Prior to the erection of the present great shaft, the principal memorial on the battlefield was a plain square spire monument of Rutland variegated marble, fifteen and one-half feet high, which with the base stands seventeen feet. After its dedication it was placed at the grave of Benjamin R. Brigham, one of the nine Texans who were killed or mortally wounded in the battle, and whose bodies, with one exception, were buried on the ground on which the Texan army had camped April 20. Board markers had been placed at all of the graves but when in 1879 Judge J. L. Sullivan of Richmond, Texas, began to raise funds by public subscription to erect a joint monument where their bodies lay, the grave of Brigham was alone recognizable.
The monument was unveiled at Galveston with fitting ceremonies August 25, 1881, Temple Houston, youngest son of General Sam Houston, being the orator of the occasion. On April 23, 1883, the Eighteenth Legislature purchased for $1,500, ten acres of land surrounding the monument. This was the beginning of the present San Jacinto State Park.
Carved on the east front of the monument is:“DEAD ON THE FIELD OF HONOR”
Below which, in bold relief is a Lone Star, surrounded by a wreath of oak and laurel leaves.
Beneath the star:“B. R. BRIGHAM”
On the base:“SAN JACINTO”
Near the top of the shaft is a polished band, upon which are cut two stars on each front and one above the band on the east front. These represent the nine who fell in the battle.
Brigham monument, marking the graves of eight of the nine dead at San Jacinto.
Brigham monument, marking the graves of eight of the nine dead at San Jacinto.
Marker at site of Santa Anna’s surrender at San Jacinto.
Marker at site of Santa Anna’s surrender at San Jacinto.
On the north front, beneath the heading:
“TWO DAYS BEFORE THE BATTLE”
is recorded the statement of General Houston:
“This morning we are in preparation to meet Santa Anna. It is the only chance of saving Texas. From time to time I have looked for reinforcements in vain: We will only have about seven hundred men to march with besides the camp guard. We go on to conquer. It is wisdom growing out of necessity to meet the enemy now. Every consideration enforces it. No previous occasion would justify it. The troops are in fine spirits and now is the time for action. We shall use our best efforts to fight the enemy to such advantage as will insure victory though the odds are greatly against us.
“I leave the result in the hands of a wise God, and rely upon His providence.
“My country will do justice to those who serve her. The right for which we fight will be secured, and Texas free.”
Below this is inscribed:“REMEMBER THE ALAMO”
On the south front beneath the heading:“THE DAY AFTER THE BATTLE”
is the report of Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War:
“The sun was sinking in the horizon as the battle commenced, but, at the close of the conflict, the sun of liberty and independence rose in Texas, never, it is to be hoped, to be obscured by the clouds of despotism. We have read of deeds of chivalry, and pursued with ardour the annals of war; we have contemplated, with the highest emotions of sublimity, the loud roaring thunder, the desolating tornado, and the withering simoon of the desert; but neither of these, nor all, inspired us with emotions like those felt on this occasion! There was a general cry which pervaded the ranks: Remember the ALAMO! Remember LA BAHIA! These words electrified all. Onward was the cry. The unerring aim and irresistible energy of the Texan army could not be withstood, it was freemen fighting against the minions of tyranny and the result proved the inequality of such a contest.”
And below is the love song, then popular, which one of Houston’s charging soldiers is said to have played on the flute:“WILL YOU COME TO THE BOWER”
On the west front:
“This monument stands at the grave ofBENJAMIN RICE BRIGHAMwho was mortally wounded April 21, 1836
“Nearby rest
LEMUEL STOCKTON BLAKEYJOHN C. HALEGEORGE A. LAMBDR. WM. JUNIUS MOTTLEYMATHIAS COOPERTHOMAS PATTON FOWLEASHLEY R. STEPHENS
“Who were also killed or mortally wounded in the battle of San Jacinto
“OLWYN J. TRASKdied on Galveston Island on about May 20 from the effects of the wound he had received on the San Jacinto Battlefield in the skirmish of April 20, 1836.
