Battle of San Jacinto The Battle of San Jacinto , fought on April 21 , 1836 , in present - day Harris County , Texas , was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution . Led by General Sam Houston , the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna ' s Mexican army in a fight that lasted just 18 minutes . About 630 of the Mexican soldiers were killed and 730 captured , while only nine Texans died . Santa Anna , the President of Mexico , was captured the following day and held as a prisoner of war . Three weeks later , he signed the peace treaty that dictated that the Mexican army leave the region , paving the way for the Republic of Texas to become an independent country . These treaties did not specifically recognize Texas as a sovereign nation , but stipulated that Santa Anna was to lobby for such recognition in Mexico City . Sam Houston became a national celebrity , and the Texans ' rallying cries , " Remember the Alamo ! " and " Remember Goliad ! " became etched into Texas history and legend . Background . Colonization . During the early years of Mexican independence , numerous American immigrants had settled in Mexican Texas , then a part of the state of Coahuila y Tejas , with the Mexican government ' s encouragement . Political turmoil and civil war . In 1835 , they rebelled against the Mexican government of Santa Anna because he rescinded the democratic Constitution of 1824 , dissolved Mexico ' s Congress and state legislatures , and asserted dictatorial control over the nation . After capturing military outposts and defeating the Mexican army garrisons in the area , the Texans drove the remaining Mexican forces from Texas after a siege and a major confrontation in San Antonio . Texans then formed a provisional government and drafted a Declaration of Independence . Hundreds of volunteers from the United States of America headed into the fledgling Republic of Texas to assist in its quest for independence . Two full regiments of these volunteers were soon organized to augment the regular Texas army . Other volunteers ( including Tejano and Texian colonists ) organized into companies to defend places that might be targets of Mexican intervention . Some of the American volunteers at San Jacinto included the Kentucky Rifles , a company raised in Cincinnati and northern Kentucky by Sidney Sherman , and one of the few units in the Texian militia with formal uniforms . The New Orleans Greys , another company raised in the United States , had fought at the Battle of the Alamo while serving under a regular Texas army officer , while two companies from Alabama ( one each from Huntsville and Mobile ) fought at Goliad . Mexican response . In 1836 , Santa Anna led a force of about 6 , 000 Mexican troops into what is now Texas to put down the insurrection . He first entered San Antonio de Béxar and , after a 13 - day siege , defeated and killed the Texan force on March 6 , 1836 at the Alamo . The right wing of Santa Anna ' s offensive , under General José de Urrea , then defeated , captured , and executed the survivors of a second force near Goliad . Santa Anna ordered the Goliad prisoners to be shot or bayoneted on March 27 , Palm Sunday . General Urrea resisted the orders at first and sent a special message to Santa Anna to confirm the order , which Santa Anna upheld . After granting clemency to those prisoners of war who had surrendered unarmed , Urrea approached the problem of how to execute over 300 prisoners . To do so , those who were able to walk were told that they were being moved under guard to a new location . As the prisoners were being led down the road in three columns , between two lines of guards , the Mexican soldiers opened fire . Out of 303 Texian prisoners , 28 escaped , of which six were able to carry the tale to Sam Houston ' s militia . Of the remaining 40 Texians who were unable to walk , 39 were shot and killed in the fort after the others had left . This execution of 342 prisoners of war became known as the Goliad massacre . At the Battle of San Jacinto , both the cries of " Remember the Alamo ! " and " Remember Goliad ! " were heard . The fortress where the prisoners were held is today in excellent repair and is the finest example of a Mexican fort in the United States . It is called Presidio La Bahia and is near present day Goliad , Texas . Texan response . Soldiers and militia had again assembled in Gonzales . Colonel James Neill had taken charge and started to organize the troops . Houston soon arrived and assumed command of what was now the main Texian Army . Seeking a more defensible position , he slowly retreated eastward . To President David G . Burnet , no admirer of Houston ' s , Houston appeared unwilling to fight his pursuer , despite Burnet ' s frequent orders for Houston to do so . Texas settlers jeered Houston as he passed , and his officers threatened to seize command . Houston in reply said he would shoot anyone who tried . Concerned that the Mexican Army was rapidly approaching unchecked , Burnet and the Texas government abandoned the provisional capital at Washington - on - the - Brazos and moved towards the Gulf of Mexico , re - establishing key governmental functions in Harrisburg and later Galveston . In their wake , thousands of panicked colonists ( both Texian and Tejano ) fled in what became popularly known as the " Runaway Scrape " . Houston initially headed toward the Sabine River , the border with the United States , where a Federal army under General Pendleton Gaines had assembled to protect Louisiana if Santa Anna decided to invade the US . However , Houston soon turned to southeast toward Harrisburg . After the Battle of the Alamo , while still at Bexar , Santa Anna had devised his three - pronged plan , pursuing Houston ’ s army directly from the center with flanks to the north and south . However , in mid - April , Santa Anna abandoned the plan in an attempt to capture the fleeing Texas government at Morgan ' s Point , about a half - day ’ s March below Lynch ’ s Ferry . Santa Anna personally led a picket column of about 900 troops , but failed to encounter the sought - after leaders . On April 20 , he then countermarched toward Lynch ’ s Ferry , where Houston ’ s army had , earlier that morning , established a position in the woods along the confluence of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou . Santa Anna began setting up camp and defenses on a grassy field 1 , 000 yards ( 914 m ) below the Texans ’ position . Prelude to battle . Believing Houston to be cornered , Santa Anna decided to rest his army on April 19 and attack on April 22 . On April 20 , Texian and Mexican patrols clashed at New Washington . Santa Anna knew Houston was nearby and sent a probe into the woods to find his army . Colonel James C . Neill commanded the Twin Sisters during the battle and sent the Mexicans promptly into retreat , saving the Texians from discovery . Neill was seriously wounded when a fragment of a Mexican grapeshot caught him in the hip . J . C . Neill was then replaced by G . W . Hockley . Mexican Captain Urizza was also wounded . On the afternoon of April 20 , Colonel Sidney Sherman , accompanied by a detachment of cavalry , engaged the Mexican infantry , almost bringing on some major action when they were counter - attacked by Mexican Lancers . Captain Jesse Billingsley came to their aid and the entire regiment under Colonel Burleson promptly joined in . The Mexicans were repulsed and Houston called for the Texians to fall back . Two Texans were wounded , Walter Lane and Olwyn J . Trask ( who later died ) , with several horses also being killed . Private Mirabeau B . Lamar , from Georgia ( a future President of the Republic of Texas ) , performed so bravely , first saving Thomas J . Rusk and later Walter Lane ( with help from Henry Karnes ) , he was promoted to colonel and placed in command of the cavalry . On the morning of April 21 , Santa Anna received roughly 500 reinforcements under General Martín Perfecto de Cos . His total strength now approached 1 , 400 men . Santa Anna posted Cos to his right , near the river , and posted his last artillery in the center , erecting a five - foot - high barricade of packs and baggage as hastily constructed protection for his infantry . He placed his veteran cavalry on his left flank and settled back to plan the following day ' s attack . At noon on April 21 , Houston held a council of war . Pro - Houston versions of the meeting say the majority of his officers favored waiting for Santa Anna ' s eventual assault . The conference lingered on for two hours . Houston , however , decided in favor of his own surprise attack that afternoon , concerned that Santa Anna might use the extra time to concentrate his scattered army . Most of the assault would come over open ground , where the Texan infantry would be vulnerable to Mexican gunfire . Even riskier , Houston decided to outflank the Mexicans with his cavalry , stretching his troops even thinner . However , Santa Anna made a crucial mistake — during his army ' s afternoon siesta , he failed to post sentries or skirmishers around his camp . The 900 - strong Texian army was ready to meet the enemy . Houston , urged by Texas Secretary of War Thomas J . Rusk , who had caught up with the militia to consult with Houston at