SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY KIDS PAGE Some Interesting (but not well known) History Facts The month of March 1836 may well be the his army camped on Spring Creek be- most important span of time in the history of the fore taking the road to Harrisburg. When Sam’s Lone Star State. Virtually everyone “remembers” the forces reached White Oak Bayou, he learned that Alamo but some of the details have been lost over part of Santa Anna’s forces had headed down the the years, and there is “more to the story” of some west side of the bayou and the San Jacinto River, of the people we thought we knew... and had crossed over Vince’s bridge at Sim’s Bayou. The line in the sand and the This move offered a strategic opportunity, for not Yellow Rose of Texas only would the Mexican army have to cross that One of the most celebrated seiges in military bridge again to return, but the history took place in , Texas from Feb- other half of Santa Anna’s rein- ruary 22nd to March 6th, 1836. Mexican president forcements had not yet arrived at Antonio López de Santa Anna and his army of the rain-swollen river. John approximately 1800 men, surrounded the makeshift Coker, a young private, came fort and raised the blood-red “no quarter” flag -- up with the idea of destroy- which promised a fight to the death. Inside, a ragged ing the bridge which would volunteer force of no more than 200 men prepared prevent either the Texians or to stand their ground against impossible odds. On Santa Anna from retreating the 12th day of the seige -- March 5th -- Lt. Col. towards Harrisburg. William B. Travis used his sword to draw his fa- The Mexican general mous ‘line in the sand’, and invited all who would made camp overlooking a stand with him to defend the Alamo to step across it. marsh, and as was their custom, The traditional account of the Alamo legend the exhausted army took an afternoon siesta, ap- is that all but one man did. Louis “Moses” Rose parently without posting any sentries. Around 3:30 -- who, by this action, earned himself the nickname in the afternoon, Houston launched the Battle of “The Yellow Rose of Texas” -- is said to have sneaked San Jacinto with the cry, “Remember the Alamo! out of the Alamo the night of March 5th, evaded the Remember Goliad!” The napping army was sur- Mexican forces, and found his way to Grimes County. prised and the battle lasted only 18 minutes. Accord- Some historians have suggested that it was Rose who ing to Houston’s account, 630 Mexicans were killed, first told the story of Travis’ line in the sand. If there 730 taken prisoner, but only 9 of the 910 Texans ever was a line drawn at all is a matter of some dis- were killed or mortally wounded. Santa Anna was pute -- as is Rose’s cowardice -- but it is accepted as found the next morning, hiding dressed as a com- fact that those in the Alamo were indeed given the mon soldier. The general was released on Houston’s opportunity to stay and fight...or to leave. command -- over the objections of many of the Tex- As for Col. Travis, there is no argument that ans -- because he believed the Mexican could be he was a hero; in fact, he was among the first to die useful. Two treaties ended the war...one public, one in the Battle of the Alamo. Since that horrific day in private. The public version called for Mexico to rec- March 1836, Americans fighting on battlefields all ognize Texas independence and its armies to retreat over the world have rallied to the cry, “Remember beyond the Rio Grande. The secret version enlisted the Alamo.” Rose, on the other hand, was branded Santa Anna’s assistance in assuring that Mexico a coward for the rest of his lifetime. would comply with the provisions of the treaty. Santa Anna and the story of Santa Anna wasn’t through, however. After Vince’s Bridge being captured by Sam Houston, he returned to After his victory at the Alamo, Santa Anna Mexico where he retired for a while, but went to battle and a force of about 700 men swept toward the Texas to defend Mexico against the French in 1838. The coast to claim the seaports. They crossed the Brazos next year, he helped depose the government of River at Richmond, pressed on to Harrisburg and Anastasio Bustamante and became Mexico’s acting chased after the Texas government at New Wash- president. He was ultimately overthrown and exiled ington on Morgan’s Point, but they had already fled to Havana, Cuba. He was allowed to return to Mexico to Galveston. In the meantime, Sam Houston and City where he died on June 21, 1876. S