who led the texans in drawing santa anna into a trap at the battle of jacinto?

Battle of San Jacinto

United States history [1836]

By Raymond K. Bluhm | View Edit History

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Battle of San Jacinto, (April 21, 1836), defeat of a Mexican army of about 1,200–1,300 men under Antonio López de Santa Anna by about 900 men (mostly recent American arrivals in Texas) led by Gen. Sam Houston. Fought along the San Jacinto River, near the site of what was to be the city of Houston, the battle ensured the success of American settlers in the Texas Revolution (War of Texas Independence).

Citizens of the new Republic of Texas responded to the destruction of the Alamo and massacre of the unarmed Texans captured at Goliad with outrage. Volunteer companies rushed to join General Samuel Houston's growing Texas army. Meanwhile, Mexican General Santa Anna marched his army to crush the Texan rebels.

San Jacinto Monument
San Jacinto Monument, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, LaPorte, Texas, U.S.
Tijuana Brass

Louis IX of France (St. Louis), stained glass window of Louis IX during the Crusades. (Unknown location.)

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Houston avoided contact with the pursuing Mexican army until his Texas army gained strength and training. Santa Anna, on the other hand, split his force, sending some units to secure his long supply line while others sought to capture the provisional Texan government. He personally led the remaining 600 men after Houston.

On 20 April, the two armies met in a low area of marshland and bayous near the San Jacinto River. Santa Anna attempted unsuccessfully to probe the Texan position, and there was an exchange of artillery fire. About 500 Mexican reinforcements arrived. Santa Anna decided to rest his new and tired troops before attacking, but he failed to post sentries. When no attack followed in the morning, the Mexican troops relaxed even further. A Texan council of war, in the meantime, voted to attack, and Houston launched his 900 Texans in a risky assault that afternoon. His mounted troops rode around the Mexican flanks while the Texan battle line moved quickly and quietly directly across the open prairie. They were within 200 yards (183 m) of the Mexican camp when discovered. At that moment, Houston's artillery opened fire, and the Texan infantry charged. After days of retreat, Houston's men relished the attack, taking the resting Mexican force by surprise (during the Mexicans' siesta), shouting, "Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad!" (Legend holds that Santa Anna was slow to respond to the assault because he was romantically involved with a woman when the attack unfolded, but that account is probably apocryphal.)

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The Texans fired at close range and rolled over the hasty Mexican breastworks. Santa Anna's defense collapsed as panicked Mexicans tried to flee the cavalry across the marshes. After an eighteen-minute fight, the remaining Mexicans surrendered, but Santa Anna slipped away in a private's uniform. Within 24 hours, some 600 Mexicans had been killed and more than 700 captured, including eventually Santa Anna himself, who was then freed after he came to terms with Houston to end the war. Nine of Houston's men had been killed or mortally wounded, and about 30 wounded less seriously, in this heavily lopsided victory.

Losses: Mexican, 630 dead, 208 wounded, 730 captured; Texan, 9 dead, 30 wounded.

Raymond K. Bluhm