Why did the battle of San Jacinto take place?
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, was the last battle in the struggle of the Texan Republic to become independent of Mexico. The battle lasted just 20 minutes, and led to the total rout of the Mexican Army and a complete Mexican retreat from the area now known as Texas. The Texas forces had been retreating since March, following their defeat at the Alamo. News of a Mexican massacre of Texas at Golida further demoralized the troops, and many soldiers subsequently left the army and returned to help their families flee from an advancing Mexican army. Gen. Sam Houston, the commander of the Texan forces, came to understand the real possibility that the Mexican forces could be victorious. As such, he made vigorous efforts to recruit and train new soldiers and implement a counterattack plan against Santa Anna and his troops. However, Gen. Houston’s army continued to be pursued by the Mexican armies, and on April 20, following several skirmishes, Houston and his commanders d
