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The Battle for Mexico City refers to the series of engagements from September 8 to September 15, 1847, in the general vicinity of Mexico City
Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital city of Mexico. It is the most important economic, industrial, and cultural center in the country; the most populous city with over 8,836,045 inhabitants in 2008....
 during the Mexican-American War. Included are major actions at the battles of Molino del Rey
Battle of Molino del Rey

The Battle of Molino del Rey was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Mexican-American War....
 and Chapultepec
Battle of Chapultepec

The Battle of Chapultepec was a U.S. victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War....
, culminating with the fall of Mexico City.

major objective of U.S. operations in central Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
 had been the capture of Mexico City. After capturing the port
Siege of Veracruz

The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexico seaport of Veracruz, Veracruz, during the Mexican-American War. Lasting from March 9 to March 29, 1847, it began with the first large-scale amphibious assault conducted by United States military forces, and ended with the surrender and occupation of the city....
 of Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz

The city of Veracruz is a major port city and municipalities of Mexico on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexico States of Mexico of Veracruz. The metropolitan areas of Mexico is Mexico's largest on the Gulf coast and an important east coast port....
 in March, Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott

Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful List of United States Presidential candidates of the Whig Party in 1852. Known as "Old Fuss and Feathers" and the "Grand Old Man of the Army", he served on active duty as a general longer than any other man in American history and many historians rate him the ablest America...
 was able to secure a base and move inland and defeat a large Mexican force at the Battle of Cerro Gordo
Battle of Cerro Gordo

The Battle of Cerro Gordo or Sierra Gordo in the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's US troops flank and drive Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position....
.






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The Battle for Mexico City refers to the series of engagements from September 8 to September 15, 1847, in the general vicinity of Mexico City
Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital city of Mexico. It is the most important economic, industrial, and cultural center in the country; the most populous city with over 8,836,045 inhabitants in 2008....
 during the Mexican-American War. Included are major actions at the battles of Molino del Rey
Battle of Molino del Rey

The Battle of Molino del Rey was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Mexican-American War....
 and Chapultepec
Battle of Chapultepec

The Battle of Chapultepec was a U.S. victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War....
, culminating with the fall of Mexico City.

Background

The major objective of U.S. operations in central Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
 had been the capture of Mexico City. After capturing the port
Siege of Veracruz

The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexico seaport of Veracruz, Veracruz, during the Mexican-American War. Lasting from March 9 to March 29, 1847, it began with the first large-scale amphibious assault conducted by United States military forces, and ended with the surrender and occupation of the city....
 of Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz

The city of Veracruz is a major port city and municipalities of Mexico on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexico States of Mexico of Veracruz. The metropolitan areas of Mexico is Mexico's largest on the Gulf coast and an important east coast port....
 in March, Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott

Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful List of United States Presidential candidates of the Whig Party in 1852. Known as "Old Fuss and Feathers" and the "Grand Old Man of the Army", he served on active duty as a general longer than any other man in American history and many historians rate him the ablest America...
 was able to secure a base and move inland and defeat a large Mexican force at the Battle of Cerro Gordo
Battle of Cerro Gordo

The Battle of Cerro Gordo or Sierra Gordo in the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's US troops flank and drive Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position....
. After routing the Mexicans at the Battle of Churubusco
Battle of Churubusco

The Battles of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras during the Mexican-American War. The defeat of the Mexican army at Churubusco left the United States Army only 5 miles away from Mexico City....
, Scott's army was only 5 miles (8 km) away from its objective of Mexico City.

Although defeated at Cerro Gordo and Churubusco
Battle of Churubusco

The Battles of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras during the Mexican-American War. The defeat of the Mexican army at Churubusco left the United States Army only 5 miles away from Mexico City....
, Santa Anna's
Antonio López de Santa Anna

Antonio de Padua Mar?a Severino L?pez de Santa Anna y P?rez de Lebr?n , often known as Santa Anna or L?pez de Santa Anna, was a Mexico political leader who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government, first fighting against the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, and then supporting it, rising to the...
 army remained intact and outnumbered Scott.

