Question: How long did the Battle of San Jacinto last?
Answer: About 18 minutes. The Texas forces attacked the Mexican camp at around 3:30 in the afternoon, when the Mexican soldiers were taking a siesta. The Texans’ movements were obscured by thick woods, and Santa Anna apparently had no lookouts posted.
During the brief battle, 630 Mexican soldiers were killed and 730 taken prisoner, while only nine of the 910 Texas soldiers were killed and 30 wounded, including Houston, whose ankle was shattered by a musket ball. Santa Anna, disguised as a common soldier, was not identified until the following day, when Mexican prisoners were overheard addressing him as “el presidente.”
