San Jacinto

1. San Jacinto

2. Lessons of the Alamo and Goliad • Santa Anna had everything going his way. • Battle of the Alamo: • Delayed Santa Anna, giving the ad interim government time to draft a constitution and Sam Houston time to build the army. • Santa Anna had hoped the defeat at the Alamo would cause the rest of the Texans to give up. • Opposite effect • Battles convinced Sam Houston that cooperation was needed between volunteers and the regular army. • Soldiers knew that the would not be spared if they were defeated in battle – fought more desperately.

3. Santa Anna • After the fall of the Alamo and Goliad, Santa Anna ordered his troops to burn every town and settlement in their path. • Anxious to return to Mexico • Goal was to capture David G. Burnet • Some of Santa Anna’s commanders were afraid this tactic would cause the Texans to fight more stubbornly.

4. Houston Builds the Texas Army • Houston appointed Commander in Chief. • Had 400 untrained troops when the Alamo fell. • Ordered a retreat east to the Colorado River. • Also sent a message to Fannin at Goliad to retreat • By the time he crossed the Colorado River, Houston had 1,400 troops. • Ordered another retreat, to the Brazos River, after Fannin is captured and killed. • Soldiers wanted to fight now. • Houston’s strategy?

5. Houston Trains His Army • March 29, 1836 – Houston’s army reches San Felipe de Austin on the Brazos River. • Spent two weeks at Groce’s Plantation training the army in the fundamentals of warfare. • President Burnet sent a letter to Houston urging him to attack. • Houston refused • Hendrick Arnold posed as a runaway slave while acting as a spy for Sam Houston.

6. The Mexican Army Moves East • April 5, 1836 – Santa Anna crossed the Colorado River. • Left slower units (artillery) behind in an attempt to overtake Houston. • Santa Anna split his army, one group chasing Houston and the other chasing the Texan government. • Houston received a gift from Cincinnati, Ohio. • The “Twin Sisters” (two six-pound cannons) • Houston took his stand at Buffalo Bayou.

7. Eve of the Battle • April 20, 1836 – Texan and Mexican armies camped three-quarters of a mile from one another. • Santa Anna camped in the open, thinking the Texans would not attack. • Houston destroyed the bridge to the southwest, cutting of the retreat for both the Texans and the Mexican Army.

8. Battle of San Jacinto • 3:30 pm, April 21, 1836 – Houston ordered his troops to attack. • Tejanos in the Texas Army, led by Juan Seguin, put pieces of cardboard in their hats so the other Texan soldiers would know they were on their side. • Texans took the Mexican army by surprise. • Some had slept in, others were doing chores. • Texans defeated the Mexican Army in 18 minutes, but had to keep hunting down soldiers who fled until dark.

9. Aftermath • Texans: 10 killed, 30 wounded (including Houston) • Mexican Army: 630 killed, 730 taken prisoner. • Santa Anna among the prisoners. • Tried to pose as a common soldier but was singled out by one of his own men.

10. The Texas Navy • Only 4 ships. • Able to control the coast. • Brought supplies to the Texas Army and cut off the Mexican supply lines. • Forced the remaining Mexican troops to withdraw from Texas due to lack of food and ammunition.

11. Treaties of Velasco • After San Jacinto, President Burnet moved the government from Galveston Island to the town of Velasco. • May 14, 1836 – two treaties signed.

12. Public Treaty: • Santa Anna promised to end the fighting in Texas • All Mexican troops to be withdrawn • All prisoners exchanged • All property taken by the Mexican forces would be returned to their rightful owners • Secret Treaty: • Mexico would recognize Texas Independence • Santa Anna would be released with an escort back to Mexico • The Rio Grande River would be the southern border.