Order of battle


United States

Army of Invasion Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott

Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful List of United States Presidential candidates of the Whig Party in 1852. Known as "Old Fuss and Feathers" and the "Grand Old Man of the Army", he served on active duty as a general longer than any other man in American history and many historians rate him the ablest America...
  • 1st Division William J. Worth
    William J. Worth

    William Jenkins Worth was a United States general during the Mexican-American War....
    • Brigade – Col. John Garland
      John Garland (general)

      John Garland was a career United States soldier in the Regular Army who had a long and distinguished career spanning fifty years of service during the War of 1812, Seminole Wars, Mexican-American War, Utah War and the early part of the American Civil War....
      • 2nd Artillery – Cpt. Horace Brooks
      • 3rd Artillery – Maj. Robert C. Buchanan
        Robert C. Buchanan

        Robert Christie Buchanan was an United States of America military officer who served in the Mexican-American War and then was a General officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War....
      • 4th Infantry – Maj. Francis Lee
        Francis Lee

        Francis Henry Lee is a former professional Football , who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including 27 appearances for the England national football team....
      • Duncan's Battery – Col. James H. Duncan
        James H. Duncan

        James Henry Duncan was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts.Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, he attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and graduated from Harvard University in 1812....
    • Brigade – Newman S. Clarke
      Newman S. Clarke

      Newman S. Clarke was a career military officer in the United States army who served with distinction during the Mexican-American War.Clarke was born in Connecticut and served in the United States Army during the War of 1812....
      • 5th Infantry – Lt. John Sedgwick
        John Sedgwick

        John Sedgwick was a teacher, a career military officer, and a Union Army general in the American Civil War. His death at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House is often considered a well known tale of irony....
      • 6th Infantry –
      • 8th Infantry –
  • 2nd Division David E. Twiggs
    David E. Twiggs

    David Emanuel Twiggs was a United States soldier during the War of 1812 and Mexican-American War and a general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War....
    • Brigade – Bennett Riley
      • 4th Artillery –
      • 2nd Infantry –
      • 7th Infantry –
    • Brigade – Persifor F. Smith
      • 1st Artillery –
      • 3rd Infantry –
      • Taylor's Battery –
  • 3rd Division Gideon Pillow
    • Brigade – Franklin Pierce
      Franklin Pierce

      Franklin Pierce was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857, an Politics of the United States and lawyer....
      • 9th Infantry – Col. Trueman B. Ransom
      • 12th Infantry –
      • 15th Infantry –
      • Magruder's Battery –
    • Brigade – George Cadwalader
      George Cadwalader

      George Cadwalader was a general in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War and American Civil War....
      • 11th Infantry – Col. William Trousdale
        William Trousdale

        William Trousdale was List of Governors of Tennessee from 1849 to 1851.Trousdale was a protege of Andrew Jackson, having served under him in the Creek War and acquiring the nickname, "The War Horse of Sumner County, Tennessee" in that conflict....
      • 14th Infantry –
      • Voltigeurs – Col. Timothy Patrick Andrews; Lt. Col. Joseph E. Johnston
        Joseph E. Johnston

        Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career United States Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War....
  • 4th Division John A. Quitman
    John A. Quitman

    John Anthony Quitman was an United States politician and soldier. He served as List of Governors of Mississippi from 1835 to 1836 as a United States Whig party and again from 1850 to 1851 as a Democratic Party ....
    • Brigade – James Shields
      James Shields

      James Shields was an United States politician and United States Army officer who was born in Altmore, County Tyrone, Ireland. Shields, a United States Democratic Party, is the only person in History of the United States to serve as a United States Senate for three different U.S....
      • New York Regiment – Col. W.B. Burnett
      • South Carolina Regiment –
      • Mariners –
      • Steptoe's Battery –
    • Marines – Samuel E. Watson
      Samuel E. Watson

      Samuel E. Watson was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps who led troops during the Mexican-American War.Watson held the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel in the Marines during the Mexican War....
      • 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment –
    • Cavalry Brigade – William Harney
      • 1st Dragoons –
      • 2nd Dragoons –
      • 3rd Dragoons –


Mexico

7 August 1847—20,210 men and 104 Guns acs

Mexican Army General Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna

Antonio de Padua Mar?a Severino L?pez de Santa Anna y P?rez de Lebr?n , often known as Santa Anna or L?pez de Santa Anna, was a Mexico political leader who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government, first fighting against the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, and then supporting it, rising to the...


