The Road to San Jacinto
Chapter 12 Section 1
Essential Questions
How did TX civilians respond to Santa
Anna's continued invasion?
How did the TX army respond to Santa
Anna's continued invasion?
– The Texan defeats at the Alamo and
Goliad allowed Santa Anna to move into
TX unopposed
– Santa Anna believed the war was over
and considered leaving. However, his
desire to punish TX was too great.
– He began to march deeper in Texas in
search of the government. Along the
way he burned homes, towns, and crops
along the way.
Texas Army
– Houston arrived
at Gonzales on
March 11 and
found about 400
men ready to
join the fight.
– Realizing the
army needed
training and
supplies,
Houston began
a retreat
Texas Army
– With 400 Troops, Houston retreated East
toward the Colorado River, hoping to
pick up additional men
– The army grew to nearly 1,000 volunteers
as it moved East
Texan Army
– Houston’s soldiers became resentful
because their homes were being destroyed
and they wanted to fight the Mexican
soldiers
– Houston believed that his forces were still
too weak and needed more time to train.
Panic Causes Runaway Scrape
– Fearing the Mexican army would
harm them, hundreds of Texas
families fled east
– Heavy rains, cold, and sickness
made the journey miserable
Turn and Talk
Essential Question: How did Texas
civilians respond to Santa Anna’s
continued invasion?
Essential Question: How did the Texas
army respond to Santa Anna’s
continued invasion? Why?
Houston Trains his Army
– On March 29,
Houston’s army
reached the
Brazos River
– Two companies
refused to
retreat any
farther
– Men are getting
upset!
– Houston left
two companies
to guard the
river crossing
Houston Trains his Army
– Houston and the main army moved north
along the Brazos to Groce’s Plantation
– Houston trained his army for almost 2
weeks
Mexican Army Follows Houston
•
•
On April 5, Santa Anna crossed the
Colorado River and tried to overtake the
Texans
Santa Anna is eager to catch Houston and
defeat him…but his troops are slow and
weary
Juan N. Seguin
MEXN who supported TX
and fought against MEX
Helps TX civilians escape
Destroys heavy supplies
Texans cannot carry
Protect Texas Army flanks
(sides) and rear as Texans
retreat.
Erastus “Deaf” Smith
Fluent in Spanish,
Smith infiltrates
camps in disguise
as a Mexican
He sends
information on
Santa Anna’s march
route and men’s
condition to General
Houston
Mexican Army Follows Houston
– Houston receives a gift from the people of
Cincinnati, Ohio.
– Two cannons called the “Twin Sisters”
– Texas artillery had been lost at the Alamo, Goliad
and during the Runaway Scrape
– This gift convinced Houston it was time to fight
Houston turned south towards the San
Jacinto River and prepared to fight the
Mexican Army.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncA15
YozFbY
Watch from 1:26:45-1:33:30
The Battle of San Jacinto
Chapter 12 Section 2
OPTIC
The Eve of Battle
The Texas navy
controlled the
coastal waters
Brought supplies
to TX army
Cut off supplies
to Mexican army.
*This will play a
bigger role later on
The Eve of Battle
On April 20, 1836,
Texan troops
camped on the
banks of Buffalo
Bayou.
Santa Anna’s army
moved to the edge
of a prairie opposite
the Texans.
Santa Anna was in a
poor position but
believed the Texans
would not attack.
The Eve of Battle
Houston ordered the
bridge across Vince’s
Bayou destroyed
This would make it
impossible for either
army to retreat
Houston called his
officers to a council of
war, but they disagreed
over whether to attack
directly or set up a
defensive position.
"We view ourselves on the eve of
battle. We are nerved for the contest,
and must conquer or perish. It is vain
to look for present aid: none is at hand.
We must now act or abandon all hope!
Rally to the standard, and be no longer
the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be
men, be free men, that your children
may bless their father's name."
—General Sam Houston,
Before the Battle of San Jacinto
“Remember the Alamo”
Around 3:30 in the
afternoon of April
21, Houston
ordered the Texas
army to advance
on the Mexican
troops who were
taking a siesta.
The Texans seized
the Mexican
artillery.
San Jacinto Battlefield – April 21, 1836
“Remember the Alamo”
The Mexican
camp was in total
confusion as
soldiers tried to
fight and flee.
The battle lasted
18 minutes
“Remember the Alamo”
The Mexican army
suffered heavy
losses at San
Jacinto.
An estimated 630
Mexicans were
killed and 730 were
taken prisoner,
including Santa
Anna.
“Remember the Alamo”
Houston’s report to President
Burnet praised his troops highly
for their courage and loyalty.
Santa Anna’s report to his
superiors explained that the loss
was due to the high number of
inexperienced recruits.
Treaties of Velasco
Santa Anna signed two treaties at
Velasco—one public and one
secret.
The public treaty —Santa Anna
promised that Mexican forces
would never fight against Texans
again and ordered all Mexican
forces out of Texas.
The TX Navy blocking supplies
helped push the Mexicans out
quicker
Treaties of Velasco
The secret treaty —Santa Anna
promised to work for Mexican
recognition of Texas independence
and Rio Grande as border in
exchange for his release.
Victor’s Consequences
Many Texans wanted to hang
Santa Anna.
David G. Burnet, determined to
honor the treaty, placed Santa
Anna on a ship to return to Mexico
This took several weeks because
people kept trying to execute Santa
Anna
Victory’s Consequences
Mexican gov’t
called treaties
illegal and refused
to recognize TX
independence
This will lead to
trouble later on…
Victory’s Consequences
Many volunteers from the United
States arrived in Texas too late.
The Texans had already won the
war.
Texans were now citizens of the
new Republic of Texas.
https://www.withfriendship.com/videos/frie
nd99/the-alamo-movie-the-battle-of-sanjacinto.php