In 1836, the battle of San Jacinto took place as Texas fought for their freedom from Mexico.
After numerous losses, including at the Alamo, Texans under Sam Houston met the Mexican army outside San Jacinto it what was the final and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution and defeated them in 18 minutes, capturing Santa Anna the next day in a private’s uniform.
After he was held for a time, Santa Anna signed the peace treaty that sent the Mexican army home, paving the way for the Republic of Texas to become an independent country.
From the History Channel, HERE. And HERE.
Needless to say, this is still celebrated in Texas today!
And contrary to what some say, there were a large number of ‘Texicans’ who fought on Texas side, having been in Texas for many years.
And the Republic of Texas was just a ‘tad’ larger than it is today…
God bless Texas, the Texans and the Texicans.
Anybody else remember the “Texas History Movies” cartoon books from the 50’s?
Congratulations Texas. I wonder if we will be celebrating its bicentennial birthday. Only 12 years to go !
My little (only) brother’s birthday too is today – just turned 60.
Wait – that can’t be right … 8^)
What happened to the land if Texas was larger than it is today? Did Texas cede the land when they joined the Union or did the US Government just steal it?
Part of it was ceded, and part was unclear at the time of independence. Was all of the Rio Grande watershed part of Spanish/Mexican Texas? When you look at the actual Spanish, and later Mexican records, it wasn’t, but belonged to a different province. The eastern border of what became New Mexico and the western border of Texas were rather vague because of the Comanche presence in the region, and lack of clear natural features to use as a border.
Not that Texas agreed with the earlier documents, but armed attempts to confirm Texas’ claim Santa Fe and the rest of the Rio Grande valley were … less than successful. The Mexican-American War made it moot, and the Feds and Texas had reached a compromise of sorts by then.
The Missouri Compromise decapitated Texas at 36* 30′ north latitude.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Compromise#/media/File:Missouri_Compromise_Line.svg
In my ‘Republic of Texas Navy’ books, Albuquerque is the northwest corner of Texas. Everything north of that was sold / ceded to the US in the 1860’s.
If ya’ll are interested in Texas history, research Cap. Billingsly and the Texians saying that if Gen. Houston ordered more retreat, at the Lynchburg Ferry fork IIRC, that they would disobey. Billingsly was not a fan of Houston.
It is a lot of fun and educational walking about role playing resonators and interacting as if in the period.
Gonzales, Goliad, Presidio, candle light vigil, Alamo, San Jacinto – the pilgrimages of Texians.
I’ve read Houston’s men were sick and tired of retreating, but Houston felt they only had one good fight in them and was waiting for the right moment.
Sigh. Reenactors not resonators. They are not banjos.
John- Yep!
Tom- Vaguely
jrg- I think they will, regardless!!!
John/TXRed- See her answers, thanks Red!
Jamie- Oh yeah. There were ‘personalities’ involved! And I got what you meant! 🙂
I was taught that Santa Anna was caught wearing a womans clothing.
Mike V. Others think that Houston was going to retreat all the way to Louisiana and attempt to draw a border conflict.
I am of the opinion that Ole Hickory sent Houston to Tejas-Coahuila on a mission and Santa Anna was right in his suspicions.
Any Army would celebrate catching a General out of uniform, trying to imitate being a private.