What was the first battle of the texas revolution

The Texans won the final and decisive engagement with Mexico in the Texas Revolution on April 21, 1836 at the Battle of San Jacinto. While the battle only lasted 18 minutes, its ramifications were great. The victory at San Jacinto gave Texas its independence from Mexico and opened the door for the continued westward expansion of the United States. The United States annexed Texas in 1845, which led directly to the Mexican-American War. When that ended, Mexico ceded the American Southwest and California to the United States. Today, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site and Monument preserves the site of this important battle and commemorates the Texans’ victory over Mexico, as well as the battle’s lasting effect on the history of the United States. San Jacinto Battlefield is a National Historic Landmark. Following Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821, the newly formed Republic of Mexico encouraged American immigrants to settle in Texas, which was part of the Mexican State of Coahuila y Tejas. The Mexican government offered settlers from the United States land at cheap prices. By 1830, the American population of Texas grew to around 25,000 people, significantly outnumbering the Mexican population and thus causing the Mexican government to become increasingly concerned about protecting its claims to the frontier land in this region. Tensions between the Mexican government and settlers from the United States began to rise as the Mexican government forbade further American immigration to Texas in 1830.

General Sam Houston Courtesy of the Library of Congress

By October of 1835, Texans of American and Mexican heritage organized a rebellion against the Mexican government – launching the Texas Revolution. Five months later, on March 2, 1836, delegates signed the Texas Declaration of Independence (which reflected American democratic principles and paralleled the United States Declaration of Independence) at Washington-on-the-Brazos, formally declaring the independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico. The signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence was an important step toward establishing a Republic of Texas independent from Mexico, however, March of 1836 proved to be a challenging month for General Sam Houston, the Commander-in-Chief of the Texas forces. Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna had three armies, totaling roughly 5,500 men, moving north to squash the revolts. Throughout the month, Santa Anna’s armies killed and defeated Texans at settlements such as San Antonio de Bexar, Agua Dulce, Refugio, and Victoria. The largest and most upsetting of these defeats were the massacres at the Alamo (March 6) and Goliad (March 27). The annihilation of Texans at the hands of the Mexican army both enraged and frightened Houston’s men. Some of the troops fled to assist their families before the advancing Mexican army reached them in what became known as the “Runaway Scrape,” while others continued the fight, fueled by feelings of revenge.

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Realizing that his army was small and had only meager provisions, Houston slowly retreated to the east throughout the month of March. He spent the end of March and beginning of April training recruits into a semblance of a disciplined army. By April 18, Houston began to move strategically when documents captured from a Mexican courier revealed that Santa Anna had isolated himself from most of his troops and only had about 750 men (slightly smaller than Houston’s 820 men). The intercepted documents also revealed that Santa Anna planned to move east in pursuit of interim Texas President David G. Burnet and other Texas government officials. These officials had avoided Santa Anna in Harrisburg (a no longer extant town about 11 miles west of the San Jacinto Battleground). Houston anticipated that Santa Anna would next cross the San Jacinto River where it joins Buffalo Bayou at Lynch’s Ferry. Feeling confident and that their chance had come, Houston and his troops crossed south of the Buffalo Bayou and proceeded in the vicinity of Lynch’s Ferry. Houston established a camp in the woods slightly north of the ferry to wait for Santa Anna on the morning of April 20, 1836. On April 20, 1836, as expected, Santa Anna took his position where the San Jacinto River joins Buffalo Bayou, setting up camp in a position slightly south and east of Houston’s forces. On the morning of April 21, Santa Anna’s forces swelled from 600 men to 1,200 men as his brother-in-law’s forces joined his troops as reinforcements by crossing the bridge over the Brazos River. Santa Anna had expected Houston to attack on the morning of the 21st, and when he did not, permitted his now numerous Mexican troops to relax, eat, and sleep.

Houston was dismayed at Santa Anna’s reinforcements and ordered the destruction of the bridge crossing the Brazos River to prevent further swelling of Mexican troops. This also prevented retreat by both the Mexican and Texan armies. By that afternoon, Houston had a plan for battle. He sent out three forces – the main frontal force advanced quietly, hoping to take the Mexican army by surprise, as two other forces circled around the left and right flanks of the Mexican camp. Houston’s men got within 200-300 yards of the Mexican camp before the Mexicans detected them.

The San Jacinto Monument Courtesy of Michael F., Flickr’s Creative Commons

As the Texans attacked they chanted, “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” At the end of the violent battle that lasted only 18 minutes, the Mexican Army surrendered. Caught off guard by the bold broad-daylight attack, the Mexican Army hardly had time to respond. Nine Texans died and only 30 more suffered wounds, while the Mexican losses totaled 630 killed, 208 injured, and 730 taken prisoner.

Santa Anna ordered his troops to withdraw from Texas. The Texans captured Santa Anna disguised as a Mexican private the following day. On May 14, 1836, Presidents David G. Burnet and Santa Anna signed the public and private treaties of Velasco, confirming Mexican retreat and declaring an end to the war. Mexico did not formally recognize Texas independence, however, until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War in 1848.

