Battle of San Jacinto: Birth of the Texas Republic

Q: How long was the Battle of San Jacinto?

The Battle of San Jacinto lasted 18 minutes - although Texian slaughter of Mexican soldiers went on much longer.

Q: What were the casualties of the Battle of San Jacinto?

At San Jacinto, the Mexican army casualties numbered over 600 killed/over 200 wounded. Texian casualties were 11 killed or dying later from wounds/30 wounded.

Q: Why did the Texians continue the slaughter after the Mexican army was defeated?

Santa Anna had shown no mercy to the Texian garrisons at the Alamo and Goliad, executing prisoners after surrender, and so at San Jacinto the Texians followed the same policy to avenge their fallen.

Q: Why is the Battle of San Jacinto important?

The Battle of San Jacinto is important because it won Texas independence from Mexico, allowing for the establishment of the Texas Republic, eventually leading to the annexation of Texas by the United States, sparking the Mexican-American War, which was won by the US and expanded US territory to the West Coast. This drastically reduced the territory of Mexico, establishing the borders recognized today.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

The Battle of San Jacinto (21 April 1836) was the decisive engagement of the Texas Revolution in which General Sam Houston (1793-1863) defeated the Mexican Army under President and General Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794-1876) in 18 minutes. After Santa Anna was captured the next day, the Texian troops demanded his execution to avenge those who had fallen at the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre. Houston was able to leverage this threat over the next few weeks to get Santa Anna to sign the Treaties of Velasco, withdrawing all Mexican troops from Texas and allowing for the birth of the Texas Republic.

More about: Battle of San Jacinto

Timeline

6 Mar 1836
The fall of the Alamo.
11 Mar 1836
News of the Alamo's fall reaches Gonzales just after General Houston arrives there.
13 Mar 1836
Houston orders Gonzales evacuated and the town burned; start of the Runaway Scrape.
20 Mar 1836
Colonel Fannin surrenders at Coleto.
27 Mar 1836
Colonel Fannin and his men are slaughtered in the Goliad Massacre.
31 Mar 1836
News of the Goliad Massacre reaches Houston's troops resulting in mass desertions.
7 Apr 1836
T.J. Rusk is sent to replace Houston if he will not fight; Houston convinces Rusk is strategy is sound.
12 Apr 1836
Houston's army receives two cannon - the Twin Sisters - from Ohio.
18 Apr 1836
Houston's army captures a courier carrying Mexican troop movements and race toward San Jacinto.
21 Apr 1836
The Battle of San Jacinto is won by Houston's army in 18 minutes.