the insistence of President Burnet , began the action . By 3 : 30 p . m . , Houston had formed his men into battle lines for the impending assault , screened from Mexican view by trees and by a slight ridge that ran across the open prairie between the opposing armies . Santa Anna ' s failure to properly post lookouts proved fatal to his chances of victory . Battle . At 4 : 30 p . m . on April 21 , scout Deaf Smith announced the burning of Vince ' s Bridge , which cut off the only avenue of reinforcement and retreat for both armies without having to cross water more than deep . The main Texan battle line moved forward with their approach screened by the trees and rising ground . Emerging from the woods , the order was given to " advance " and a fifer began playing the popular tune " Will you come to the bower I have shaded for you ? " General Houston personally led the infantry , posting the 2nd Volunteer Regiment of Colonel Sidney Sherman together with Juan Seguin ' s men on his far left , with Colonel Edward Burleson ' s 1st Volunteer Regiment next in line . In the center , two small brass ( or iron ) smoothbore artillery pieces ( donated by citizens of Cincinnati , Ohio ) known as the " Twin Sisters , " were wheeled forward under the command of Major George W . Hockley . They were supported by four companies of infantry under Captain Henry Wax Karnes . Colonel Henry Millard ' s regiment of Texas regulars made up the right wing . To the extreme far right , 61 Texas cavalrymen under newly promoted Colonel Mirabeau B . Lamar planned to circle into the Mexicans ' left flank . The Texan militia moved quickly and silently across the high - grass plain , and then , when they were only a few dozen yards away , charged Santa Anna ' s camp , shouting " Remember the Alamo ! " and " Remember Goliad ! , " only stopping a few yards from the Mexicans to open fire . Manuel Flores is credited for taking the lead in the charge against Santa Anna ' s army . José Maria Rodriquez states in his book , " Memoirs of Early Texas " , that during the charge , the Texans fired and fell to the ground expecting a volley from the Mexican camp , but Flores remained standing and challenged the Texian Army to " get up " and advance , for " Santa Anna ' s men are running " ! Thomas Rusk also galloped up to the men shouting , " Don ' t stop . . . give ' em hell ! " The Texans achieved complete surprise . A bold attack in broad daylight , its success can be attributed in good part to Santa Anna ' s relaxed vigilance due to the superior number of forces he now possessed . Santa Anna ' s army primarily consisted of professional soldiers , but they were trained to fight in ranks , exchanging volleys with their opponents . The Mexicans were ill - prepared and unarmed at the time of the sudden attack . Most were asleep with their soldaderas ( i . e . , wives and female soldiers ) , worn out from building fortifications . Some were out gathering wood , and the cavalrymen were riding bareback fetching water . Not all were unaware ; Colonel Delgado was concerned with the laxness and General Manuel Fernández Castrillón , who at the Alamo had tried to save a small band of Texian defenders , desperately tried to mount an organized resistance , but was soon shot down and killed . His panicked troops fled , and Santa Anna ' s defensive line quickly collapsed . Hundreds of the demoralized and confused Mexican soldiers were routed , with many being driven into the marshes along the river to drown . The Texans chased after the fleeing enemy , Deaf Smith shouting " take prisoners like the Meskins do ! " , in reference to the burning of bodies after the Alamo and the mass murder of Texans at Goliad . Some of the Mexican cavalry plunged into the flooded stream by Vince ' s Bridge , but they were shot as they struggled in the water . Houston tried to restrain his men , but was ignored . Gen . Juan Almonte , commanding what was left of the organized Mexican resistance , soon formally surrendered his 400 remaining men to Rusk . The rest of Santa Anna ' s once - proud army had disintegrated into chaos . From the moment of the first charge , the battle was a slaughter , " frightful to behold " , with most of the Texan casualties coming in the first minutes of battle from the first Mexican volley . During the short but furious fighting , Houston was shot in the left ankle , two of his horses were shot from under him , and Santa Anna escaped . The combat itself lasted 18 minutes , but the slaughter of the Mexicans continued for " another hour or so " . The Texan militia had won a stunning victory , killing about 700 Mexican soldiers , wounding 208 , and