HLRGazette Archives

Wood County History

By LOU MALLORY - Chairperson, Wood County Historical Commission

 April 21st in Texas is San Jacinto Day commemorating the historic battle in 1836 between the Texans under General Sam Houston and the Mexican Army under General Santa Anna. The battle has been a controversial one among historians but the panel on the side of the monument at San Jacinto explains why it was so important: "Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty."

One of the perplexing questions about the battle is why Santa Anna turned his back on Sam Houston to march down the Brazos River. Part of his army crossed the Brazos at Richmond but the main body camped on the west side. Santa Anna had heard that President Burnet and the provisional government were at Harrisburg, 30 miles from the Brazos. He decided to rush down a capture them. On April 14th, he rode away with 50 horsemen, leaving orders for 500 infantrymen to follow and bring one cannon with them. The main army was to await his return in three days.

When Santa Anna reached the village of Harrisburg the next day, President Burnet and his cabinet had gone down Buffalo Bayou toward Galveston Bay. The Mexican general decided of follow. He sent General Altamonte ahead with a few horsemen and Santa Anna followed a day later. The road all the way from Harrisburg to the bay ran along the edge of some woods and not far from the bayou.

About four miles from Harrisburg, it crossed the little stream called Vince's Bayou, where there was a little bridge made of logs. The whereabouts of Houston's army seemed to be of no importance to Santa Anna. Altamonte's men reached the bay shore at Morgan's Point (then called New Washington) and almost captured Burnet. However, he got into a skiff and rowed to a steamboat anchored in the bay, then went with many refugees down to Galveston Island.

When Santa Anna went down the Brazos, Houston's little army was at Groce's Plantation, 20 miles above San Felipe. General Rusk, who was secretary of war, had joined the Texas army at the plantation. He persuaded Houston to go to Harrisburg and await the Mexicans. Then the news came that Santa Anna was already at Harrisburg. Immediately the Texans took to the road for Harrisburg.

They reached Buffalo Bayou on April 19th. Deaf Smith brought in some Mexicans caught with dispatchers for Santa Anna. Houston learned that the Mexican commander was then below Harrisburg with only about 600 men. Houston's chance to trap him had finally come. The Texas soldiers numbered about 900 men and all of them were eager to fight. They made a raft, crossed Buffalo Bayou and headed to the Lynchburg Ferry 10 miles below. On the early morning of April 20th, they camped where the bayou and the San Jacinto River meet, about six miles from Galveston Bay.

Santa Anna was at Morgan's Point when he learned that the Texans were in Lynchburg. He went to meet them. Within a mile of the Texas camp, Santa Anna and his men were greeted with cannon fire from the "Twin Sisters," two small cannons that had been shipped from Cincinnati to Texas while the Texas army camped at Groce's Plantation.

The Mexicans opened fire with their one cannon but no serious damage was done. There were some skirmishes before the two armies camped for the night in sight of each other.

All morning on April 21st both armies waited and fired their cannons at each other now and then. About noon, General Cos with 500 men from the Brazos, joined Santa Anna, increasing his army to about 1,200 men.

The Battle: At four o'clock on the afternoon of April 21st, while the Mexicans were resting (taking a siesta as was their custom), the Texans formed a battle line of about 800 foot soldiers. They made ready to charge the Mexicans who were on a wooded hill a mile away. Before the battle began, General Houston sent Deaf Smith and five others to destroy Vince's Bridge over which the Mexican generals and their men had crossed as they came down from Harrisburg.

At the same time, the cavalry, consisting of 64 men led by Colonel Lamar, rode around some woods to attack the enemy from another side. The foot soldiers walked to nearly the top of the hill and were within a few hundred yards of the Mexican camp before they were discovered. Their little band began playing a popular song of the time. One verse began with the words, "Will you come to my bower I have shaded for you?" When the Texans reached the crest of the hill, they opened fire, yelling "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!"

The Mexicans fired and ran. Santa Anna got away on a fresh horse and tried to go back to Richmond, where his main army was waiting. He was pursued by the Texans. When he reached Vince's Bayou, he found the bridge destroyed, so he left his horse and ran into the woods.

The chase of the fleeing Mexicans ceased at nightfall. The night was filled with the shrieks and groans of the wounded and dying. A full moon rose over the bay and shed its silvery light on the ghastly scene.

Santa Anna spent the night in the woods where he found a deserted house and some old clothes. He took off his uniform with its gold and braid and donned a disguise consisting of a cotton shirt and cheap trousers.

The next morning, he was captured near Vince's Bayou and taken into Houston's camp. His captors though he was a common soldier, but as they rode by other Mexican prisoners, some of them recognized Santa Anna and shouted, "El Presidente." He thus was made known to the Texans. He was carried before Houston who had been wounded in the leg and was resting under a tree. Men cheered, for they felt the war was ending. Messengers were sent east to tell the people who had left their homes to return.

Six hundred Mexicans were killed, including General Castrillion, and 200 were wounded during the 20-minute battle. In addition to Santa Anna, 700 others were captured. Fewer than one dozen Mexicans escaped.

Of the 800 Texans in the battle, nine were killed and about 30 were wounded.

Taking part in the battle that day was one Martin Varner. Varner became the first white settler in Wood County, arriving in 1841. Varner's arrival in Wood County came from the land grants he was given for his service in the fight for Texas independence.

Varner was with Sam Houston's army from April 19th to July 19th, 1836. In the Battle of San Jacinto, he guarded the baggage and cared for the wounded.

Just three years after his arrival in Wood County, Varner was shot in the back by one Simon Gonzales and died on February 14th, 1844. He is buried on a hilltop near Redland.