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The Battle of Buena Vista (23 February 1847), also known as the Battle of Angostura, saw the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 Army
United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
 use artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican
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....
 army in the Mexican-American War. Buena Vista, a village of the state of Coahuila
Coahuila

Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of Mexico's 31 component States of Mexico. It is located in the north of the country.To the north, Coahuila accounts for a stretch of the U.S....
, is seven miles (12 km) south of Saltillo
Saltillo

Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexico mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the Saltillo . The city is located at 400km south of the U.S....
, in northern Mexico.

r the Battle of Monterrey
Battle of Monterrey

In the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War, General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexico Army of the North was defeated by U.S. forces under the command of Zachary Taylor....
 in September 1846, most of Major General
Major General

Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A Major General is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant General and senior to the ranks of Brigadier and Brigadier General....
 Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor was an Military of the United States and the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States.Known as "Old Rough and Ready", Taylor had a 40-year military career in the United States Army, serving in the War of 1812, Black Hawk War, and Seminole Wars before achieving fame leading U.S....
's Army of Occupation
Army of Occupation

The Army of Occupation was the name of the United States Army commanded by Zachary Taylor during the Mexican-American War....
 was sent to the gulf coast
Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba....
 to become the bulk of 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...
's expedition against 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....
.






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The Battle of Buena Vista (23 February 1847), also known as the Battle of Angostura, saw the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 Army
United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
 use artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican
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....
 army in the Mexican-American War. Buena Vista, a village of the state of Coahuila
Coahuila

Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of Mexico's 31 component States of Mexico. It is located in the north of the country.To the north, Coahuila accounts for a stretch of the U.S....
, is seven miles (12 km) south of Saltillo
Saltillo

Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexico mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the Saltillo . The city is located at 400km south of the U.S....
, in northern Mexico.

Background

After the Battle of Monterrey
Battle of Monterrey

In the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War, General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexico Army of the North was defeated by U.S. forces under the command of Zachary Taylor....
 in September 1846, most of Major General
Major General

Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A Major General is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant General and senior to the ranks of Brigadier and Brigadier General....
 Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor was an Military of the United States and the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States.Known as "Old Rough and Ready", Taylor had a 40-year military career in the United States Army, serving in the War of 1812, Black Hawk War, and Seminole Wars before achieving fame leading U.S....
's Army of Occupation
Army of Occupation

The Army of Occupation was the name of the United States Army commanded by Zachary Taylor during the Mexican-American War....
 was sent to the gulf coast
Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba....
 to become the bulk of 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...
's expedition against 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....
. Taylor felt that President James K. Polk
James K. Polk

James Knox Polk was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1845 to March 4, 1849. He was 49 years old at the time of his inauguration, making him the youngest President up to that time....
 was attempting to deprive him of any further military success which would aid in his campaign for the presidency
Presidency

The word presidency is often used to describe the Administration or the Executive , the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation....
. Taylor decided to ignore orders to stay in Monterrey
Monterrey

Monterrey is the capital city of the northeastern Mexico state of Nuevo Le?n and a Monterrey of the same name. Also known as "Sultana del Norte" , Monterrey is an important industrial and business center....
; he marched deeper into Mexico and seized Saltillo
Saltillo

Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexico mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the Saltillo . The city is located at 400km south of the U.S....
. Taylor also diverted the Center Division, under John E. Wool
John E. Wool

John Ellis Wool was an officer in the United States Army during three consecutive U.S. wars: the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the oldest Union general of the American Civil War....
, from its expedition in Chihuahua to join him in Saltillo. With Wool's division, the U.S. force totaled about 4,500 soldiers, most of them volunteer units fighting for the first time.

