April 21, 1836: Texan militia under Sam Houston defeat troops under Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto

The 1830’s were a turbulent time for the Mexican region of Texas. When Mexico broke off from the crumbling Spanish empire in 1821, they wanted to bolster the population of their fledgling republic. They opened their territories to American immigration. Settlers led by Stephen F. Austin brought the very first settlers into Texas in the late 1820’s. The new settlers introduced slavery into the territory, which the Mexican government initially turned a blind eye too. When Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna assumed the Mexican presidency, he decided to clamp down on his unruly Anglo citizens. In 1835, the Texans had enough and revolted against the repressive regime.

The Texas Revolution began at Gonzales, when Mexican soldiers tired to seize cannon stationed there; much like the British at Lexington in 1775. Surprisingly, the Texans were able to repel the Mexican advance. In response, Santa Anna attacked a garrison of Texans defending a former Spanish mission called the Alamo in San Antonio. The battle was a massacre; all the Texan defenders were killed in the wake of Santa Anna’s attack. The Alamo became a rallying cry for the revolution. The same month as the Alamo, the Texans decided to officially separate from Mexico. The Convention of 1836 met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to decide the question of independence. They declared independence the following day, creating a provisional government to serve during the revolution. Over the next several weeks, volunteers flooding into the territory to aid the Texans in their struggle against their Mexican oppressors. The provisional government named Sam Houston to led the volunteer army. Santa Anna’s army moved toward Washington scattering the new government and Houston’s army. As Houston’s army fled into West Texas, the Mexican army was in hot pursuit. By mid-April, the moral of Houston’s army was at an all time low. His troops were beginning to think their commander was suffering from cowardice. However, in all actuality, Houston was waiting to engage Santa Anna on a battlefield of his choosing. On April 20, he found such a battlefield.

Houston’s troops were camped along a marshy bayou near the San Jacinto River. The Mexican army arrived early that morning. The Texans had superior numbers but had backed themselves into a corner with no way to retreat. Several small skirmishes broke out too little effect. As the sun set, both camps rested for the following day’s battle. During the night, reinforced arrived to bolster the Mexican army. When the battle commenced the following day, the outnumbered, untrained Texans broke ranks and began engaging to the Mexicans. Chaos ensued. Santa Anna’s men were well seasoned but unfamiliar with the terrain and were caught off guard by the aggressiveness of the attack. The Mexicans became overwhelmed, and fell back. By the afternoon, the Texans could claim victory in the battle. Several days after the battle, the wounded Santa Anna was found resting near a tree, and forced to sign the surrender of his army. The treaty that followed granted Texas their independence.