179 years ago Tuesday, General Santa Anna surrendered to General Sam Houston at San Jacinto

A group of reenactors fire honorary shots in front of the San Jacinto Monument during a ceremony in honor of San Jacinto Day, Monday, April 21, 2014, in La Porte. The battle of San Jacinto took place 178 years ago against Mexican troops. Sam Houston led the battle that ultimately led to Texas' independence. less A group of reenactors fire honorary shots in front of the San Jacinto Monument during a ceremony in honor of San Jacinto Day, Monday, April 21, 2014, in La Porte. The battle of San Jacinto took place 178 years ... more Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close 179 years ago Tuesday, General Santa Anna surrendered to General Sam Houston at San Jacinto 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Tuesday, Texans all over the world will be remembering the events of April 21, 1836 where in a prairie near what would one day be La Porte, the Lone Star State took its next step into legend.

The clash between General Sam Houston’s Texas rebels and General Santa Anna's troops that day ended with a Texian victory, concluding the Texas Revolution.

Cries of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad” disturbed the slumber of Mexican troops taking siestas under trees.

The ensuing firefight was only 18 minutes long, starting at around 3:30 p.m., with 630 Mexicans killed. There were nine dead Texians out of just over 900 fighters. About 730 Mexicans would be taken prisoner by Houston’s men.

General Santa Anna had no lookouts posted and if he had, it’s unclear just how the day would have shaken out for General Houston and the rest.

Houston was wounded in the ankle by a rifle ball in the fight. He accepted the surrender of Santa Anna while sitting down under an oak tree on a blanket. Santa Anna, a prisoner of war, was found in nearby tall grass the day before dressed as a common soldier and not the brave general he purported to be.

Now 179 years later, Texas has given the world Willie Nelson, breast implants, Dr. Pepper, and Whataburger.

The spoils of victory.

Y’all are welcome.