Yesterday was Texas Independence Day, a day well remembered by all Texicans as the day freedom was won from Mexico. Although times change, Texas history is still taught in our schools and the day will be remembered in the future!

Buck Barry and Brinson Bryan arrived in Texas a little too late to take part in the Battle of San Jacinto, 9 years too late, but 2 things are sure, had they been in here they would’ve participated, but on April 21st they celebrated just like all the other Texans! July 4th has put Texas Independence Day a poor second as far as celebrations go, but being a 5th generation Texan, my chest goes out a little farther and I stand a little taller on that special day.

In my minds eye, I can see General Houston’s army, the rag tag, Texican army, slowly approaching the unsuspecting Mexicans, Santa Anna hadn’t posted sentries, see them fire a ragged volley into them, then finish them off hand to hand, with tomahawks and Bowie knives. The surprise was complete with over 600 Mexicans perishing in the onslaught, over 200 were wounded and 700 more or less were captured, all with the Texan’s loss of only 7 killed, most of these by the first Mexican volley and 28 wounded, 4 of the wounded would later die.

I can see General Santa Anna surrendering to a wounded Houston, shot in the ankle, after having two horses shot out from under him. Six months later Santa Anna returned to Mexico a dismal failure, Texas became its very own Republic and 9 years later became our Country’s 28th state. This event was one of the causes of The Mexican War of 1846-48, with Mexico claiming that Texas was part of its State of Coahuila y Tejas. The war settled matters with the Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo that resulted in the American Nation adding over 1,000,000 square miles and eventually the states of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Utah, Oregon and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma!

While Houston retreated away from Santa Anna, his route led him down Cypress Creek in northwest Harris County, approximately 40 miles from where the battle took place, also where for 5 years my home was not 200 yards from the creek. Many times while I worked my Brittany’s we would skirt the creek and come upon the marker that commemorated one of his camps and I would wonder just how it was then, how did they cross the creeks and bayous, what shape were the roads, if any, were in and how did they handle the rain that flooded the streams? In the final results, against overwhelming odds, they succeeded

Someone smart once said, “Ole’ Santa Annie chased Gen’l Houston till Houston caught up with him!”