The Texas Almanac for 1870, and Emigrant's Guide to Texas Page: 41

MEXICAN ACCOUNT OF TH'E I AT'LE' OF SAN JACLNtTO. 41
Among the corpses are those of Bowie and Travis, who styled themselves
Colonels, and also that of Crockett, and several leading men, who had entered
the Fortress with dispatches from their Convention. We lost about 70 men
ki led and 300 wounded, among whom are 25 officers. The cause for which they
fell renders their loss less painful, as it is the duty of the Mexican soldiers to die
for the defence of the rights of the nation; and all of us were ready for any
sacrifice to promote this fond object; nor will we, hereafter, suffer any
foreigners, whatever their origin may be, to insult our country and to pollute
its soil.
I shall, in due time, send to Your Excellency a circumstantial report of this
glorious triumph. Now I have only time to congratulate the nation and the
President, ad interim, to whom I request you to submit this report.
The bearer takes with him one of the flags of the enemy y's Battalions, cap-
tured to-day. The inspection of it will show plainly the true- intention of the
treacherous colonists, and of their abettors, who came from the ports of the
United States of the North.
God and Liberty!
HEADQUARTERS, BEXAB, March 6th, 1836.
(Signed) ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA A.NNA
To His Excellency the ,Xcretary of War and Navy, Genera: Jose ,l, .t 'T, r e,
MEXICAN ACCOUNT Or THE BATTLE OF SAl JAOCINTO.*
On the 14th of April, 1836, His Excellency the President ordered iis Staff
to prepare to march, with only one skiff, and leaving his own and the officers'
baggage with General Ramirez y Sesma, who was instructed to remain at the
crossing of the Brazos, whither we expected to return within three days.t
On the 13th, the flank companies of the Battalions of Matamoros, Aldama,
Guerrero, Toluca, Mexico, and,. -I believe, Guadalajara,. had commenced
crossing the river, with a six-pounder commanded by Lieutenant Ignacio
Arrenal, and fifty mounted men of Tampico and Guanajuato, who formed His
Excellency's escort. The whole force amounted to 600 men, more or less.t
At about 4 o'clock P. m. His Excellency started for Harrisburg, with the
force above mentioned.
The bottom of the Brazos is a dense and lofty timber, over three leagues
wide. On reaching the prairie, we found a small creek, which offered only
one crossing. The infantry passed it comfortably, over a large tree which
had fallen in such a manner as to form a convenient bridge. The ammu-
nition was passed over by hand. But His Excellency, to avoid delay, ordered
the baggage and the commissary stores to remain packed on the mules.
However, the water was soon over the pack-saddles, and the opposite bank
was steep and slippery. Several mules fell down, interfering with each other,
which resulted in a terrible jamming of officers and dragoons, pack-mules and
horses. This, together with shouts and curses, completed a scene of wild
confusion, which His Excellency witnessed with hearty laughter. Several
officers and dragoons fell in the water; the stores were damaged, and two
mules were drowned. So much for the precipitation-of this inarch.
* This account of the Battle of San Jacinto was written by Colonel Pedro Delgado, of
General Santa Anna's Staff, and is published in General Filisola's "Memoirs on the
Campaign of 1836, in Texas."
t + Santa Anna's army was then on the Brazos, between Riclhmend and San Felipe.
T General Filisola estimates that force at 800 men.