shouted to the other men to capture the escaped Mexican soldier.

The escaped soldier, who turned out to be General Santa Anna, ran a few yards and then covered himself with a blanket in the tall grass. After Sylvester's horse nearly trampled the general, Santa Anna was kicked to his feet, but was not recognized. One of the Texans shouted, "Let's kill the fool so we can go hunting". Nevertheless, it would not be long until "El Presidente" was revealed!

Three interesting and rather specific items revealed Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. First of all, Santa Anna boldly asked to ride one of the men's horses as his feet were scraped and cut! The Texans became somewhat suspicious as they knew that the majority of the Mexican army was made up of foot soldiers and thus they would have no problem walking through the soft marshy areas surrounding Buffalo Bayou. Only a high ranking officer would not be accustomed to walking. Secondly, around two o'clock that afternoon, when Santa Anna was brought in to the Texan camp, the other prisoners murmered “El Presidente, El Presidente!" In fact, several of the captured Mexican officers screamed out “cierra tu boca” (shut your mouth) to their other soldiers. Thirdly, once his wet and dirty clothing was removed, Santa Anna stood in front of his captors in his silk undergarments and red slippers. Finally, Santa Anna told his captors, "I am Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of Mexico, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Operations, and I put myself at the disposition of the brave General Houston. I wish to be treated as a general should when a prisoner of war."

Santa Anna was then taken to General Sam Houston where he stood trembling with his right hand over his heart! Both men were surrounded by curious Texans_, many of whom were demanding that Santa Anna be shot or hung right there on the spot! Finally, Sam Houston boomed out, "Quiet darn you” to his Texan soldiers. As the General of the Texan army was leaning against a giant oak tree resting his wounded leg that was shot in the battle he allowed Santa Anna to sit near him on an ammunition box. Santa Anna, being quite nervous and shaky, asked Colonel Juan Almonte to bring him his opium box which Santa Anna opened and then swallowed a small piece of the drug. The opium calmed him and restored his self - confidence, and Santa Anna then voiced, That man may consider himself born to no common destiny who has conquered the Napoleon of the West. And now it remains for him to be generous to 'the vanquished." Houston simply replied, "You should have remembered that at the Alamo!"

The Battle of San Jacinto was now over, and the Texans had won their independence from Mexico. Texas no longer the state of Coahuila y Tejas, but was now the new Republic of Texas, a free and democratic nation. Fearing execution, Santa Anna was more than willing to meet the demands of the Texans. After the battle Santa Anna signed an order sending his armies back to Mexico followed by the Treaties of Velasco, signed by representatives of both nations -- Texas and Mexico. One treaty was made public, while the other remained secret for several years.

The Capture of General Cos

General Cos was also missing after the Battle of San Jacinto. "Deaf" Smith along with several other Texans had been searching the bayou for the general and other escaped Mexican soldiers. Between Harrisburg and Fort Bend on the morning of April 23, 1836, Smith noticed a rather small man traveling on foot carrying water and several ears of corn. Smith offered the man a ride and lifted him onto his horse.

On the way back to the Texan camp, Smith asked the man if he had seen General Cos, and the prisoner replied that he had not. The old scout continued saying, "I'm Deaf Smith, and I want to find General Cos. He offered $1,000 for my head, and if I find him I will cut off his head and send it back to Mexico!" Smith had no idea that his captive was General Cos. When he later learned the truth, he shouted, "Why, he's just a dried up little scrub of a thing!" Smith had to be held back by his fellow Texans from racing to Cos and possibly causing him harm.