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BATTLE
OF SAN JACINTO
April 21, 1836
On a day like today
a battle took place down by the Buffalo Bayou of present day
Houston
Texas. The Mexican Army led by
El Generalissimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was surprised and
consequently defeated by the combined Tejas /
Texas
forces. The Tejas defenders will to pursue and achieve the rights of
freedom for the newly declared Republic could not be denied. On that
symbolic and glorious day the combined efforts of the original
Tejanos, Texians and some Mexican, who chose to fight
for independence, charged into battle willing to give up their lives
for what they believed. Among General Sam Houston’s valiant
Texas
defenders were Tejanos such as Pedro Herrera, Nepomuceno Navarro,
Antonio Cruz Y Arocha, Jose Antonio Menchaca and others. It was
Sgt. Jose A. Menchaca’s inspiring Spanish cries the Texians soon
learned “Recuerden el Alamo y Goliad”, “Remember the Alamo
and Goliad”. These brave native Tejanos were men of the
Second Regiment, Ninth Company Texas Volunteers under the command
of Captain Juan Nepomuceno Seguin. Captain Seguin was among the
distinguished officers, who led the cavalry charge at the decisive
San Jacinto
battle.
Some of the
Texian defenders were Captain W. Martin, Col. Burleson and
General Rusk, among others. John A. Wharton became known as “The
keenest blade at San Jacinto”.
The Teja’s
liberators achieved an absolute victory that day. Among all the
reasons for the success, I would like to add, perhaps the least ever
mentioned. Our strength was the diversity and unity among the men
and boys that ultimately solidified the victory.
Captain’s Juan N.
Sequin was promoted to the rank of Colonel
for his countless
contributions and personal sacrifice for Texas Independence.
May the good
Lord continue the blessings for the entire
Lone
Star
State. Long live
Texas…Viva
Tejas…. Vivan Los Tejanos
Tejanos’born in the
Spanish Tejas province were never Mexican.
Tejanos’, who fought for Tejas Independence, became Mexican citizens
upon the establishment of the Mexican republic in 1824.
Therefore they were not Mexican Texan. Many current Tejano
descendants must not be confused with Hispanic, Latino, Mexican,
Chicano or Mexican-American. For we are Tejanos or Tejanas by
the Grace of God.
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