In the summer of 1846, 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...
 returned from exile and quickly seized power. When Monterrey had fallen, Santa Anna raised an army in San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí

The Mexico state of San Luis Potos? has an area of .It is in the north-central part of the Mexican republic, It borders Coahuila to the north, Nuevo Leon to the north-east, Tamaulipas to the east, Veracruz to the east, Hidalgo, Queretaro, and Guanajuato to the south,and Zacatecas to the north-west....
 numbering almost 25,000. When a letter from General Scott to Taylor telling of the transfer of the bulk of Taylor's army to the Gulf fell into Mexican hands, Santa Anna quickly marched north to try to knock Taylor out of Mexico while U.S. forces were being withdrawn.

Taylor learned that Santa Anna was marching north and so he moved about nineteen miles south of Saltillo to Agua Nueva. Taylor sent out Major Ben McCulloch, of the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division

The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a police with statewide jurisdiction based in Austin, Texas, the capital of Texas, in the United States....
, to scout out the Mexican Army. McCulloch found Santa Anna 60 miles (100 km) to the south, informing Taylor on February 21. Taylor withdrew to a mountain pass at Buena Vista
Buena Vista

Buena Vista, meaning "pleasant view" in Spanish, may refer to:*Buena Vista , a Walt Disney trademark*Buena Vista Social Club , a Cuban music club plus an album and film inspired by the club...
 twelve miles north of Agua Nueva. General Wool
John E. Wool

John Ellis Wool was an officer in the United States Army during three consecutive U.S. wars: the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the oldest Union general of the American Civil War....
 was charged with laying out the defenses. Later that day Santa Anna arrived at Agua Nueva with 12,000 men, his force diminished because of desertion and exhaustion during the long trek from San Luis Potosí. Santa Anna perceived the U.S. withdrawal to Buena Vista as a retreat and demanded a surrender. Taylor's aide, William Wallace Smith Bliss, eloquently replied that the U.S forces declined the surrender. Taylor, worried about the safety of his supplies, rode to Saltillo that night to ensure the protection of his rear.

Battle

Ztaylor
On the morning of February 23, General Pedro de Ampudia
Pedro de Ampudia

Pedro de Ampudia was born in Cuba and served Mexico as an army officer for most of his life.Ampudia began his career in the Spain army, and emigrated to Mexico following the Mexican War of Independence....
 attacked the U.S. left flank
Flanking maneuver

In military tactics, a flanking Maneuver warfare, also called a wiktionary:flank attack, is an attack on the sides of an opposing force....
 guarded by the 2nd Indiana
Indiana

The State of Indiana was the 19th U.S. state admitted into the union. It is located in the Midwestern United States of the United States of America....
 from Joseph Lane
Joseph Lane

Joseph Lane was an United States general during the Mexican-American War and a United States Senate from Oregon....
's Indiana Brigade. The volunteers were supported by a battery of artillery but were steadily driven back along with a second line of Illinois
Illinois

The State of Illinois is a U.S. state of the United States, the 21st to be admitted to the United States. Illinois is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern United States state and the fifth most populous state in the nation....
 volunteers. Wool sent a messenger to General Lane to hold the line at all costs. The Illinois volunteers managed to conduct a fighting withdrawal under the pressure of the Mexican attack.

General Taylor returned to the field and made his presence known to his men; he was escorted by the Mississippi
Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
 Rifles under Colonel Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Finis Davis was an United States politician who served as President of the Confederate States of America for its entire history, 1861 to 1865, during the American Civil War....
. The Mississippians hit the flank of Ampudia's attacking column and Davis was wounded in the foot. Meanwhile Wool rallied the broken regiments using the walls of the hacienda at Buena Vista
Buena Vista

Buena Vista, meaning "pleasant view" in Spanish, may refer to:*Buena Vista , a Walt Disney trademark*Buena Vista Social Club , a Cuban music club plus an album and film inspired by the club...
 as a defensive position supported by a battery under Thomas W. Sherman
Thomas W. Sherman

Thomas West Sherman was a United States Army officer with service during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.Sherman, known to his friends as "Tim," was born in Newport, Rhode Island, and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1836....
 and two regiments of dragoons. The 3rd Indiana was brought to the support of Davis, and the two regiments formed an inverted V. The Mexicans attacked this new line. The Hoosier
Hoosier

Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. State of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., Indianan or Indianian, natives of Indiana prefer to avoid these demonyms....
s and Mississippians held their fire so long that the confused attackers paused briefly and were then hit by a wave of gunfire. About 2,000 Mexicans were pinned down. A young Mexican lieutenant attempted to trick the U.S. into a cease fire by saying that Santa Anna wished to meet with the U.S. commander. Taylor and Wool saw through the ploy, but it did buy the trapped Mexicans enough time to escape.

