Wednesday, April 21, 2010

San Jacinto Day

Hard to believe what a reversal of fortunes today represented. Santa Ana had destroyed the Alamo and put the garrison and leaders to the sword. His forces had captured and executed the largest and best equipped Texan army at Goliad. He was merely chasing the last rabble out of the state in back into the woodlands and swamps of the Eastern Texas coast. For all practical purposes the rebellion was over. Santa Ana was entertaining a local beauty, one of a series of conquests during his campaign, in his tent. Then the Texians swarmed across the pasture, into the camp and killing and scattering his army in 19 minutes.
The first news accounts must not have been believed. Disaster had turned into victory. Houston got Santa Ana in hand and forced him into sending orders to withdraw to Mexican troops in San Antonio and elsewhere and signed and agreement not to invade again. Houston sent him home via Washington DC. It took nearly a year and by the time Santa Ana got back to Mexico City his government had long since fallen and been replaced. He was in disgrace.
Amazing times when the rabble turned the tables on the Napolean of the West and won independence for Texas in 19 minutes on a muddy field near Buffalo Bayou.

3 comments:

Old NFO said...

Whatever works... :-)

Earl said...

Nineteen minutes of wild adventure, but your account didn't mention how long it took everyone to get into position. Sometimes it doesn't pay to hide behind walls.

Anonymous said...

Catching them during their siesta? That would be akin to catching radical islamists during their prayers?