ON THE EVE OF BATTLE
At dawn April 20 the Texans resumed their trek down the bayou, to intercept the Mexicans. At Lynch’s ferry, near the juncture of Buffalo Bayou and San Jacinto River, they captured a boat laden with supplies for Santa Anna. This probably was some of the plunder of Harrisburg or New Washington. Ascertaining that none of the enemy forces had crossed, the Texans drew back about a mile on the Harrisburg road, and encamped in a skirt of timber protected by a rising ground.
That afternoon, Colonel Sidney Sherman with a small detachment of cavalry engaged the enemy infantry, almost bringing on a general action. In the clash two Texans were wounded—one of them, Olwyn J. Trask, mortally—and several horses were killed. In this preliminary skirmish Mirabeau B. Lamar, a private from Georgia (later President of the Republic of Texas), so distinguished himself that on the next day he was placed in command of the cavalry.
Santa Anna’s blue-uniformed army made camp under the high ground overlooking a marsh, about three-fourths of a mile from the Texas camp. They threw up breastworks of trunks, baggage, pack-saddles and other equipment. Both sides prepared for the expected conflict.
The Texans awoke to find Thursday, April 21, a clear fine day. Refreshed by a breakfast of bread made with flour from the captured supplies and meat from beeves slaughtered the day before, they were eager to attack the enemy. They could see Santa Anna’s flags floating over the enemy camp, and heard the Mexican bugle calls on the crisp morning air.
It was discovered at about nine o’clock that General Martin Perfecto de Cos had crossed Vince’s bridge, about eight miles behind the Texans’ camp, with some 540 picked troops, swelling the enemy forces to about 1265. General Houston ordered “Deaf” Smith and a detail to destroy the bridge and prevent further enemy reinforcements.[3] This also would prevent the retreat of either the Texans or the Mexicans toward Harrisburg. In dry weather Vince’s Bayou was about fifty feet wide and ten feet deep, but the excessive April rains had made it several times wider and deeper.
Map of San Jacinto battlefield, showing positions of Texas army and Mexican army, and battle formation of Texas Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry in the attack on Santa Anna’s breastworks.
Shortly before noon, General Houston held a council of war with Colonels Edward Burleson and Sidney Sherman, Lieutenant-Colonels Henry Millard, Alexander Somervell and Joseph L. Bennett, and Major Lysander Wells. Two of the officers suggested attacking the enemy in his position, while the others favored awaiting Santa Anna’s attack. Houston withheld his own views, but later, after having formed his plan of battle, submitted it to Secretary of War Rusk, who approved it.