Santa Anna renewed an attack on the main U.S. position led by General Francisco Pérez
Francisco Pérez

Francisco P?rez Sanchez is a Spain professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Caisse d'Epargne.P?rez is a strong climber, although his climbing prowess may have been artificially enhanced....
 with artillery support. An artillery battery under Braxton Bragg
Braxton Bragg

Braxton Bragg was a career United States Army officer, and then a General officer in the Confederate States Army, a principal commander in the Western Theater of the American Civil War of the American Civil War....
 unlimbered with orders to maintain his position at all costs. Taylor rode over to Captain Bragg, and after a brief conversation in which Bragg replied he was using single shot, Taylor ordered "double-shot your guns and give them hell, Bragg". Later this order, although misquoted as "give them a little more grape
Grapeshot

Grapeshot is a type of Anti-personnel weapon ammunition used in cannons. Instead of solid shot, a mass of loosely packed metal slugs is loaded into a canvas bag....
, Captain Bragg", would be used as a campaign slogan which carried Taylor into the White House
White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian architecture and has been the executive residence of every U.S....
. Pérez's attack was repulsed as heavy rain fell over the field. During the night Santa Anna declared victory and withdrew to Agua Nueva, after receiving a letter from Mexico City declaring that Santa Anna was needed to quell a political coup.

Results

The battle was the last major battle in northern Mexico. It was Taylor's greatest battle of the war and also his last; he returned to the U.S. to pursue his political career. His success at Buena Vista and his legendary command to Captain Bragg helped him win election as President of the United States
President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
 in 1848. Santa Anna suffered great losses and withdrew to the south when on the verge of a definitive victory. His withdrawal was spurred on by political dissent in Mexico City. He was later forced to defend Mexico City
Battle for Mexico City

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 during the Mexican-American War....
 against an army under 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...
.

Buena Vista County, Iowa
Buena Vista County, Iowa

Buena Vista County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named for the final victory field of General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War....
, in 1859, was named in honor of the battle, as was Buena Vista Township
Buena Vista Charter Township, Michigan

Buena Vista Charter Township is a charter township of Saginaw County, Michigan in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the United States Census, 2000, the township population was 10,318....
, in Michigan
Michigan

Michigan is a Midwestern United States U.S. state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Anishinaabe language term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
's Saginaw County, as was the city of Buena Vista, Virginia
Buena Vista, Virginia

Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,349 at the United States Census 2000....
, and Buena Vista, Alabama, in northern Monroe County.

Among notable deaths at the battle is Henry Clay, Jr.
Henry Clay, Jr.

Henry Clay, Jr. was an United States soldier and statesman from Kentucky. He was the second son of Senator and Congressman Henry Clay and Lucretia Hart, brother of James Brown Clay and John Morrison Clay, and was born on his family's estate of Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate, in Lexington, Kentucky....
, second son of American statesman Henry Clay
Henry Clay

Henry Clay, Sr. was a nineteenth-century United States statesman and orator who represented Kentucky in both the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate....
. His death was the subject of prints by Currier & Ives, and Neale & Pate. Archibald Yell
Archibald Yell

Archibald Yell was a member of the United States House of Representatives, List of Governors of Arkansas of the State of Arkansas, and a Brigadier general in the United States Army serving in the Mexican-American War....
 was also killed while comanding the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry.

