Remembering San Jacinto

Artifacts of our shared past bring a familiar story to life

Detail of Newport Rifles Battle Flag, courtesy State Preservation Board, Austin

For many Texans, the story of Sam Houston and the victory of the Texan Army at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 is familiar lore. Next to the Alamo, it is what many of us remember most clearly from our Texas History classes as children. But for those of you who don’t remember clearly, didn’t learn the story as kids, or haven’t visited the Bullock Museum recently, here is a recap.

Notes Before Battle of San Jacinto, April 19, 1836, courtesy Andrew Jackson Houston Papers, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Austin

Following the victories of the Mexican Army at the Alamo on March 6, and at Goliad on March 27, Commander in Chief Sam Houston led the Texan Army on a retreat into East Texas to evade the Mexican Army. The Texans spent the time training and waiting for reinforcements. Finally in mid-April, Houston was ready to engage in battle.

Two days before the Battle of San Jacinto, Houston recorded his thoughts on the upcoming attack. “We will use our best efforts to fight the enemy to such advantage, as will insure [sic] victory, tho’ the odds is greatly against us. I leave the result in the hands of a wise God and rely upon his Providence.” This document (left) is one of several copies Houston made and sent to various friends for safekeeping in case he did not survive the battle. He is confident of success in his closing lines, writing, “My country will do justice to those who serve her. The rights for which we fight will be secured, and Texas Free.”

Detail of Sam Houston’s battle notes, courtesy Andrew Jackson Houston Papers, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Austin

Newport Rifles Company battle flag, ca. 1835–1836, courtesy State Preservation Board, Austin

The Texas Army of 910 men attacked Santa Anna’s forces of about 1,200 soldiers on April 21. Catching the Mexicans by surprise, the Texans attacked shouting “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad.” The battle lasted only 18 minutes, ending in a resounding victory for the Texans.

This banner (seen at left) is believed to be the only Texan flag at the Battle of San Jacinto. It was carried into battle by the Newport Rifles of Kentucky, a 52-man company of volunteers led by Captain Sidney Sherman (1805–1873). Sherman’s three daughters gave the tattered silk flag, stored in a walnut box, to the State of Texas on August 8, 1896.

Uniform coat worn by Sidney Sherman, courtesy San Jacinto Museum of History, La Porte — This military uniform coat and waistcoat belonged to Colonel Sidney Sherman. Leading the left wing at San Jacinto, Sherman is credited with creating the famous battle cry, “Remember the Alamo.”

While the battle itself was brief, the killing went on for hours as Texans mercilessly took revenge for the loss of life suffered at the Alamo and Goliad. Over 600 Mexicans were killed and 730 taken prisoner.

Santa Anna was captured the next day. Sam Houston, who had been shot in the leg during the battle and used this oak wood crutch (below) to move around in the following days, accepted his surrender.

Wooden crutch, 1836 — Courtesy Greg Brown/Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Huntsville — Already plagued with war injuries, Sam Houston had been walking with a cane or crutch since the age of 21 after receiving an arrow wound to the thigh in 1814. His various war wounds, compounded with old age, would necessitate the use of a walking aid the rest of his life.

After the battle, the Texan soldiers scoured the field for souvenirs to keep. Santa Anna had many of his finest belongings confiscated after he was taken prisoner. Sidney Sherman was responsible for dividing up the Mexican Army’s captured arms, supplies, and useful property between the Texan soldiers.

For himself, Sherman kept one of Santa Anna’s saddles, liberally decorated with silver. He had the silver melted down and remade into souvenirs for his family and close friends.

Santa Anna’s dueling pistols, 1830s — Courtesy Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Republic of Texas Museum, Austin — This pair of pistols originally belonged to Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Sam Houston gave the confiscated pistols to Henry Millard who had led two companies of regular infantry and a battalion of volunteers during the fight.

Silver napkin rings, fork, and ladle made from Santa Anna’s captured saddle, 1836 — Courtesy San Jacinto Museum of History, La Porte — The fork and ladle seen here are two examples of souvenirs made from the melted silver Sidney Sherman took from Santa Anna’s saddle following the Battle of San Jacinto.

On May 14, 1836, Texas officials and Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco to end the war. The Mexican government, however, refused to acknowledge the treaties and Texas’s independence.

This post is contributed by Kathryn Siefker, Curator, at the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Support for the Bullock Museum’s exhibitions and education programs is provided by the Texas State History Museum Foundation.