April 20, 1836

The final battle between the Mexican forces under Santa Anna’s command and the Texians under the command of Sam Houston occurred where it did because both armies were headed for Lynch’s Ferry across the head of San Jacinto Bay at the point where both Buffalo Bayou and the San Jacinto river flowed together into the bay.

The Texas army moved onto the field first, took control of Lynch’s Ferry and counter marched to a dense grove of oak trees between the Harrisburg-Lynchburg road and Buffalo Bayou. Anyone going to the ferry had to pass close to this wooded area.

12:00 PM

The Mexican army arrived marching in columns along the New Washington-Lynchburg road. As they approached the Texas army hidden in the trees, a skirmish line was formed and advanced to make contact with the Texians.

The Mexicans moved a cannon up and started firing at the Texas camp. Sidney Sherman, commander of the Second Regiment, asked for and received permission to lead volunteers from the cavalry in an attempt to capture the gun. The Mexicans withdrew the gun and this ended the action on April 20.

When Santa Anna came on the field he deployed the rest of his army along the ridge line (where the Monument is now) and after the Texian attempt to take the field gun, he, against the advice of his officers, abandoned the high ground and moved the army into camp about 200 yards east, with marsh and water to his back and right.

April 21, 1836

9:00 AM  

General Martín Perfecto de Cos, with reinforcements of 500 troops, arrived and was put into line between the north end of the breastwork and the bluff line along the marsh of San Jacinto Bay to the east. This increased the Mexican troops to about 1,250, while the Texians numbered about 900.

3:30 PM

General Sam Houston ordered his men to form up and move out. The army advanced as units in the same order in which it had been camped. Silently they crossed through knee-high grass, approximately one mile toward the Mexican positions.

The Mexicans had not posted any sentries, pickets or lookouts, allowing the Texians to advance across the low ground, over the ridgeline, and to a short distance in front of the breastworks before being detected. This surprise was one of the major factors in the Texas Victory.

The Second Regiment formed the left of the Texan line and, advancing through some trees along the top of the bluff, had proceeded slightly ahead of the rest of the Texas line. The battle started there when the 2nd Regiment under the command of Sidney Sherman hit the right of the Mexican line. 

4:30 PM      

Mexican Colonel Pedro Delgado, in his account of the battle, noted: “No important incident took place until 4:30 p.m. At this fatal moment, the bugler on our right signaled the advance of the enemy upon that wing.”

5:00 PM      

After about 20 minutes of intense fighting at or near the breastworks, the Mexicans retreated. The Texans pursued for more than an hour, driving them back to the water’s edge. During sporadic fighting and evasive flight by the Mexican soldiers, approximately 630 were killed.

6:00 PM    

Over 700 Mexican soldiers were allowed to surrender to the Texian army.

April 22       

Santa Anna was captured and brought into the Texian camp. Reluctantly he agreed to the terms of a treaty requiring Mexican soldiers to evacuate Texas. The result?

The Republic of Texas.