The fall of the Alamo and the massacre at Goliad greatly angered Texas soldiers. General Sam Houston was put in command of the Texas army but faced many challenges as his troops were poorly supplied and untrained. After learning of the defeat at Goliad, Houston ordered civilians to flee eastward in what became known as the "Runaway Scrape". At San Jacinto, Houston defeated Santa Anna's Mexican army in just 18 minutes, securing Texas' independence from Mexico.

2. Chapter 11: The Texas Revolution Section 5: Independence is Won

44. “ My motive in sparing the life of Santa Anna was to relieve the country of all hostile enemies without further bloodshed, and to secure his acknowledgement of our independence” — Sam Houston