April 21st, 1836 - The Battle of San Jacinto

Conflict: Texas War for Independence

Combatants: Mexicans vs. Texians

Location: Texas (USA)

Outcome: Texian victory

On this date in 1836, Sam Houston and his small army of "Texians" confronted 1200 -1600 of Antonio de Santa Anna's Mexicans. Although outnumbered, the Texans routed the Mexican soldiers and captured Santa Anna who was forced to recognize the Texas Republic.

The Battle of San Jacinto by Henry Arthur McArdle

Points of Interest:

• Sam Houston would serve as the first president of the Texas Republic.

• The Texas Republic was recognized by the United States on July 4th of 1836, but would not be annexed until 1845.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna by an unknown photographer

Sam Houston in 1848 by an unknown artist

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Sources:

Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.

Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.