Chief of Artillery: General Martin Carrera
Chief of Engineers: General Ignacio Mora y Villamil

  • Army of the East General Manuel Lombardini
    Manuel Lombardini

    Manuel Mar?a Lombardini was a Mexican general and politician, a supporter of Antonio L?pez de Santa Anna. From February 8, 1853 to April 20, 1853 he was acting president of Mexico....
    • 1st Brigade General Andres Terres (1st Activos, Lakes and 2nd Light Battalions)
    • 2nd Brigade General Mariano Martinez (Morelia Activos, Invalids Corps)
    • 3rd Brigade General Joaquin Rangel (Mixto Sta Anna, Morelia National Guards)
    • 4th Brigade General Francisco Perez (1st, 3rd & 4th Light, 11th Infantry)
    • 5th Brigade General Antonio Leon (Oajaca & Queretaro Activos, 10th Infantry, Queretaro & Mina National Guards)
    • 6th Brigade General Pedro María de Anaya
      Pedro María de Anaya

      Pedro Bernardino Mar?a de Anaya was twice interim President of Mexico of Mexico in 1847 to 1848. He played an important role during the Mexican-American War....
       (Independencia, Bravos, Victoria & Hidalgo National Guards)
    • 7th Brigade Col. Anastasio Zerecero (Acapulco, parts Tlapa & Libertad pickets)


  • Army of the North General Gabriel Valencia
    Gabriel Valencia

    Gabriel Valencia was a Mexican soldier in the early years of the Republic. From December 30, 1845 to January 2, 1846 he served as interim president of Mexico....
      3,000 Infantry, 1,000 Cavalry & 500 Artillery
    • Vanguard Brigade General Francisco Mejia (Fijo de Mexico, Potosi Activos, 7th Cavalry)
    • Centre Brigade General Anastasio Parrodi (10th and 11th Infantry, Tampico Coast Guards, Queretaro, Celaya and Guanajuato Activos, Celaya Auxiliary)
    • Reserve Brigade General Mariano Salas (Engineers, Mixto Santa Anna, Aguascalientes Activos, 2nd, 3rd & 8th Cavalry, Guanajuato Cavalry)


  • Army of the South General Juan Álvarez
    Juan Álvarez

    Juan N. ?lvarez Hurtado was a general and ad interim president of Mexico for a few months in 1855. He fought in all the major wars of Mexico, from the Mexican War of Independence through the Pastry War, the Mexican-American War, and the War of the Reform to the war against the French intervention in Mexico....
     2,762 Cavalry
    • Cavalry Division


Alcaraz, Ramon "Apuntes para la historia de la guerra entre Mexico...†

Battles


Molino del Rey


On September 8, the fight for Mexico City began. Scott believed that a cannon foundry was located at the Molino del Rey, the King's Mill, located just over 2 miles (3 km) outside the city. Scott sent the 1st Division under William J. Worth
William J. Worth

William Jenkins Worth was a United States general during the Mexican-American War....
 to seize and destroy the foundry. Worth wished to include Chapultepec Castle in his attack, and when Scott refused, a bitter rivalry began between Scott and Worth. In the ensuing battle, both sides suffered heavy casualties, and Worth drove the Mexicans from the mill, separating them from the forces at Chapultepec. The battle produced no significant military gains for the U.S.

Chapultepec

Storming of Chapultepec
The main assault on the city came a few days later on September 12. Mexico City was guarded in part by Chapultepec Castle, which was being used as a military academy. Scott preceded infantry assault with an all day artillery
Artillery

Artillery is a military Combat Arms which employs any apparatus, machine, an assortment of tools or instruments, a system or systems used as weapons for the discharge of large projectiles in combat as a major contribution of fire power within the overall military capability of an armed force....
 barrage on September 12. The next day, September 13, the 4th Division, under John A. Quitman
John A. Quitman

John Anthony Quitman was an United States politician and soldier. He served as List of Governors of Mississippi from 1835 to 1836 as a United States Whig party and again from 1850 to 1851 as a Democratic Party ....
, spearheaded the attack against Chapultepec and carried the castle. Future Confederate
Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America formed as the government set up from 1861 to 1865 by eleven Southern United States U.S. state of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S....
 generals George E. Pickett and James Longstreet
James Longstreet

James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate States Army General officers of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E....
 participated in the attack. Serving in the Mexican defense were the cadets later immortalized as Los Niños Héroes
Niños Héroes

Los Ni?os H?roes were six teenage military cadets who died defending Mexico at Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle from invading United States forces in the 13 September 1847 Battle of Chapultepec....
 (the "Boy Heroes"). The Mexican forces fell back from Chapultepec and retreated within the city.

