On March 7th, 1836 not far from the still smoldering ruins of the Alamo, Santa Anna staged a grand review of his troops. The guests of honor at this review were Travis' slave Joe, and Susanna Dickinson along with her infant daughter, Angelina. Susanna was the just recently widowed wife of Almeron Dickinson, a Texian artillery officer slain at the Alamo.
The Mexicans had erected two great funeral pyres and burned the bodies of all of the slain Alamo defenders. No doubt these pyres could still be seen burning as the troops passed by in review.
Santa Anna had interviewed all of the non-combatant survivors, and was impressed with Susanna. He offered to adopt little Angelina and take her back with him to Mexico City.
Susanna declined the offer.
So he staged this review to impress her with the strength of his army in the hopes that she would spread the word of the futility of further resistance.
Susanna and Joe were permitted to return to Gonzales. Joining them was Ben, a black servant -- recently employed by the Mexican Army as a cook.
On the road to Gonzales, they were discovered by the Texian scout "Deaf" (pronounced "Deef") Smith. Smith was sent out by General Sam Houston to confirm reports that the Alamo had fallen.
The little party arrived in Gonzales on March 13th, and found Houston there with 400 men.
They also found the town in chaos.
The reports of the slaughter at the Alamo unnerved and terrified the local citizens of Gonzales. They began packing up their meager belongings and started a panic-stricken exodus to the east. As they headed east toward the safety of Louisiana, they were joined by others from every other town they passed on the march.
It was forever to be known as the "Runaway Scrape".
Houston realized that his little band of volunteers was not yet a match for Santa Anna's well trained, and largely professional army so he retreated east also.
But he also decided not to provide comfort to the advancing Mexicans, so he burned Gonzales to the ground -- along with every other farm and village on the march east.
In the meantime, he sent frantic couriers south to Fannin in Goliad to pack up his 450 men and join him post-haste.
True to his personality, it took time for Fannin to decide to get moving. Once finally on the road, the advance was slow.
The right wing of the Mexican Army, 1,900 men strong (Santa Anna being the left wing) was commanded by General Jose de Urrea. His scouts were in the vicinity of Goliad as Fannin was leaving.
Urrea caught up with Fannin out in the open at Coleto Creek on March 19th, and after what amounted to as a half-hearted battle, Fannin surrendered.
Santa Anna had issued standing orders that all captured revolting American colonists were to be treated as pirates and not as "soldados".
So, on Palm Sunday, March 27th, Fannin and 352 others were shot.
This barbaric act further inflamed the resolve of the Texians, but as of yet Houston was in no position to bring battle to Santa Anna.
Houston was under pressure from Governor Smith and members of the provisional government to fight, but he elected to keep drawing in Santa Anna's forces in the hope that he could eventually force Santa Anna into making a mistake.
He also needed more men.
Santa Anna, meanwhile, divided his force into three columns. He sent one column in an attempt to capture the fleeing provisional government, and one column to protect his supply lines. He would personally lead 900 troops against Houston.
Houston's original plan was to retreat straight east to the Sabine River which bordered the U.S.. He knew that an American force was stationed just across the river in the event that Santa Anna was foolish enough to cross.
But he changed his mind and veered southeast toward Harrisburg (now a part of Houston).
Santa Anna followed.
On April 18th, Houston learned from "Deaf" Smith that the Mexicans, along with Santa Anna, had burned Harrisburg to the ground, and were now on the west side of the bayou by the San Jacinto River.
The Mexicans had to cross the bridge by "Vince's Bayou", a tributary of the Buffalo Bayou which was at that time flooded. He would have to cross that same bridge to return as it was the only way in and out of the area.
Houston, who had finally increased the strength of his army to around 900 men (plus two shiny new cannon), knew that Santa Anna had just made a very bad mistake. Santa Anna and his men could be trapped.
Houston proceeded to do just that. He crossed the bridge at "Vince's Bayou" and made camp just out of site of the Mexican camp in a copse of trees.
Santa Anna received reinforcements under General Cos swelling his force to around 1,400 men. On learning this, Houston then ordered Deaf Smith to burn Vince's Bridge, to cut off the only escape route.
The Mexicans had their camp on higher ground overlooking the marsh. They built breastworks to protect their camp.
On the morning of April 21st, Houston convened a council of war. The majority of his officers favored waiting until the Mexicans attacked them, but Houston had decided on a surprise attack of his own.
At 3:30 in the afternoon he formed his men up for the assault. The movements were screened from Mexican view by the trees and a slight rise that separated the two forces.
By 4:30, Houston received news from Deaf Smith that Vince's Bridge had indeed been destroyed.
Now the order to advance was given, accompanied by a popular tune from a lone fifer: "Will you come to the bower I have shaded for you?"
The Mexicans, in the meantime were having their afternoon "siesta". Santa Anna didn't even bother to post sentries.
The Texians advanced across the open ground between the two camps unseen and unheard.
When they were only a few dozen yards away from the Mexican breastworks, the charge was sounded amid cries of "Remember the Alamo!", and "Remember Goliad!"
The whole affair lasted 18 minutes. The pent up rage of the Texians allowed for no quarter. The Mexicans were slaughtered in their tents. They were slaughtered, shot in the back while retreating. They were slaughtered trying to surrender crying "Me no Alamo. Me no Goliad!"
But not Santa Anna. He had apparently disappeared.
The casualties were lopsided. The Mexicans suffered over 900 casualties, including 700 killed. The rest were taken prisoner. The Texians suffered 9 killed and 30 wounded.
The next day, a man dressed as a common soldier was discovered cowering in the tall grass close to the remains of Vince's Bridge. The blood lust over, he was escorted back to camp. On approaching the area where other prisoners were being held, cries of "El Presidente!" erupted.
It was Santa Anna.
Houston who had been wounded in the foot during the battle, was in pain and in no mood for the histrionics coming from the mouth of Santa Anna. He received him coldly.
But he elected to save his life, preferring to negotiate an end of hostilities and the evacuation of the remaining Mexican forces in Texas. Santa Anna agreed to terms and eventually a treaty was signed at Velasco that guaranteed Texas independence from Mexico.
