Sam Houston, nursing his wounds under a tree, meets with Antonio López de Santa Anna after the Texans’ victory at San Jacinto. General Houston offered to spare Santa Anna’s life if the Mexican general promised to order his soldiers to leave Texas.
Weary Texans grumbled as they set up camp on the plain of San Jacinto. The date was April 21, 1836. The soldiers were tired of retreating. The Mexican army was camped almost within rifle shot. Would General Sam Houston ever let them stand and fight?
A battle had been brewing for weeks. Leading the Mexicans was General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The Mexican dictator was trying to crush the Texans’ fight for independence. He had begun by marching on San Antonio. On March 6, his troops had stormed the Alamo. All of the defenders had died in that bloody battle. At Goliad, he had ordered the slaughter of almost four hundred Texan prisoners. Now only Sam Houston and his tiny army were left to defend Texas.
Tall oak trees trailed a curtain of Spanish moss over the Texans’ camp. Less than a mile away, Santa Anna’s men built a barricade of brush and baggage. The dictator felt certain that the outnumbered Texans would not attack. The barricade finished, his men stacked their rifles and lay down for a siesta.
Santa Anna’s confidence seemed well founded. He commanded 1,260 men to Sam Houston’s 910. Sam’s best hope lay in the deadeye shooting of his riflemen. He waited, hoping the Mexicans would attack.
At last, as his men grew more impatient, Sam launched an attack. First, he sent the famous scout Deaf Smith riding west to burn Vince’s Bridge. With the bridge down, Santa Anna’s reinforcements could not reach him. Water and marshy ground would make retreat difficult. This would be a fight to the finish.
At 3:30 P.M., Sam was ready. He mounted his white horse and led his men forward. The advancing troops flanked two small cannon called the Twin Sisters. Houston rode up and down the line. “Hold your fire, men. Hold your fire,” he urged. His silent soldiers pressed forward through the tall grass. A reserve force waited in the cover of the trees.
When the sleeping enemy lay only two hundred yards away, Sam waved his hat. The Twin Sisters roared. With grapeshot in short supply, the gunners had loaded the cannon with scrap metal. Chunks of broken horseshoes ripped through the barricade. The Texans surged forward. As they ran, they yelled, “Remember the Alamo!”
Santa Anna’s men groped for their guns. A few wild shots peppered the attacking Texans. Sam’s white horse went down. Sam jumped free, grabbed a second horse, and swung into the saddle. A moment later, a musket ball shattered his ankle. The second horse fell under him. Somehow, Sam pulled himself onto a third horse.
The Texans broke through what was left of the barricade. Many of the Mexicans fought bravely, while others ran for their lives. Santa Anna, unnerved by the assault, fled on horseback. Eighteen minutes after the first shots were fired, the battle was over.
“¡Me no Alamo!” frightened Mexicans pleaded. The Texans were beyond caring. Blind with rage, they shot, clubbed, and knifed hundreds of helpless prisoners. When the dust settled, 630 Mexicans lay dead. Another 630 had surrendered. More than 200 of them had been wounded. Only two Texans had been killed in the surprise attack, although seven more died later of their wounds.
A patrol found Santa Anna the next day. The riders brought the dictator back to camp. They found Sam sitting under a tree, nursing his wounded ankle. Santa Anna feared he would be sent to a firing squad. Sam had a better idea. He offered to spare the dictator’s life—if all Mexican troops left Texas. Santa Anna quickly signed the orders that sent his men home.
Sam Houston, nursing his wounds under a tree, meets with Antonio López de Santa Anna after the Texans’ victory at San Jacinto. General Houston offered to spare Santa Anna’s life if the Mexican general promised to order his soldiers to leave Texas.
The stroke of Santa Anna’s pen ended the Texas war for independence. Thanks to Sam Houston and his brave soldiers, Texas was free.