He is remembered for two major conflicts, the battle of. On september 29, 1835, a detachment of the mexican army arrived in gonzales, texas, a mexican state, to confiscate a cannon. Santa anna during the texas revolution, did grab all available men of age and forced them into his army. Santa annas military orders withdrawing mexican troops from the san jacinto battlefield, april 22, 1836.
In 1835 santa anna, one of the generals who had led the mexican people in throwing out the spanish, was elected president and almost immediately abolished the constitution, making himself a dictator. The fall of the alamo and the losses in south texas opened the way for the mexican army to move farther into texas. When santa anna defeated a spanish general in battle, he was promoted him chief of the armys 11th division. San jacinto day mexican armys poorer weapons may have. Scheina correctly sizes up several of santa annas personal attributes, such as his. By 1822, santa anna was promoted to brigadier general and made commander of the vera cruz province. Texas historybiography of mexican general santa anna.
His valor there and the loss of a leg helped him to regain favor with the mexican public. Samuel houston defeated the mexican army under santa anna at the battle of san jacinto in 1836, assuring texas independence. The life and legacy of the legendary mexican president and general kindle edition by charles river editors, vazquez lozano, gustavo. Scheina illustrates as well santa annas strategic shortcomings. The battle of san jacinto1895 painting by henry arthur mcardle 18361908 the mexican province of texas, 1836. The mexican army of santa anna and the mexican war. At houstons request, santa anna signed an order instructing general vicente filisola to withdraw all mexican troops to south of the rio grande. Convening a council of war today with several of his highestranking officers, mexican gen. I start this thread for the purpose of discussing the soldiery, and the military situation, of mexico in the mid 19th century, say c. In the flurry of recriminations and selfjustifications following the mexican military disaster in texas, the. On a marshy plain at the mouth of the san jacinto river near presentday houston, the texan army encountered santa annas encampment.
They found santa anna and howled for his blood, but houston had a better idea. Soldiers of the mexican army1836 the superiority of the mexican soldier over the mountaineers of kentucky and the hunters of missouri is well known. For all his charm and energy, santa anna was a failure in war. Each volume is packed with full colour artwork, making military history uniquely accessible to enthusiasts. In 1828 he used his military influence to lift the losing candidate into the. He was also an adept soldier, and served as a general in several wars, including.
Groce s plantation buffalo bayou santa anna remains in texas the texas cause seemed hopeless in march of 1836. For the next two days, the mexican army of over 15,000 troops assaulted the. Then he made santa anna officially recognize texan independence, which the napoleon of the west did. Sold autograph quotation signed of santa anna, relating. The battle of san jacinto santa annas folly weapons. When war did break out in 1846, the thenexiled santa anna returned to mexico and took command of a mexican army. Santa annas army at the alamo here are the cannon fodder miniatures mexican army 28mm minis i made for the alamo. The life and legacy of the legendary mexican president and general. Military academy graduates who time and again paved the way for american victories. After the fall of the alamo on the 16th day of march, 1836, santa anna, president of mexico, marched to the conquest of the balance of texas with four divisions of his army. This outline, in response to requests by several members, provides a list of units in the mexican army as a whole during the texas revolution. Why did the slaves side with santa anna and the mexican. The cannon was well hidden, but eighteen armed men stood in plain sight. Santa anna took command of the mexican army that invaded texas in 1836.
The battle of san jacinto gave texans a victory for independence. Santa anna dominated mexican politics in the first half of the nineteenth century and did much to shape the early foundations of the mexican state and government. The two sides talked and dickered, but no action was taken. The following, adapted from the chicago manual of style, 15th. Never has general santa anna performed a more contemptable. William younghusband an unrivalled illustrated reference source on fighting men and commanders, past and present.
Letter from santa anna ordering retreat of the mexican army, april 22, 1836, letter, april 22, 1836. Santa annas repudiation of mexicos 1824 constitution and substitution of a much. Produced on of three mexican army maps of the alamo during the siege. In 1829 he defeated the spanish invasion at tampico and emerged. The alamo charge of santa annathe final assault soundtrack duration. Santa anna was elected president of mexico in 1833, the first of five. Terms in this set 10 i was forced to serve the mexican army when they returned to texas in 1842 to capture san antonio. At buena vista, however, jefferson davis reserve forces stalled santa annas mexican soldiers. Detailed information on the mexican army which fought the texans in the battle of the alamo 1836 and the us army in its first important foreign war ten years later, is notoriously elusive.
