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| Battle!
- At the time of 4:30pm on the date of April 21st, scout Deaf Smith announced the burning of Vince's Bridge. Which cut off the only avenue of retreat for both armies. The Texan battle line moved forward with their apporach being screened by the trees and the rising ground. The other army, emerging from the woods, was given the order to "advance" and a fifer began playing the tune "Will you come to the bower I have shaded for you?". General Houston personally led the infantry, posting the 2nd Volunteer Regiment of Colonel Sidney Sherman on his left, with Colonel Edward Burleson's 1st Volunteer Regiment next in line. In the center was the Twin Sisters that were wheeled forward under the command of Major George W. Hockley. To the extreme far right, 61 of the Texas cavalrymen under newly promoted Colonel Mirabeau B. Lamar planned to circle into the Mexicans' left flank. The Texan army started to move quickly and silently across the high-grass plain. When they were only a few dozen yards away, only stopping a few yards from the Mexicans to open fire, Santa's Anna's camp charged shouting "REMEMBER THE ALAMO!" and "REMEMBER GOLIAD!" The Texans were then suprised. It was a bold attack in broad daylight but its success can be part of the fact of Santa Anna's failure to post guards during the army's siesta. Anna's army consisted of professional soldiers that were trained to fight in ranks. The Mexicans were ill-prepared and unarmed at the time of the sudden attack. Most were asleep with their soldaderas. ( wives and female soldiers ) Some were out gathering wood, and the cavalrymen were riding bareback fetching water. General Manuel Fernandez Castrillon tried to mount an organized resistance, but was soon shot down and killed. His panicked troops fled, and Santa Anna's defensive line quickly collapsed. Hundreds of the confused Mexican soldiers were routed, with mant being driven into marshes along the river to drown. The Texans chased after the fleeing enemy, shouting "TAKE PRISONERS LIKE THE MESKINS DO!" ( this was in reference of bodies after the Alamo and the mass murder of Texans at Goliad ) Some of the Mexican cavalry plunged into the flooded stream by Vince's bridge but they were shot as they struggled in the water. Houston tried to restrain his men but he was ignored. General Juan Almonte commanded what was left of his Mexican resistance, soon formally surrendered his 400 remaining men to Rusk. The rest of Santa Anna's once-proud army had disintegrated into chaos. From that moment where the first charge the battle was a slaughter, "frightgul to behold", with most the Texan casualties coming in the first minutes of battle from the first Mexican volley. During the short fighting (although furious), Houston was shot in the left ankle, two of his horses were shot under him, and Santa Anna escaped. The combat lasted about 18minutes. But the slaughter of the Mexicans continued for about an hour. The Texan army had won a stunning victory. Killing 700 Mexican soldiers, wounding 208, and taking 730 prisoners while suffering 9 killed and 30wounded. 
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