At dawn April 20 the Texans resumed their trek down the bayou, to
intercept the Mexicans. At Lynch's ferry, near the juncture of Buffalo
Bayou and San Jacinto River, they captured a boat laden with supplies
for Santa Anna. This probably was some of the plunder of Harrisburg or
New Washington. Ascertaining that none of the enemy forces had crossed,
the Texans drew back about a mile on the Harrisburg road, and encamped
in a skirt of timber protected by a rising ground.
That afternoon, Colonel Sidney Sherman with a small detachment of
cavalry engaged the enemy infantry, almost bringing on a general action.
In the clash two Texans were wounded--one of them, Olwyn J. Trask,
mortally--and several horses were killed. In this preliminary skirmish
Mirabeau B. Lamar, a private from Georgia (later President of the
Republic of Texas), so distinguished himself that on the next day he was
placed in command of the cavalry.
Santa Anna's blue-uniformed army made camp under the high ground
overlooking a marsh, about three-fourths of a mile from the Texas camp.
They threw up breastworks of trunks, baggage, pack-saddles and other
equipment. Both sides prepared for the expected conflict.
The Texans awoke to find Thursday, April 21, a clear fine day. Refreshed
by a breakfast of bread made with flour from the captured supplies and
meat from beeves slaughtered the day before, they were eager to attack
the enemy. They could see Santa Anna's flags floating over the enemy
camp, and heard the Mexican bugle calls on the crisp morning air.
It was discovered at about nine o'clock that General Martin Perfecto de
Cos had crossed Vince's bridge, about eight miles behind the Texans'
camp, with some 540 picked troops, swelling the enemy forces to about
1265. General Houston ordered "Deaf" Smith and a detail to destroy the
bridge and prevent further enemy reinforcements.[3] This also would
prevent the retreat of either the Texans or the Mexicans toward
Harrisburg. In dry weather Vince's Bayou was about fifty feet wide and
ten feet deep, but the excessive April rains had made it several times
wider and deeper.
[Illustration: Map of San Jacinto battlefield, showing positions of
Texas army and Mexican army, and battle formation of Texas Infantry,
Artillery and Cavalry in the attack on Santa Anna's breastworks.]
Shortly before noon, General Houston held a council of war with Colonels
Edward Burleson and Sidney Sherman, Lieutenant-Colonels Henry Millard,
Alexander Somervell and Joseph L. Bennett, and Major Lysander Wells. Two
of the officers suggested attacking the enemy in his position, while the
others favored awaiting Santa Anna's attack. Houston withheld his own
views, but later, after having formed his plan of battle, submitted it
to Secretary of War Rusk, who approved it.