Joel Robison: The Fayette County Mason Who Captured Santa Anna

Eighteen Minutes That Made a Republic

You have probably heard of the Battle of San Jacinto and how important this event was to the establishment of the Republic of Texas. We know the facts — the battle was fast, lasting only eighteen minutes in total, while the killing went on for hours.

The following day, April 22, 1836, a group of men left on a patrol to round up stragglers from the fighting the previous day. In this group was Georgia-born Joel Robison, the only one in the group who spoke a little Spanish.

A Barefoot Prisoner Along Vince's Bayou

After riding for some time, they caught sight of a Mexican soldier resting along Vince's Bayou. The soldier stepped into a pasture as the Texians approached. He was dressed in a private's uniform and barefooted.

After some discussion among the Texians, it was decided the soldier should walk to camp to be housed with the other prisoners. As he walked barefooted, the condition of the bottoms of his feet deteriorated. Finally, he turned to the mounted Texians and said he could walk no further and asked to be shot where he stood.

Some of the group attempted to draw pistols and shoot, but Robison pulled the soldier up on his horse and they continued to camp.

"I was forced into service," the captive told Robison, "and no, I would not return."

"El Presidente!"

As they rode, the two conversed in Spanish about the battle. The captured soldier was surprised at the size of the Texian forces, expecting there to be many more soldiers as the ferocity of the battle was overwhelming.

You may remember your Texas history that, as the group rode into camp, the captive Mexicans began to salute the soldier on horseback and exclaim "El Presidente!" This is when Santa Anna asked Robison to get him to Houston immediately.

In William Henry Huddle's famous painting of the surrender, you have likely noted the wounded Gen. Houston resting under the tree and Santa Anna standing. You will also notice two men illustrated much higher than the rest — Joel Robison and James Austin Sylvester, called out for distinction during those historic few days for having found and brought Santa Anna back to camp.

The Fayette County Connection

I have given a brief but relevant account of Robison's involvement in the capture of Santa Anna, but I want to share how he is tied to our own Fayette County. Joel Walter Robison was born in Georgia, and his sister was married to Stephen Townsend.

This may not seem significant to most, but you are indebted to Townsend and his clan. They, through family and marriage, had the largest representation at the Battle of San Jacinto of any other family — some say over twenty in total. Townsend also established Townsend Settlement near Round Top.

Robison came to Fayette County with the Townsends and settled near what is today known as Florida Chapel Road. Joel was made an Entered Apprentice Mason at Lafayette No. 34 in La Grange and was raised as a Master Mason in Florida No. 46 in Round Top.

Ranger, Legislator, Neighbor

Robison was one of the first Texas Rangers, commissioned by President Sam Houston. He went on to serve the community in many ways, including in Austin as a Representative.

Robison was also at the Alamo prior to the fateful March 6, 1836 attack which took the lives of so many. He was dispatched from there in late February with a message and returned home to Fayette County afterwards.

He and his wife both died here in Fayette County and were buried in Florida Chapel Cemetery before being moved to the Texas State Cemetery in the 1930s. Today, under an old oak near a small white building at Florida Chapel, there is a low spot in a small, iron-fenced plot where Joel and his wife were originally laid to rest. Next to that spot lies his friend, Masonic Brother and fellow veteran Stephen Townsend.

A Footnote Worth Remembering

I wanted to also mention that present at the battle was Anson Jones. He was carrying saddle bags on his horse containing the original three warrants for the first three Masonic Lodges in what became the Republic of Texas — warrants granted by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. There is an interesting story about why the Texians went to Louisiana for these warrants and not Mexico, but that is a story for another time.