Attacks on the San Cosme and Belén Gates

Quitman's Division made its way down the Belén Causeway towards the Belén Gate, defended by General Terres & Colonel Garay with 3 guns, while Worth's Division further to the north made its way up La Verónica Causeway towards the San Cosme Gate, defended by General Rangel's Infantry Brigade (Granaderos Battalion, 1st Light, part 3d Light (Lt.Col. Echeagaray))with 3 guns & howitzer
Howitzer

A howitzer is a type of artillery piece that is characterized by a relatively short Barrel and the use of comparatively small explosive charges to propel projectiles at trajectories with a steep angle of descent....
s. Quitman was merely supposed to make a feint towards the city, but he pushed forward his whole division and broke through the defenses. Santa Anna arrived at the Belén Gate in a fury and relieved the front commander. Worth's Division in the meantime had a slow start against the Mexicans after beating off a Mexican cavalry attack. When he reached San Cosme, he found its defenses ill prepared, but the Mexicans defending it put up a good fight before falling back. Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant, born Hiram Ulysses Grant , was an United States general and the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States ....
 found his way into the action along the causeway on Worth's front and helped in hoisting a cannon into the belltower of a nearby church. From this spot Grant fired into the defenders below. When the fighting subsided on all fronts, both gates had fallen and the Mexicans had withdrawn into the city. Other gates defended were: San Antonio by General M. Martinez with 10 guns; Nino Perdido by the National Guards and 2 guns; and San Lazaro, Guadeloupe and Villejo, which were defended by small infantry detachments.

Fall of Mexico City

The Junta (Gens. Alcorta, Carrera, Lombardini & Fran. Perez) had withdrawn their army : 14 Guns, 4,000 Cavalry (Quijano & Andrade Brigades), and 5,000 Infantry ( Gov. Olaguibel :Toluca National Grds, Cmdte. Arroyo : Lagos, Iturbide, & Tula Battalions, Gen. Martinez : various pickets, & Gen. Perez : 11th Infantry & remnants of Light Regts.)from the city during the night, and the U.S. forces, expecting another assault, found the city undefended. Worth and Quitman advanced cautiously. Quitman sent Lieutenant Pierre Beauregard to arrange the surrender of the ciudadela. Beauregard and Mansfield Lovell
Mansfield Lovell

Mansfield Lovell was a History of Confederate States Army Generals#major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War....
 were met by a Mexican officer who asked for a receipt for the captured ciudadela.( 15 Guns) Beauregard exclaimed that "we give receipts at the point of their swords". Scott gave the honor of formally entering the city to Quitman's Division. The conquering army was less than impressing, the troops wore ragged and bloodstained uniforms and Quitman only had on one shoe when he marched into the city. Worth personally took down the flag flying over the National Palace, and a U.S. Marine hoisted the U.S. flag
Flag of the United States

The flag of the United States consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the Flag terminology bearing fifty small, white, Star s arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows of five stars....
 in its place. Quitman marched into the Zócalo
Plaza de la Constitución

La Plaza de la Constituci?n, informally called El Z?calo, is the main square in Mexico City. Located in the historic center of Mexico City, it is one of the List of city squares by size....
 plaza in the center of the city in front of the National Palace where the formal surrender took place. As Worth's division entered the city the leading unit was John Garland's
John Garland (general)

John Garland was a career United States soldier in the Regular Army who had a long and distinguished career spanning fifty years of service during the War of 1812, Seminole Wars, Mexican-American War, Utah War and the early part of the American Civil War....
 brigade.

Stragglers from the Mexican army left in the city after Santa Anna's withdrawal climbed to the roofs of houses and began shooting at the American soldiers. General Garland was hit in the chest with the first shot and fell severely wounded. Before he evacuated, Santa Anna released 30,000 prisoners into the streets of the city, and these rooftop shots provoked the prisoners into similar acts. Worth did manage to get the sniping under control. William S. Harney
William S. Harney

William Selby Harney was a cavalry officer in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War and the Indian Wars....
's dragoons escorted General Scott into the city wearing his immaculate dress uniform and was greeted by patriotic music. Scott appointed the politically savvy Quitman as military governor, becoming the only American to ever rule from the National Palace.

Casualties


September 8

  • U.S. 116 killed, 665 wounded, 18 missing, 789 total
  • Mexican 2,700 total


September 12–15

  • U.S. 130 killed, 703 wounded, 29 missing, 862 total
  • Mexican 1,800 killed and wounded, 823 captured, 2,623 total


Totals

  • U.S. 1,651
  • Mexican 5,323


See also

  • Battles of the Mexican-American War
    Battles of the Mexican-American War

    The battles of the Mexican-American War include all major engagements and most reported skirmishes, including the Battle of Palo Alto, and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, which took place prior to the official start of hostilities....
  • Marines' hymn
    Marines' hymn

    The "Marines' Hymn" is the official hymn of the United States Marine Corps. It is the oldest official song in the Military of the United States....
  • Battle of Molino del Rey
    Battle of Molino del Rey

    The Battle of Molino del Rey was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Mexican-American War....


External links

  • by Jonathan Webb