The Battle of San Jacinto was a decisive engagement in the Texas Revolution that took place on April 21, 1836, near present-day Houston, Texas. It was fought between the Texian army, led by General Sam Houston, and the Mexican forces under General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
The battle occurred in the aftermath of the Texian defeat at the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre, which had greatly inflamed Texian sentiment and spurred them to seek revenge against the Mexican army.
The Texians, numbering around 800 troops, launched a surprise attack on the afternoon of April 21st against Santa Anna's camp, where the Mexican forces, numbering around 1,400, were resting and unprepared for battle. The Texians shouted the battle cry "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!" as they charged.
The attack caught the Mexican forces off guard, and in the ensuing melee, which lasted only 18 minutes, the Texians overwhelmed the Mexicans. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for the Texians, with many Mexican soldiers killed or captured, including General Santa Anna himself, who was captured the following day.
The Battle of San Jacinto effectively secured Texas' independence from Mexico. It led to the signing of the Treaties of Velasco on May 14, 1836, which recognized the Republic of Texas as an independent nation. The battle remains one of the most celebrated events in Texas history and is commemorated annually on San Jacinto Day, April 21st.
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