Happy San Jacinto Day
One-hundred seventy four years ago today, the Texian forces under the command of Sam Houston defeated the Mexican Army commanded by Santa Ana at the Battle of San Jacinto (the site of which is located near Houston, hard on the Ship Channel). After retreating pell mell before the advancing Mexicans in the “Runaway Scrape,” the Texians turned to fight at San Jacinto. The Texians caught the Mexicans napping–literally–and launched their decisive attack while the Mexicans were taking a siesta with no sentries posted. The Mexicans were routed–and apparently many Texians took revenge for previous Mexican atrocities at Goliad and the Alamo, despite Houston’s effort to restrain them. Santa Ana fled the battlefield, and was captured in disguise the next day. In May, while in captivity, he signed treaties that gave Texas its independence.
Given that Texas independence led to the Mexican War, and the Mexican War resulted in a clash over the extension of slavery into the territories obtained thereby that culminated in the Civil War, April 21, 1836 must be counted as one of the decisive days in American history.
Texian? Tehian? Texan?
Comment by Surya — April 21, 2010 @ 7:06 pm
Texian was one of the ways they referred to themselves back then.
Interesting. I would presume it is pronounced with the English “x” instead of the Spanish “h”.
Comment by Surya — April 21, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
That’s my understanding.
Here’s some background.
FYI – the words “Texas” and “Texas” are Caddo Indian in derivation, not Spanish in derivation. They come from the Caddo word “táysha” which means “friend.”
Comment by charles — April 22, 2010 @ 11:35 am
That’s my understanding.
Comment by Brad — April 25, 2010 @ 12:39 am
Texian? Tehian? Texan?
Comment by Joseph — April 25, 2010 @ 7:08 pm
That’s my understanding.
Comment by Sam — April 25, 2010 @ 9:47 pm