On March 11, when Texas Army General Sam Houston arrived in Gonzales, he learned of the fall of the Alamo and decided to begin the mass evacuation of tens of thousands of Texans in what became known as the Runaway Scrape. As much of Texas fled eastward, Houston and the Texas Army tracked and captured Mexican Army General Santa Anna near LaPorte after a surprise attack and battle that lasted only 18 minutes. The victory won independence from Mexico for Texas.