Today, visitors to San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site and Monument can take a walking tour of the battleground to see where significant events leading to Texas independence occurred. San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site includes the San Jacinto Monument, the world’s largest column memorial (taller than the Washington Monument by 12 feet). Constructed between April 21, 1936 and April 21, 1939, the Monument serves as a memorial to all of those who fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and to all others who contributed to the independence of Texas. A large star atop the Monument symbolizes the Lone Star State, while friezes along the Monument’s base depict eight significant periods in the history of the Republic of Texas. The San Jacinto Museum of History is in the base of the Monument and offers information on the San Jacinto Battle and the history of Texas and the Spanish Southwest. The museum promotes friendship between Texas, Mexico, Spain, France, and Latin America.

Countless men fought and sacrificed their lives so that Texas could be independent. In honor of Texas’s birthday on March 2, here is a timeline of the events that led to Texas’s freedom from Mexico in 1836.

October 2, 1835 – Battle of Gonzales

It all started in Gonzales, when a troop of Mexican soldiers arrived to reclaim a cannon from the Texan colonists that Mexico loaned them for protection against the Indians. Already angered by Santa Anna’s tyranny, the Texans refused to surrender the cannon and taunted the Mexican soldiers with a call to “Come and Take It.”  On Oct. 2, the Texan colonists attacked the Mexican troops, sparking the Texas Revolution.

December 5, 1835 – Siege of Bexar 

This was the first real battle of the Texas Revolution. After the Gonzales conflict, the Texan soldiers followed the Mexican troops back to San Antonio de Bexar, which was a Mexican military garrison and the center of commerce. After a few small skirmishes, on Dec. 5, Benjamin R. Milam and Francis W. Johnson led a surprise attack on the town. After five days of fighting, the Texans seized the town from Mexican General Martin Perfecto de Cos and gained control of the Alamo.

Feb. 23, 1836 – Battle of the Alamo begins

After taking the Alamo, many Texan volunteers left the city to return to their families. The remaining Texans were caught by surprise when General Santa Anna and his army arrived on Feb. 23 and trapped them in the mission.  Santa Anna demanded the Texans surrender, but Travis refused with a cannon shot prompting the Mexicans to attack the fort, starting the 13-day Battle of the Alamo.

Feb. 24, 1836 – Travis Writes “Victory or Death” Letter

After withstanding cannon fire and attacks for 24 hours, Commander William Barret Travis knew they were doomed without reinforcements. He penned a letter to the “people of Texas and all Americans in the world” pleading for help and stating his intentions to “never going to surrender or retreat.” It was “Victory or Death.” While a few troops did arrive on March 1, the Texans were still greatly outnumbered.

March 2, 1836 – Convention of 1836   

With The Alamo under siege, a provisional Texas government, consisting of 59 elected men, met at Independence Hall in Washington-on-the-Brazos to decide Texas’s future. Together they wrote a new Constitution and the Texas Declaration of Independence, establishing Texas as a new sovereign nation.

March 6, 1836 – Fall of the Alamo  

At 5 a.m. on March 6, General Santa Anna called for a surprise attack on the Alamo. His officers argued that there was no justification for attacking the Texans when they were already low on supplies and would probably surrender within days, but Santa Anna was insistent. The Mexican army fired cannons at all four walls of the Alamo and attacked. The battle lasted 90 minutes and left 189 Texas men dead.

March 27, 1836 – Goliad Massacre 

Fannin Memorial Monument marks where Fannin and his men are buried.

Less than a month after the fall of the Alamo, the Texas army was increasing in number which angered Santa Anna.  As a result, he ordered that any prisoners taken in battle against Mexico be shot. Commander James Walker Fannin, Jr. and his men surrendered at the Battle of Coleto on the condition that they be treated as prisoners of war and escorted back to the United States as soon as possible. Mexican General Mexia agreed to Fannin’s terms and delivered the prisoners to Presidio at La Bahia in Goliad. However, instead of honoring his promise, on March 27, Mexican guards marched the Texan men out of camp and executed them by the side of the road. Fannin and the other injured soldiers were executed in front of the Bahia Chapel.

April 21, 1836 – Battle of San Jacinto   

This was the last major battle in the Texas Revolution. On the morning of April 21, General Sam Houston and the Texan army found themselves camped near a small bayou less than a mile from Santa Anna and the Mexican army.  At 3:30pm in the afternoon, all was quiet in the Mexican camp.  With cries of “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad” ringing in the air, the Texan army surprise-attacked the napping Mexican troops. The battle only lasted 18 minutes, but during that short time 630 Mexicans were killed and 730 were taken prisoner. Santa Anna escaped during the fight, but was captured the next morning in the grass, dressed as a common soldier.

Henry William Huddle painted “Surrender of Santa Anna” in 1886.

May 14, 1836 – Treaties of Velasco were Signed 

After his capture at the Battle of San Jacinto, Santa Anna was taken to Velasco, TX where he signed a treaty stating he could never fight against Texas and that Mexico would immediately evacuate the new republic, officially ending the Texas Revolution. Texas was its own sovereign nation for nearly a decade before joining the United States in 1845 and becoming its 28th state.

For more information on Texas’s road to victory, visit the Texas State Historical Association or The Alamo’s website.