Battle of San Jacinto Timeline

(April 21, 1836)

The Battle of San Jacinto was the decisive final battle of the Texas Revolution, fought near present-day La Porte, Texas, along the San Jacinto River. General Sam Houston's Texian forces launched a surprise attack on General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army during its afternoon siesta, achieving victory in just 18 minutes. The battle secured Texas independence from Mexico. More Less

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Road to Revolution

Santa Anna helps oust President Bustamante

Dec 1832

General Antonio López de Santa Anna was a proponent of governmental federalism when he helped oust Mexican President Anastasio Bustamante in December 1832, positioning himself as a champion of liberal constitutional government.

Image source: Battle of San Jacinto

Santa Anna elected president and adopts centralism

Apr 1833

Upon his election as president in April 1833, Santa Anna switched his political ideology and began implementing centralist policies that increased the authoritarian powers of his office.

Santa Anna imprisoned by the Mexican government

1834 - Dec 31, 1834

In response to his shifting political fortunes, the Mexican government kept Santa Anna imprisoned for most of 1834.

Almonte's nine-month intelligence survey of Texas

Jan 1, 1834 - Sep 30, 1834

For nine months in 1834, under the guise of serving as a government liaison, Almonte traveled through Texas and compiled an all-encompassing intelligence report on the population and its environs, including an assessment of their resources and defense capabilities.

Cos installed as military authority over Texas

1835

In consolidating his power base, Santa Anna installed General Martín Perfecto de Cos as the governing military authority over Texas in 1835.

Abrogation of the Constitution of 1824

1835

Santa Anna's abrogation of the Constitution of 1824, correlating with his abolishing local-level authority over Mexico's state of Coahuila y Tejas (Coahuila and Texas), became a flashpoint in the growing tensions between the central government and its Tejano and Anglo citizens in Texas.

Image source: 1824 Constitution of Mexico

Aftermath & Republic

Béxar remains under martial law throughout 1836

Jan 1, 1836 - Dec 31, 1836

Out of caution, Béxar remained under martial law throughout 1836 amid the ongoing instability following the outbreak of the Texas Revolution.

Houston elected first president of Texas

1836

Voters overwhelmingly chose Houston the first president, ratified the constitution drawn up by the Convention of 1836, and approved a resolution to request annexation to the United States.

Image source: Sam Houston

Santa Anna requests inquiry into the battle

May 1837

In May 1837, Santa Anna requested an inquiry into the event of his defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Image source: Antonio López de Santa Anna

Republic of the Rio Grande briefly formed

1839

The northern Mexican states, the focus of the Matamoros Expedition, briefly launched an independent Republic of the Rio Grande in 1839.

Image source: Republic of the Rio Grande

Armistice declared between Texas and Mexico

Jun 1843

In June 1843, leaders of the two nations declared an armistice, easing hostilities between the Republic of Texas and Mexico.

Texas Revolution & Battle

Santa Anna crosses the Rio Grande into Texas

Feb 16, 1836

Santa Anna and his aide-de-camp Almonte forded the Rio Grande at Guerrero, Coahuila on February 16, 1836, with General José de Urrea and 500 more troops following the next day at Matamoros, beginning the campaign against the Texian rebels.

Convention of 1836 meets at Washington-on-the-Brazos

Mar 1, 1836

The Convention of 1836 met at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1, where delegates declared independence from Mexico and drew up a constitution for the new republic.

Image source: Convention of 1836

Battle of San Jacinto

Apr 21, 1836

The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day La Porte and Deer Park, Texas, was the final and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. General Sam Houston's forces routed the Mexican army in a surprise attack lasting about eighteen minutes, capturing General Santa Anna and securing Texas independence.

Houston writes first-hand account of the battle

Apr 25, 1836

A detailed, first-hand account of the battle was written by General Houston from the headquarters of the Texian Army in San Jacinto on April 25, 1836.

Santa Anna departs for Mexico

Jun 1, 1836

On June 1, 1836, Santa Anna boarded a ship to travel back to Mexico after his capture and detention by the Texians following his defeat at San Jacinto.

Commemoration & Legacy

San Jacinto Monument authorized and dedicated

Apr 21, 1936 - Apr 21, 1939

Authorized April 21, 1936, and dedicated April 21, 1939, the San Jacinto Monument cost $1.5 million (equivalent to $35 million in 2025) and commemorates the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution.

Image source: San Jacinto Monument

San Jacinto Battleground designated National Historic Landmark

1960

The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, preserving the site of the pivotal 1836 battle.

Image source: San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site

Key Facts

The Battle of San Jacinto lasted only about 18 minutes, making it one of the shortest decisive battles in history.
General Sam Houston commanded roughly 900 Texian soldiers against approximately 1,200-1,300 troops led by Mexican President General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Texian forces shouted 'Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!' as they attacked, fueled by outrage over earlier massacres of Texian defenders.
Santa Anna was captured the day after the battle while trying to flee disguised as a common soldier, leading to his signing the Treaties of Velasco.
The victory effectively ended the Texas Revolution and established Texas as an independent republic, which remained independent until joining the United States in 1845.

Source

This Battle of San Jacinto timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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