In Washington

The travelers arrived in the capital city in two groups, as they had split due to Santa Anna’s illness. Almonte and Bee traveled together, arriving in Washington on January 17, 1837. Santa Anna, Hockley, and Patton arrived the next day, January 18.

Once each group reached Washington, they went their separate ways. Hockley, Patton, and Bee continued on their diplomatic mission, and Santa Anna and Almonte on theirs.

Because of their separate arrival times, the two parts of the party stayed in separate accomodations. Almonte stayed at Gadsby’s Hotel, later the National Hotel. Today the Newseum sits on the same site. Santa Anna, meanwhile, stayed at Hannah Ulrich’s boarding house, at the corner of 15th and G Streets, a block away from the White House.

While Santa Anna and Almonte were in Washington, they met on multiple occasions with President Andrew Jackson, Vice President and President-elect Martin Van Buren, and other officials. Due to his health, Santa Anna was also reported to have remained in the boardinghouse for much of the time.

They remained in the city until January 26.

On January 17, the United States Telegraph ran a brief notice of Almonte and Bee’s arrival, believing that Santa Anna was still in Kentucky. The same day, it reported increasing activity in Congress regarding recognition of Texas independence.

Two days later, the United States Telegraph reported Santa Anna’s arrival in the city, again accompanied by news of debates in Congress about Texas.

Hannah Ulrich’s boardinghouse, where Santa Anna stayed during his time in Washington, can be seen prominently in the center right of this cropped 1857 birdseye view of the area around the White House. The boardinghouse is a multiple-story white building on the corner.

This Washington City Directory lists the location of Ulrich’s boardinghouse. She remained there until her death in 1863.