After the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21st, 1836, Santa Anna, the president of Mexico and commander of the Mexican army, escaped on horseback during the night disguised in the uniform of a private soldier. On the 22nd, James A. Sylvester, Joel W. Robison, Edward Miles, S.R. Bostick, Joseph Vermillion, and Thompson, soldiers of the Texas army under General Sam Houston, captured him at this approximate site and took him back to the camp on the battleground, where General Houston lay wounded. The greetings of "El Presidente" from wounded Mexican prisoners revealed his identity.