Howdy and welcome to a bonus episode of Wise About Texas, the Texas history podcast.

It's April 21st, 2016, and 180 years ago today,

one of the most decisive battles in world history was fought just outside of present-day,

Houston, Texas. On the plane of San Jacinto, a loosely organized band of independent-minded Texans,

defeated the Mexican Army in one independence.

In this bonus episode, I'll give you an overview of that fateful battle in honor of those who

fought it. So let's go back 180 years and get wise about Texas. April 20th, 1836, found the Texan

Army arriving on the shores of Buffalo Bayou where it meets the

San Jacenter River. Sam Houston decided to camp in a grove of oak trees on the bayou. Tensions were high,

and the army anticipated facing off with Santa Ana very quickly. Before the army had crossed the

bayou the day before, Sam Houston had delivered a fiery speech urging his men to remember the

Alamo. One Texan soldier recalled that, quote, after such a speech, damn few will be taken prisoners.

Close quote. Thomas Rusk also gave a fiery speech encouraging the men to remember Goliad.

On the early morning of April 20th, camp had barely been established when some scouts approached

from New Washington, which is present-day Morgan's point, with news that Santa Ana was advancing.

The men were to arms immediately.

Now, these men had been marching for weeks, and the powder in their weapons was wet, so they

began to fire them so they could reload with dry powder.

Afraid that the racket would reveal their location to Santa Ana, Sam Houston started yelling at

him to stop firing, only to be answered by more firing. Houston finally gave up.

Santa Ana was indeed on the march from New Washington, having burned and looted the town.

He also captured several of James

...