“On the battlefield at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, the Army of Texas commanded by General Sam Houston, and accompanied by the Secretary of War, Thomas J. Rusk, attacked the larger invading army of Mexicans under General Santa Anna. The battle line from left to right was formed by Sidney Sherman’s regiment, Edward Burleson’s regiment, the artillery commanded by George W. Hockley, Henry Millard’s infantry and the calvary under Mirabeau B. Lamar. Sam Houston led the infantry charge.

 

“With the bsan jacinto1attle cry, “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” The Texans charged. The enemy taken by surprise rallied for a few minutes, then fled in disorder. The Texans had asked no quarter and gave none. The slaughter was appalling. Victory complete and Texas free!   On the following day General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, self-styled “Napoleon of the West,” received from a generous foe the mercy he had denied Travis at the Alamo and Fannin at Goliad.

“Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The Freedom of Texas from Mexico won at San Jacinto led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska, California, Utah and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a million square miles of territory changed sovereignty.
“Citizens of Texas and immigrant soldiers in the Army of Texas at San Jacinto were natives of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal and Scotland.”

Many Masons assumed leadership roles and were active in the birth of The Republic of Texas, such as: Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, William B. Travis, James Bowie, David Crockett, James Bonham, Ben Milam, David G. Burnet, James Fannin, Mirabeau B. Lamar, Anson Jones, Lorenzo de Zavala, Edward Burleson, Thomas Rusk, Juan Seguin and many more.

 

Two Days Before The Battle

“This morning we are in preparation to meet Santa Anna.  It is the only chance of saving Texas.  From time to time I have looked for reinforcements in vain:  We will only have about 700 men to march with besides the camp guard.  We go to conquer.  It is wisdom growing out of necessity to meet the enemy.  Now every consideration enforces it.  The troops are in fine spirits and now is the time for action.  We shall use our best efforts to fight the enemy to such advantage as will insure victory though the odds, are greatly against us.”

 

“I leave the result in the hands of a wise God, and rely upon his providence. My country will do justice to those who serve her.  The rights for which we fight will be secure and Texas Free!”

 

General Sam Houston