taking 730 prisoners , including Santa Anna ( the Texans did not know they had captured Santa Anna until one of the prisoners called him El Presidente ) while suffering 9 killed and 30 wounded . Aftermath . Santa Anna disappeared during the battle and evaded discovery by shedding his ornate uniform for that of a common soldier . A search party consisting of James A . Sylvester , Washington H . Secrest , Sion R . Bostick , and Mr . Cole was sent out the next morning . When surrounded in high grass and compelled to surrender , Santa Anna was initially thought to be a common soldier . However , when saluted as " El Presidente " by other prisoners , his true identity was discovered by the Texans . Houston spared his life , preferring to negotiate an end to the overall hostilities and the withdrawal from Texas of Santa Anna ' s remaining columns . On May 14 , 1836 , Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco , in which he agreed to withdraw his troops from Texan soil and , in exchange for safe conduct back to Mexico , lobby there for recognition of the new republic . There were two treaties , a private treaty and a public treaty . In the private treaty , Santa Anna pledged to try to persuade Mexico to acknowledge Texas ' independence , in return for an escort back to Mexico . However , the safe passage never materialized ; Santa Anna was held for six months as a prisoner of war ( during which time his government disowned him and any agreement he might enter into — which he knew full well would happen ) and finally taken to Washington , DC . There he met with President Andrew Jackson , before finally returning in disgrace to Mexico in early 1837 . The independent Republic of Texas received diplomatic recognition from the United States , France , Belgium , the Netherlands , and the Republic of Yucatán . Even after the Republic had joined the United States in 1845 , Mexico still maintained claims on Texas until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican - American War in 1848 . Legend . It was reported that when on campaign , Santa Anna would send aides to kidnap the prettiest women for his pleasure . According to legend , he was " entertaining " ( exploiting ) a mulatto woman named Emily Morgan at the time of opening salvo . A song titled " The Yellow Rose of Texas " was later written about Emily Morgan ' s purported role in the battle . No primary source evidence corroborates this story , however , and it is now dismissed by historians . Memorialization . Today , the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site commemorates the battle and includes the San Jacinto Monument , the world ' s tallest memorial column , at . The park is located in La Porte , about 25 miles ( 40 km ) southeast of downtown Houston . The monument contains an inscription , part of which reads : " Measured by its results , San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world . The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican - American War , resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the states of Texas , New Mexico , Arizona , Nevada , California , Utah and parts of Colorado , Wyoming , Kansas and Oklahoma . Almost one - third of the present area of the American Nation , nearly a million square miles of territory , changed sovereignty . " Both the Texas Navy and the United States Navy have commissioned ships named after the Battle of San Jacinto : the Texan schooner " San Jacinto " and three ships named USS " San Jacinto " . An annual San Jacinto Day festival and battle re - enactment is held in the month of April at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site . The annual Fiesta celebration in San Antonio with three large parades , banquets , and numerous other events , celebrates the victory of San Jacinto and Texas independence . Alfonso Steele , to whom a roadside park is dedicated in Limestone County , is generally credited as being the last remaining Texan survivor of the battle . He died on July 8 , 1911 . In September 2001 , Park Road 1836 , connecting Battleground Road ( formerly Texas State Highway 134 ) to the San Jacinto Monument Grounds near Houston , was renamed in Juan Seguin ' s honor and Interstate 610 / Texas State Highway 225 interchange in southeast Houston was named the " Juan N . Seguin Memorial Interchange . " < ref name = Houston Chronicle . Two roads named for Tejano revolutionary / Hero from 1830s honored for role in freeing Texas > < / ref > In the 20th century , the state of Texas erected various monuments and historical wayside markers to mark the path and campsites of Houston ' s militia as it marched to San Jacinto .