Hundreds ‘Battle’ for Texas Independence
Saturday, April 20, 2002 * San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site * La Porte, Texas
Booming cannonades, cracking musket fire, thundering hooves and terrifying yells will resound across the San Jacinto Battleground on Saturday, April 20, as hundreds of history buffs recreate the moment in 1836 when a new nation was born—The Republic of Texas. The action will take place at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, 22 miles east of Houston off of Highway 225.
Ceremonies Recall Birth of the Republic of Texas
Strains of patriotic music performed by the San Jacinto College Symphonic Winds will summon attention to the ceremonies, which get underway at 10:30 a.m. A rousing rendition of Anchors Aweigh will welcome the arrival of guests of honor, Captain John MacKercher, USN, and members of the crew of the USS San Jacinto. Houston broadcasting institution Ron Stone will emcee the program featuring Sam Houston, IV, delivering his great-grandfather’s report on the battle; Robert L. Cook, Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; George J. Donnelly, President of the San Jacinto Museum of History; and Clayton Baird, Chairman of the Battleship Texas Foundation. The program will conclude with the Texas Army Fife and Drum Corps’ rendition of the song Texans played on the battlefield in 1836, Will You Come to the Bower?, as period-costumed members of the Texas Army fire their muskets and the Sons of the Republic of Texas fire their cannons.
Encampments Depict Life in 1836
Beginning at 11:30 a.m., visitors to this admission-free event can wander freely throughout the Mexican and Texan camps to learn about what members of both armies were doing before the battle and what their life was like on a daily basis. Women and children will be on hand to demonstrate the hardships experienced by those who, with their husbands and fathers at war, were forced to gather the few belongings they could to flee the advancing forces of General Santa Anna in what became known as the Runaway Scrape. These volunteer preservers of Texas’ past will have traded their normal trappings, such as t-shirts, blue jeans, tennis shoes, Stetsons and Ray Bans, for a more authentic homespun look.
Battling Reenactors Bring History To Life
At 3 p.m., reenactors will dramatize the decisive victory of the outnumbered Texans under the leadership of General Sam Houston over the Mexican forces under General Santa Anna attempting to crush Texas’ quest for independence. Amidst another burst of cannon fire, the Texian forces will charge across the field toward the Mexican camp during the reenactment of the 18-minute battle that gave birth to the Republic of Texas.
The San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board, created by the Texas Legislature in 1965, coordinates the annual San Jacinto Day commemoration as well as the Battle of San Jacinto Symposium held on Friday, April 19, at the JW Marriott, 5150 Westheimer in Houston.
Artifacts housed in the San Jacinto Museum of History also provide insight into early Texas history, and hourly screenings of Texas Forever!! vividly outline the events leading up to and during the battle. A bird’s-eye-view of the site and beyond can be obtained from the observation deck of the soaring San Jacinto Monument. Marshland that had thwarted the escape of many Mexican soldiers has just been restored, and, for the first time, a new 510-foot boardwalk crossing part of the marsh will be open to the public.
Admission to the San Jacinto Day Ceremonies, the reenactment, the boardwalk and the 1,000-acre park is free. Nominal fees are charged for elevator rides to the top of the San Jacinto Monument and screenings of Texas Forever!! At 9:30 a.m., commemorative ceremonies with the USS San Jacinto representatives will be held aboard The Battleship Texas, a ship anchored nearby that served in both World War I and World War II. The ship will be open for touring throughout the day as well. Visitors can partake of the Texas-style offerings of food and beverage booths opening on the park grounds at 11:30 a.m.
For information on the battleship and park, telephone 281/479-2431. For information about the San Jacinto Museum of History and reenactment events, telephone 281/479-2421.
