Showing results for "Mexican American War"
Mexican-American War 170th: Battle of Huamantla
After almost a month of siege, the American garrison inside the city of Puebla still held on. They continued to resist Mexican attacks, but their situation was growing dire. Help, though, was on its way. Brigadier Gen. Joseph Lane’s brigade of counter-guerrilla soldiers were marching to Puebla’s relief. But before Lane’s men could get to […]
Read more...Mexican-American War 170th: Siege of Puebla
Ever since Winfield Scott had left the city of Puebla in August, 1847, the American garrison inside the city had tangled with Mexican guerrilla fighters. The Mexican irregulars attacked the cattle pens, and took pot shots at the American soldiers in the city. It was an irritating, ad hoc war, that suddenly intensified when, in […]
Read more...Mexican-American War 170th: Fall of Mexico City
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1847, General Winfield Scott finished putting on his nicest uniform and prepared for the moment he had waited for since the previous March and his landing at Vera Cruz. Earlier that morning, a delegation of officials from Mexico City had come to Scott’s headquarters and surrendered […]
Read more...Mexican-American War 170th: Mexico City’s Gates
Chapultepec had fallen, leaving the fortress walls slick with human gore. As the Americans stopped to take stock in what they had captured, Maj. Gen. John Quitman was figuring what else he could do. Quitman, a New York born former governor of Mississippi, was a political appointee in service and wanted to make a name […]
Read more...Mexican-American War 170th: Battle of Molino del Rey
Winfield Scott’s armistice had failed. His dual victories at Contreras and Churubusco on August 19-20 brought the American army within a hand’s reach of Mexico City, but then Scott stopped. By August 24, Scott and Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna agreed on a ceasefire that kept the armies at bay while negotiators began […]
Read more...Mexican-American War 170th: Battle of Churubusco
Following his victory at Contreras/Padierna on the morning of August 20, 1847, General Winfield Scott looked to keep pressing towards Mexico City. By mid-morning, Scott had his divisions headed north towards the Churubusco River. Whereas the victory earlier that morning had been quick and decisive, the ensuing engagement at Churubusco would be a “terrific battle.”[1]
Read more...Mexican-American War 170th: Battle of Contreras (Padierna)
Thousands of years ago, the Xitle volcano exploded, spraying lava across the valley floor. That lava cooled to hard rocks with jagged edges in what came to be known as the Pedregal—translated to English as the Rocky Gardens. The Pedregal lay about 7-8 miles south of Mexico City and covered a wide swath of the […]
Read more...Mexican-American War 170th: Leaving Puebla and on to Mexico City
After a 10-week hiatus in the city of Puebla, General Winfield Scott was ready to resume his advance against Mexico City. “We had to throw away the scabbard and to advance with the naked blade in hand,” the American commander wrote later. And so, on Aug. 7, 1847, Scott’s vanguard left the city and began […]
Read more...