James Austin Sylvester

As a captain in Sidney Sherman's Kentucky Riflemen, he was the standard-bearer for the only flag flown during the battle. A printer's apprentice by trade, he had been born in 1807 in Baltimore, Maryland, before his parents relocated to Kentucky where he enlisted with Sherman to go to Texas and join the fight for independence. After the Kentucky Riflemen reached Gonzales on March 6, they joined with Sam Houston moving ahead of the Mexican army and training for the eventual engagement that ended with Santa Anna signing the Treaties of Velasco.^[1] Santa Anna's capture was accidental. When the battle broke out, Santa Anna deserted his men and fled on horseback. He was found by Sylvester at Vince Bayou wearing a private's uniform and hiding in the grass. Sylvester had been hunting for food and was initially unaware the person he had just captured was the leader of the Mexican army.^[2]