G.A.S.P.

The battle here on April 21, 1836 was the decisive one in Texas’ struggle for independence from Mexico.  Mexican General Santa Anna had been chasing Texas General Sam Houston eastward for weeks following his victory at the Alamo, but along the way had split his forces (4000 or so troops) three ways in an attempt to quickly wipe out all resistance in Texas.  By the time he caught up with Houston at San Jacinto, the two armies were fairly evenly matched (1300 or so Mexicans and 900 or so Texans). 

Sam Houston elected to attack the Mexican position and his gambit quickly became a rout.  The emotional Texans (Remember the Alamo!  Remember Goliad!) overwhelmed the Mexicans in a battle that lasted just 18 minutes.  At the conclusion, over 600 Mexicans lay dead or dying and another 700, including General Santa Anna, were taken prisoner.  The Texans suffered a loss of just nine lives.

So they executed General Santa Anna the next day because of his war atrocities, you speculate?  No, they granted him instead the mercy that he had denied Colonel Travis and Colonel Fannin and their men.  He was sent to Washington D.C. (although I don’t know why since Texas was not yet a part of the United States).  He remained there until 1841 when he returned to Mexico and again became dictator.  Over the next few years he was repeatedly exiled, then brought back as the political winds shifted.  In 1855 the Liberals banished him from Mexico after he sold the Messila Valley (Gadsden Purchase) to the United States.  He was allowed to return to Mexico City in 1874 where he lived until his death June 22, 1876.