The Panic and the Miracle

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The Panic and the Miracle
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Sam Houston takes control

• After the disasters at the Alamo and Goliad, Sam
  Houston took control of the Texas Army.
• He ordered Gonzales burned and the people and his
  troops to evacuate to the east.
• He was determined to raise a proper army.

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The Runaway Scrape

• After the fall of the Alamo and Goliad, Santa
  Anna and Urrea began moving east into the Texian
  colonies.
• The settlers panicked. They gathered a few
  personal possessions, abandoned their homes, and
  headed east under the most difficult conditions.
• Rain and cold weather during the period slowed
  the settler's eastward progress along the muddy
  roads and trails.

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• Texas settler Frances Sutherland to her sister
  in Tennessee.
• We thought prudent to stay at home and did so
  until the General thought proper to retreat. We,
  being on the frontier, were compelled to go. We
  went to the Colorado , 40 miles, but after some
  time, the general thought proper to retreat
  farther and of course we had to go, too. We
  proceeded to the Brazos River . There stopped a
  few days, but dread and fear caused another
  start there Mr. Sutherland quit us and joined
  the armywith a good many more of our citizens,
  however, we went on for several miles and again
  stopped, hoping we would not have to go farther,
  but someone over there that week brought in the
  early news the Mexican army was crossing the
  Brazos not more than 40 miles behind us. Again we
  started and traveled two days then heard the army
  was 20 miles behind. (I wish you could know how
  the people did as they kept going about trying to
  get somewhere, but no person knew where they were
  trying to get to.) Several weeks passed on
  without any certain account from the army. All
  this time you could hardly guess my feelings. My
  poor William gone in the army, me with my three
  little daughters and my poor Thomas wandering
  about, not knowing what to do or where to go. You
  will guess my feelings were dreadful, but ever
  the Lord supported me, and was on our side

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• The Runaway Scrape would last all of March and
  April of 1836.
• Houston marched his troops to the east closer and
  closer to Louisiana.
• Houston believed that the United States Army
  stationed there may aide him, possibly even get
  into a fight with Mexican troops, causing the
  U.S. to declare war on Mexico.

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• As Houston went east his army grew. More and more
  volunteers from the Texians settlers and U.S.
  joined him.
• As his army fled they also burned crops and
  cities so the Mexican army couldnt use them.
• As they fled more and more people wanted him to
  fight. But Houston wanted to wait for the perfect
  opportunity.
• Houston was able to stop for two weeks to train
  his army at Groces Plantation.

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Battle of San Jacinto

• Santa Anna split from his main army (which was
  slowing him down) so he could catch up with the
  Texians.
• Santa Anna thought he had Houstons army cornered
  near Harrisburg (near modern day Houston) and
  decided to rest and camp his 700 man army on
  April 19th at San Jacinto Creek.

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• The next day, April 20th, Houston camped his men
  in the woods nearby and decided the time was
  right to fight
• 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 to march with.
  We go to conquer. It is wisdom growing out of
  necessity to meet and fight the enemy now. The
  troops are in fine spirits, and now is the time
  for action.  
• We will use our best efforts to fight the enemy
  to such advantage, as will ensure victory, tho
  the odds is 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
  secured, and Texas Free.  
• Sam Houston Commander in Chief  

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• The same day that Houston wrote his letter, some
  of his cavalry fought with Santa Anna forces in a
  brief skirmish.
• Mirabeau B. Lamar, a private, so distinguished
  himself that on the next day he was placed in
  command of the cavalry.

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Juan Seguin

• Tejano and San Antonio native would lead the
  Tejanos in the battle.
• His father Erasmo Seguin had helped Austin pick
  out the land for his colony.
• Seguin was at the Alamo but left when he carried
  a letter to Houston. Houston then would not let
  him return fearing for his life.
• Seguin fought hard during the Runaway Scrape to
  hold back the Mexican Army.

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• Santa Anna forces were reinforced by General Cos
  to about 1,400.
• Houston ordered Deaf Smith to destroy Vinces
  Bridge so the Mexicans could receive no more
  reinforcements.

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• On the 21st Houston did not attack in the
  morning which led Santa Anna believe that he
  would not attack.
• Cos soldiers were tired after marching all night
  so he decided to let his soldiers rest.

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Houston and the Texians attacked at 3p.m.
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• The Texians shouted Remember the Alamo! and
  Remember Goliad

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• The Mexican troops were caught totally off guard.
  
• The Texians overran the Mexican lines and the
  battle lasted about 18 minutes.

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• The battle quickly became a slaughter.
• Most of the Mexican soldiers ran within the first
  few minutes of the battle and were hunted down by
  the Texians.
• Around 600 or more Mexicans were killed and 700
  captured.
• 10 Texians lost their lives.

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Santa Anna

• Santa Anna slipped away during the battle but was
  spotted among the captured soldiers in a regular
  uniform when his soldiers started saluting him.
• He was brought before Houston where most soldiers
  wanted him hung.
• Houston spared his life knowing he was more
  useful alive.
• He could give Texas Independence.

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Diary of Clarence Wharton

• When he Santa Anna approached Houston, the
  general was lying wounded under a large oak
  tree... He threw himself on Houston's mercy,
  advising in a patronizing way that since Houston
  had conquered and captured the Napoleon of the
  West, he could afford to be merciful. To this
  Houston replied that Santa Anna had not shown any
  mercy at the Alamo or Goliad. He sought to
  justify himself by the refusal of the defenders
  of the Alamo to surrender, which made the
  storming of the place necessary, and invoked the
  act of congress against persons found in arms
  against the government as the excuse for Goliad.
  But General Houston replied, Fannin's men were
  surrendered under conditions which were violated.
  To this El Presidente replied in much warmth that
  if this were so, Urrea had deceived him, that
  this was the first he had heard of a conditional
  surrender, that he would look into it, and if
  found true, the most awful punishment would be
  meted out to Urrea.  The ad interim government of
  Texas now assumed negotiations with the captive
  president, and pending them, he sent a dispatch
  to his Generals to retire to Victoria, advising
• "I have agreed with General Houston for an
  armistice until matters can be so regulated that
  the war will cease forever."

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• The General-in-Chief of the Army of Operations
  of the Mexican Republic, to the inhabitants of
  Texas
• Citizens! The causes which have conducted to
  this frontier a part of the Mexican Army are not
  unknown to you, a parcel of adventurers,
  maliciously protected by some inhabitants of a
  neighboring republic dared to invade our
  territory, with the intention of dividing amongst
  themselves the fertile lands that are contained
  in spacious Texas. It became necessary to check
  such enormous daring and in consequence, some
  punishments have already taken place in San
  Patricio and this city. (San Antonio de Bexar)