“This shaft was erected in 1881 by voluntary contributions of citizens of Texas to forever mark the spot where these heroes sleep and to perpetuate a knowledge of their names and prowess”
On the base following this tribute is the war cry,“REMEMBER GOLIAD”
MY COUNTRY WILL DO JUSTICE TO THEM WHO SERVE HERTHE RIGHT FOR WHICH WE FIGHT WILL BE RESCUED AND TEXAS FREEGENERAL HOUSTONAPRIL 19 1836OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE TEXAS ARMY WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE FOUGHT HERE APRIL 21 1836 OR IN THE SKIRMISH OF THE PREVIOUS DAY
MY COUNTRY WILL DO JUSTICE TO THEM WHO SERVE HER
THE RIGHT FOR WHICH WE FIGHT WILL BE RESCUED AND TEXAS FREE
GENERAL HOUSTONAPRIL 19 1836
OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE TEXAS ARMY WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE FOUGHT HERE APRIL 21 1836 OR IN THE SKIRMISH OF THE PREVIOUS DAY
One of the two great bronze plaques that adorn the walls of the San Jacinto museum records the names of the officers and men of the Texas army who fought in the battle on April 21, 1836, and in the skirmish of the previous day. The other plaque lists the troops, mostly sick or non-effective, who were left at Harrisburg two days before the battle.
Following is the roster of the participants at San Jacinto:
Obeying the instructions of General Houston, the following officers and men remained April 21, 1836, at the camp of the Texas army established opposite Harrisburg. There the sick were attended by their comrades who guarded the baggage and acted as rear guard of the main army.
Frontispiece “Battle of San Jacinto” is a photograph of a painting by Henry A. McArdle.
Sam Houston’s picture is a photograph by Elwood M. Payne, of an etching made from a daguerreotype in the San Jacinto Museum of History.
Mr. Payne also photographed the base of the monument, showing the inscriptions.
Picture of Santa Anna is a photograph by Paul Peters of a daguerreotype in the Museum.
The photographs of the Brigham monument and the Santa Anna surrender marker also are by Paul Peters.
The surrender of Santa Anna is a photograph by Harry Pennington, Jr., of a painting by W. H. Huddle.
The map showing the route of Sam Houston’s army was drawn by L. W. Kemp. Map of San Jacinto battleground by Ed Kilman.
Bronze armillary sun dial erected on the battlefield in memory of the nine Texans killed or mortally wounded at San Jacinto.The dial, wrought by Julian Muench, measures twenty-five feet in circumference. It was constructed with funds raised by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Texas Veterans association and was dedicated April 21, 1940.
Bronze armillary sun dial erected on the battlefield in memory of the nine Texans killed or mortally wounded at San Jacinto.
The dial, wrought by Julian Muench, measures twenty-five feet in circumference. It was constructed with funds raised by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Texas Veterans association and was dedicated April 21, 1940.
[1]This plantation belonging to Groce has been confused by the historian John Henry Brown, and perhaps others, with another plantation he owned which was situated in the present county of Grimes, and known as “Groce’s Retreat.”[2]Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War, and other Texans who were in the battle said the battle cry was “Remember the Alamo!” “Remember La Bahia!”[3]With “Deaf” Smith in the detail that destroyed the bridge were Young P. Alsbury, John Coker, John Garner, Moses Lapham. Edwin R. Rainwater and Dimer W. Reaves.[4]In his official report of the battle, April 25, 1836, Houston said 783 Texans took part. Yet in a roster published later he listed 845 officers and men at San Jacinto, and by oversight omitted Captain Alfred H. Wyly’s Company. In a Senate speech February 28, 1859, Houston said his effective force never exceeded 700 at any point. Conclusive evidence in official records brings the total number at San Jacinto up to 910.[5]Several veterans of the battle said the tune played was “Yankee Doodle.”[6]With Sylvester in the capture of Santa Anna were Joel W. Robison, Joseph D. Vermillion, Alfred H. Miles and David Cole.
[1]This plantation belonging to Groce has been confused by the historian John Henry Brown, and perhaps others, with another plantation he owned which was situated in the present county of Grimes, and known as “Groce’s Retreat.”
[2]Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War, and other Texans who were in the battle said the battle cry was “Remember the Alamo!” “Remember La Bahia!”
[3]With “Deaf” Smith in the detail that destroyed the bridge were Young P. Alsbury, John Coker, John Garner, Moses Lapham. Edwin R. Rainwater and Dimer W. Reaves.
[4]In his official report of the battle, April 25, 1836, Houston said 783 Texans took part. Yet in a roster published later he listed 845 officers and men at San Jacinto, and by oversight omitted Captain Alfred H. Wyly’s Company. In a Senate speech February 28, 1859, Houston said his effective force never exceeded 700 at any point. Conclusive evidence in official records brings the total number at San Jacinto up to 910.
[5]Several veterans of the battle said the tune played was “Yankee Doodle.”
[6]With Sylvester in the capture of Santa Anna were Joel W. Robison, Joseph D. Vermillion, Alfred H. Miles and David Cole.