April 21, 2015 (Tuesday)
April 21 is San Jacinto Day. It commemorates the battle that won Texas independence from Mexico. After killing all the defenders of the Alamo March 6,1836 Mexican General Santa Anna pursued Sam Houston and his militia who had been moving east from Gonzales since March 13. On March 27 more than 350-400 Texas prisoners of war were massacred at Goliad on orders from Santa Anna. Houston and his men surprised Santa Anna at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and the San Jacinto River at dawn April 21,1836, defeating him and his army in a very short battle (20 minutes) that ended with many Mexican soldiers killed and taken prisoner. The Texans were almost without casualties, but Houston was wounded. Santa Anna himself became a prisoner.
Texas then became an independent nation (The Republic of Texas) with Sam Houston as President until admitted to the Union as the 28th state December 29, 1845. Their Declaration of Independence had been adopted at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836.
Although the Battle of San Jacinto, which won Texas Independence from Mexico, was almost without casualties, hundreds had died at the Alamo, Goliad and in other battles. Cries of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” were heard at San Jacinto.
I’ve mentioned it before in these blogs, but I state it again because I don’t want my children to forget that they had relatives at the Alamo and San Jacinto. Wanda’s
great grand uncle, Jonathan Lindley (one of the “immortal 32” of Gonzales), died at the Alamo and her great great grandfather, John Sadler, fought at San Jacinto. Wanda never talked about it. She and her relatives believed and practiced the virtues of hard work, honesty and integrity, emphasizing the obligation to shoulder one’s responsibilities in life, maintaining self-reliance without a passing thought of pedigree. She and they believed it’s what you are that counts, and, if you want respect, you must earn it. It seems to me that these are traits of the kind of people who built this state and nation.
Those of you who follow Dale Pogue’s blog will be happy to know he is back. His blog appeared again yesterday. You will enjoy reading it.