1.          Sidney Sherman's “San Jacinto” flag , late Dec.   Brought to Texas by Sidney Sherman organized a company of 52 volunteers in Kentucky.     Allegedly painted by James H. Beard and presented to the Newport (Kentucky Rifle Company by Sherman’s wife Katherine Sherman.   “The flag is made of white silk with the painted figure of a partially bare-breasted woman grasping in one hand a sword over which is draped a streamer with the words “Liberty or Death”.   Probably based on Eugene Delacroix’s painting “Liberty Leading the People.”   The lady in the flag representing liberty. Originally the (background) field was blue. The company left Kentucky on Dec. 31 (but military service credited from Dec. 18).   Not sure when they arrived in Texas.   The only surviving flags of the Texas Revolution are the Red Rover flag, the New Orleans Greys flag and the San Jacinto flag.   The former two are held in Mexico as spoils of war and the San Jacinto flag is in Austin. <1>

2.          Baker’s “Red” flag:   Carried at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836 by Baker’s company (obviously they lost the San Felipe flag).   It was a red handkerchief .   It was carried until the battle commenced and was dropped and lost. <2>

3. Private Juan Lopez flag at San Jacinto, April 21: Private Lopez had joined Captain Juan Seguin's company two days before and Seguin noted Lopez was :entering boldly the fight, brandishing on one hand an old rusty sword, holding on the other a gun stick at the top of which was fastened a red kind of rag." Seguin ordered him to drop the flag and to take the gun of one of the sick soldiers. <2.5>

4.          Permanent Guerrero Battalion : Arrived with the Mexican General Cos on the morning of April 21. The battalion arrived at Bexar on March 11th in General Tolsa's Second Infantry Brigade. The Guerrero Battalion did not participate in the taking of the Alamo. At the Battle of San Jacinto the Guerrero Battalion was on the right side of the Mexican camp resting when Sherman's 2nd Regiment surprised that side. Col. Manuel de Cespedes was its commander and was wounded and captured at San Jacinto. 58" on the hoist by 60" on the fly. Located at the Texas State Archives. <3>

5.          Permanent Matamoros Battalion : Arrived at Bexar as part of the Vanguard on February 23 with 272 veteran assault soldiers. Participated in the Zacatecas campaign the previous May. Marched with Santa Anna from Fort Bend. The battalion occupied the center of the Mexican camp, guarding the breastworks and the Mexican cannon. Commander Col. Jose Maria Romero captured at San Jacinto. 57" on the hoist by 67" on the fly. Located at the Texas State Archives. <4>

6.          Active Toluca Battalion : : Arrived at Bexar as part of the First Infantry Brigade on March 3rd with 324 veteran assault troops. Had participated in the Zacatecas Campaign the previous May. Suffered heavy casualties in the assault on the Alamo. Only 130 survived. Arrived with General Cos in the morning of April 21. Located adjacent to the Guerrero Battalion on the right side of the camp and was resting when Sherman's 2nd regiment surprised them. 68" on the hoist by 54" on the fly. Currently under restoration. On loan to the San Jacinto Museum. <5>

7.          Santa Anna’s “Guard” flag . Carried by the 50 Escort Dragoons from the Permanent Tampico Regiment and the Guanajuato Territorial Regiment. These Regiments participated previously in the Goliad Campaign. Arrived with Santa Anna from Fort Bend. Unknown dimensions. Color enhanced. Located at the Dallas Historical Society. <6>

Footnotes:

<1>New Handbooks Online, "Flags"; New Handbook, Vol. 5; p. 1020, Mayberry, p. 26
<2> Moore-314
<2.5> Moore-326
<3> Todish-115; de la Pena-123
<4> Todish-114; McKeehan
<5> Todish-116.
<6>http://www.dallashistory.org/history/texas/battle_flag.htm

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3.28.04