John Coker John Coker ( 1789 – 1851 ) was a soldier in the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution , noted for a daring action during the Battle of San Jacinto that helped seal the decisive Texian victory . Biography . John Coker was born in Laurens County , South Carolina . He moved from South Carolina to Texas in 1834 and applied for land in Stephen F . Austin ’ s colonies ( 4 ) . Coker served in the Texas army from March 6 to September 5 , 1836 . He was a member of Captain Henry Wax Karnes ' Company and served in Erastus Deaf Smith ’ s spy company in the Battle of San Jacinto . He was one of a party of seven men who burned Vince ' s Bridge and kept Antonio López de Santa Anna ’ s army from retreat or reinforcement , thus assuring the Texan victory ( 5 ) . Young Perry Alsbury , who was also at Vince ' s Bridge , in an 1858 letter to Congressman Grimes stated “ While sitting in our saddles , John Coker , my left file - leader , made the following remark and the suggestions following : " Boys , before many hours we will have one of the damndest , bloodiest fights that ever was fought and I believe it would be a good plan to go and burn that bridge so as not only to impede the advance of reinforcements of the enemy , but it will cut off all chance of retreat of either party ( 2 ) . " Deaf Smith knew more about the lay of the land in and around the San Jacinto battle grounds than any man in Sam Houston ' s army . So when he went to Houston and told him of Coker ’ s idea that unless the bridge over Vince ' s Bayou was burned , the enemy could keep on getting reinforcements and , if defeated , Santa Anna would cross the bridge and escape to wait for those reinforcements and come back . Houston agreed with this plan , but said , " You will have to pass within of the Mexican cavalry and they will cut you to pieces . " Smith told him that if he would permit him to take six men , he would burn the bridge or perish in the attempt ( 4 ) . Vince ' s Bridge was not chopped down , as mistakenly stated by some historians , but was instead burned . A larger force would have been required to cut down the massive and lengthy structure in so short a time . After the successful destruction of the bridge was announced to the Texans just before the battle , they knew that there was no chance for retreat for either army . They rushed forward , and in 18 minutes , completely routed the panic - stricken Mexicans ( 2 ) . Santa Anna , in his attempted hasty escape from the encircling Texans , soon came to the burned bridge , which he thought was on the headwaters of Buffalo Bayou and his private secretary believed was on the Brazos River . The general was later captured after being significantly delayed by the destroyed structure ( 5 ) . The others who were with John Coker on that mission were Deaf Smith , Young Perry Alsbury , Denmore W . Reaves , John T . Garner , Moses Lapham and Edwin R . Rainwater . John Coker was not wounded in the battle but his service record states that at the battle of San Jacinto , John Coker lost a horse valued at $ 175 , when it was shot during the battle ( 4 ) . In 1838 in recognition for his service , the Republic of Texas awarded him in north central Bexar County , where he settled in 1841 and founded Coker Community ( 2 ) . He is buried in the Coker family plot in the Coker Cemetery ( 1 ) . Young Perry Alsbury wrote of John Coker , " He is a man who is second to none in honesty of purpose , valor and patriotism . " ( 2 )