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x Houston held a council of war that evening, deciding to wait for
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organizing his men and making sure that the sentries were alert
against a possible surprise nocturnal assault by the Texans. He had
sent orders to his brother-in-law, General Cos, to meet him and to
bring along 500 elite soldiers to reinforce his army, and he did not
want to engage until these troops arrived.x To Santa Anna’s displeasure, however, Cos brought with him about
400 new recruits, rather than the highly trained, experienced men
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ordered the exhausted men to get some food, then take a nap. Tired
from being up all night himself, Santa Anna lay down beneath a
tree, having given orders that a strict watch be maintained on the
Texans and that he himself should be awakened at any sign of
movement. Unfortunately, these orders either were not carried out,
or the designated sentries failed to perform their duties.x The Texans grew increasingly restless, and by midafternoon,
their frustration reached the boiling point. Houston ordered his
men to deploy for battle and took his position at their head. The
Texans trotted quickly forward through the tall grass in a long line,
dragging the cannon on leather straps. First to reach the Mexican
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and were soon joined by the cannon and the rest of the line. The
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their cannon.x The Texas line swept over the low defensive wall erected by the
Mexicans and spread through the camp. Caught totally by surprise,
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attempted to rally his men, but realizing it was hopeless, he mounted
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