After the
Texas Revolution began in October 1835, Antonio Menchaca joined the
Texian Army, enrolling in a cavalry company under Captain
Juan Seguin. After the Mexican army was expelled from Texas in December 1835, he was stationed with other Texan forces at the
Alamo Mission in Béxar. In February 1836, word came that Mexican President
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was leading an army into Texas to reclaim the territory. Alamo co-commander
James Bowie held a council of war with his officers, including Menchaca, to determine what steps to take next. Both Bowie and Seguin urged Menchaca to take a furlough and bring his family to safety; they were worried that Santa Anna would treat his family as traitors. Menchaca moved his family out of the town, to Seguin's isolated ranch. After six days of hiding at Seguin's ranch, Menchaca moved his family to Gonzales. Immediately after his arrival on March 6,
Sam Houston arrived in Gonzales about 4 p.m. on March 11. He announced that the
Convention of 1836 had declared Texas an independent nation, and read the men the
Texas Declaration of Independence. The new interim government had placed Houston in charge of the recruits gathered in Gonzales. That evening, two men arrived from Béxar with news that the Mexican army had retaken the Alamo, and the Texian defenders were dead; Houston promptly arrested the men as spies. The following day, Houston organized the army. All of the companies gathered, including Seguin's, were placed into the First Regiment of Infantry, with
Edward Burleson in charge. Houston sent scouts to determine what had actually happened in Béxar. They returned on March 13 with
Susanna Dickinson, who had been inside the Alamo during the battle. Dickinson warned that more than 2,000 Mexican troops were on their way to Gonzales. Local citizens panicked; Houston ordered an immediate retreat, promising that his new army would protect the citizens as they fled. Over the next month, the Texian army marched over , retreating east and north. On April 18, the Texian army reached the ashes of
Harrisburg, arriving shortly after Mexican troops under Santa Anna had left. Menchaca and Lorenzo de Zavala Jr. were asked to translate the letters for Houston. The correspondence revealed the locations and strengths of the various Mexican forces in Texas, their strategies for the next few days, and the fact that the Mexican leaders had no idea of the location and size of the Texian army. With this intelligence, Houston could now make a plan. He chose to act quickly and ordered his men to cross
Buffalo Bayou and move to
Lynchburg. Houston ordered that the sick remain behind with the baggage wagons in Harrisburg. Houston was concerned that the Anglos in his army would not differentiate between the Mexican men in Santa Anna's army and those in Seguin's company. Seguin reminded him that his men had also died at the Alamo, and that they had more reasons than anyone else there to hate the centralists. Houston rescinded his orders but, as a compromise, insisted that all of the men in Seguin's company place a piece of cardboard in their hatbands as a sign that they were part of the Texian army. The Texian army made camp at
Lynchburg, on the banks of
Buffalo Bayou, on the morning of April 20. A few hours later, Santa Anna led his portion of the Mexican army to a campsite less than away. There were two small skirmishes that day as each army tested the strength of the other. Santa Anna received approximately 400 reinforcements at 8 a.m. the following morning, bringing his army to 1,250 men. Texian troops were convinced that a Mexican attack was imminent. Santa Anna's men had spent much of the night preparing for a Texian attack, building makeshift breastworks around their exposed camp. The newly arrived troops were no better rested - they had marched continuously for 24 hours with no sleep or food. As the morning faded away with no sign that the Texians were preparing an attack, Santa Anna relaxed his guard. His troops, including those who had been standing guard, were given permission to rest. Seguin's men, as part of Burleson's First Regiment, were in the center of the line. At 4 p.m., the Texian army advanced, commencing the
Battle of San Jacinto. They crept forward in silence, hidden by the tall grass. Houston ordered them to charge when they were about from the Mexican camp. Mexican troops were taken completely by surprise. After firing the first volley, the Texian line fell apart. Many did not bother to reload, instead jumping over the breastworks and swinging their rifles as clubs. Mexican officers yelled orders, but were unable to get control of their men. The battle lasted 18 minutes. Unable or unwilling to mount any sort of unified resistance, Mexican soldiers and officers fled for their lives. Texian commanders were unable to gain control of their troops, and the slaughter continued until dusk. Many Mexican soldiers fled towards Peggy Lake and attempted to swim to safety. Texan soldiers positioned themselves on the banks and shot those swimming. ==Later years==