General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

Today we feature a picture of Mexican President and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. It was on this day, April 22, in the year 1836, that Santa Anna was captured by the Texan General Sam Houston. Houston, after retreating all the way across Texas, had attacked and routed Santa Anna's army at San Jacinto the prior day. The Texans charged with the cry of "Remember the Alamo". The Mexican army was routed in about 20 minutes. Santa Anna realized that the last person on the face of the earth that you wanted to be on that day in Southwest Texas was Santa Anna. When he was found hiding in the woods, he was wearing the uniform of a common foot soldier. The Texans did not even suspect he was the general. As they brought him into the camp, the other Mexican prisoners started saluting, bowing, and pretty much blowing his cover. Realizing who he was, he was taken to Sam Houston. There were plenty who wanted to string him up on the spot, but Houston had something bigger in mind. He made a deal with Santa Anna, trading his life for Texas Independence.