He used the captive president as a bargaining chip to make the remaining 4,000 mexican troops leave texas. Many texans recognize santa anna as the mexican general that defeated the alamo, but im glad this article. Veterans by twenty years of wars cannot be intimidated by the presence of an army ignorant of the art of war, incapable of discipline and renowned for insubordination. Libro santa anna s mexican army 182148 pdf epub librospub.
Six times the countrys president, he is consistently depicted as a traitor, a turncoat, and a tyrantthe exclusive cause of all of mexicos misfortunes. As i understand it, the mexican army that fought in the texan war of independence. The battle of san jacinto where santa anna lost texas by. Houston found that santa anna camped out in the open in a vulnerable spot, and camped his men in a spot that was partially hidden in a. Santa anna joins mexican rebellian in 1821, santa anna switched sides and joined with the mexicans in their revolution against the spanish.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Sold autograph quotation signed of santa anna, relating to national honor, liberty and sovereignty, hallmarks of his legacy north and south of the rio grande those who do not value their own honor are unworthy of being free. Letter from santa anna ordering retreat of the mexican army, april 22, 1836 description. Ospreys examination of the mexican army of santa anna, from 1821 to 1848.
Like most criollo officers in the royalist army, he remained loyal to spain for a number of years and. Santa annas mexican army 182148 102 by rene chartrand 2004, paperback at the best online prices at. San jacinto day mexican armys poorer weapons may have cost it texas houston chronicle april 21. Hardee, a captain in the mexican war, wrote a new tactics manual in 1855. All of these are available from blazeaway miniatures au. He was plagued by inept soldiers, some of them freed convicts, and he was distracted by sniping from political enemies in the capital. In this groundbreaking book an internationally respected military historian presents a mass of new information from mexican archives and a variety of other contemporary sources. As an antisanta anna agitator and an outspoken opponent of the mexican centrist government, lt. Today, the texas independence trail region, known as. The news had now been received of the massacre of fannins men, and when it was also learned that the mexican army was on the east side of the colorado, the people of san felipe burned the town, and a general retreat commenced from that place, the settlers endeavoring to put the sabine river.
Detailed information on the mexican army which fought the texans in the 1830s, and the us army in its first important foreign war ten years later, is notoriously elusive. In southern mexico city, an old convent from the colonial era was turned into a museum for its significance during the u. Santa anna was important to texas history because he was a leader of the mexican army and gave texas to america in trade for his life. Santa anna developed an early interest in the military life. Santa anna mexican politician and general on this day. Osprey s examination of the mexican army of santa anna, from 1821 to 1848. Added to the portal to texas history april 16, 2012, 5. Mitchells contention is one of those things that makes perfect sense, he said. Santa anna s words certainly get your attention, along with everyone else s. A spectacular victory at the very scene of general coss december disgrace was the kind of news that santa anna wanted to send back to mexico city, where military victories were the surest guarantee of his political survival.
In a stunning victory, houstons army succeeded in killing or capturing nearly the entire mexican force, including general santa anna, who was taken. Santa annas mexican army 182148 by rene chartrand, bill. A scout reported to colonel travis that the mexican army had crossed the rio. Mexican army, outline of organization, 183536 compiled by tom kailbourn, 2008 note. General santa annas early military life stmu history media. But his basic failures were rooted in his own shortcomings.
Fort bend county texas genealogy, free genealogy, ancestry. Letter from santa anna ordering retreat of the mexican. It is important to understand his transition from the army to the presidency. The defeat of the spanish army not only increased santa annas popularity but also.
Santa anna issued a plan at perote that called for the nullification of the election results, as well for a new law expelling spanish nationals from mexico, believed to be in league with mexican conservatives. In 1838, santa anna served with great distinction against the french at veracruz. Born in 1806, helped defend vera cruz from french in 1838. Also, because they made a treaty that santa anna signed that said he would never again fight against texas.
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