Once more he turned his face toward the wilderness. He stopped in Tennessee and was warmly greeted by old friends. He did not stay long in Tennessee. [Sidenote: =Hastens to Texas=] Neither did he stay long with the Cherokees, but hastened to Texas, where the people were already murmuring against the treatment they were receiving from Mexico. [Sidenote: =Texas declares independence=] The people of Texas finally issued a declaration of independence. Thereupon the Mexicans resolved to send a large army into Texas and force the revolutionists into submission to the government. [Illustration: THE ALAMO, SAN ANTONIO _Of its defense by Travis, Crockett, and their few men it was said, "Thermopylae had her messenger of woe--the Alamo had none"_] A most important event of this war was the capture, by a large Mexican force, of an old mission building used as a fortress, called the Alamo. It was defended by one hundred forty men, among them the famous "Davy" Crockett, Colonel Travis, and Colonel Bowie--the inventor of the bowie knife. Only six Texans were alive after the capture of the fortress. These heroic men died, fighting the Mexicans to the last. [Sidenote: ="Remember the Alamo!"=] "Remember the Alamo!" became the war cry of every Texan. The Mexicans were approaching, five thousand strong, under General Santa Ana. General Houston commanded the Texans, about seven hundred in all. [Illustration: THE FLAG OF THE TEXAS REPUBLIC] [Sidenote: =Massacre of Goliad=] Suddenly the news came that General Fannin and his men, five hundred in number, had been massacred by the Mexicans at Goliad. The cause of Texan independence looked dark indeed. [Sidenote: =Houston's retreat=] Houston began a retreat of two hundred fifty miles to the eastward. Santa Ana followed closely after him, but scattered his men, just as Houston wanted him to do, until he had with him only eighteen hundred men. They were now on the banks of the San Jacinto. [Illustration: HOUSTON AT SAN JACINTO _Where his battle cry, "Remember the Alamo!" won Texas independence from Mexico_] [Sidenote: =Battle of San Jacinto=] Houston waited till the Mexicans were a bit careless, then seven hundred Texans charged the breastworks of the Mexicans. After the first fire they clubbed their guns and went at it, pioneer fashion, with the cry, "Remember the Alamo!" The right and the left wings of the Mexicans gave way first, and then the center. [Sidenote: =Retreat of the Mexicans=] They retreated, expecting to cross a deep, narrow bayou or stream on a log bridge, but Houston had had the bridge destroyed. The slaughter was terrific. The stream was choked with Mexicans and their horses. [Sidenote: =Santa Ana captured and sent to visit Washington=] Santa Ana was captured and was turned over to the Texan government. Many thought he ought to die because of the massacres at the Alamo and Goliad, but Houston, generous toward the beaten man, sent him on to visit Washington.