Orders of Battles:

A. Mexican Army Undated Returns acs

18,530-Mexican Army of the North Gen. Div. A. Lopez de Santa Anna
  • 39- Staff-Acting Gen. Manuel Micheltorena
  • 10- Engrs.-Gen. Ignacio de Mora y Villamil
  • 61- Medical Corps- Insp. Pedro Vander Linden
  • 584- Artillery-Gen. Antonio Corona (Total 16 Guns & 1 Howitzer)
  • Commissary and Baggage Train-P. Rangel
  • 324- Regiment of Engrs.-Col. Santiago Blanco
  • 466- Regiment of Hussars-Lt. Col. Manuel Andrade
  • Infantry: Gen.Br. Manuel M. Lombardini ( 28 Infantry Battalions )
  • Light Brigade-Gen.Br. Pedro Ampudia (1st,2d,3d & 4th Light(Ligero) Regiments)
  • 4,839- 2d Vanguard Division-Gen.Br. Francisco Pacheco (8 Bns and 4-8 lb Guns)
  • 1st Brigade-Gen. J. Garcia-Conde (2d Light, San Luis Potosi & Morelia Bns)
  • 2d Brigade-Gen. Fransco Perez (Celaya & Leon Activos Bns,1st & 2d Guanajuato Aux Bns
  • 4,300-1st Centre Division-Gen.Br. Manuel Maria Lombardini (and 4-12 lb Guns)
  • 3d Brigade-Gen. Francisco Mejia } 1st,3d,4th,5th,10th and 11th Line(Linea) Regts)
  • 5th Brigade-Gen. Rafael Vasquez? } " )
  • 3,197-3d RearGuard Division-Acting Gen. J. Maria Ortega (8 Bns and 3 Guns)
  • 4th Brigade-Gen.Br. Luis Guzman } 1st & 2d Mexico,Queretaro,& Aguascalientes Activos Bns,
  • 6th Brigade-Gen. Andres Terres } " Guadalajara Aux Bn
  • Joined later:
  • 1,000- 7th Brigade-Gen. Anastasio Parrodi( 12th Line, Pueblo Activos Tampico Coast Grds & etc.) and 3 Guns (8 lbs.)


Cavalry: Gen. Julian Juvera ( 39 Cavalry Squadrons )
  • Horse Artillery
  • 1,418-1st Brigade-Gen.Jose V. Minon
  • 1st,3d,5th,7th & 8th Cavalry Regiments, Mexico
  • 1,094-2d Brigade-Gen. Julian Juvera
  • Cavalry, Tulancingo Cuirassiers, Guanajuato, San Luis
  • 808-3d Brigade-Acting Gen. Anastasio Torrejon } Michoacan & Oaxaca Cavalry Regiments
  • 390-4th Brigade-Gen. Manuel Andrade } Mounted Rifles Battalion
Detached :
  • Cavalry Brigade-Gen. Jose Urrea
  • Infantry Brigade-Gen.Br. Ciriaco Vasquez


B. United States Army

4,759 -United States Army-Mj. Gen. Z. Taylor
  • Washington Battery-Cpt.J.M. Washington
  • 1st Illinois Volunteers Regiment-Col.J.J. Hardin (D)
  • 2d Illinois Volunteers Regiment-Col.W. Bissell (plus Texas Company)
  • 2d Kentucky Volunteer Regiment- Col. W. McKee (D)
  • Arkansas Volunteer Regiment (Mounted)-Col. Yell
  • Kentucky Regiment-Col.H. Marshall
  • Indiana Brigade-Br.Gen. J. Lane
  • 2d Indiana Volunteer Regiment-Col. Bowles
  • 3d Indiana Volunteer Regiment-Col.J.H. Lane
  • 1st Mississippi Riflemen Regiment-Col. J. Davis
  • May Squadron, 2d Dragoons-Col. May
  • Steen's Squadron, 1st Dragoons-Capt Steen
Reserves:
  • Battery- Cpt.Sherman
  • Battery -Cpt. B.Bragg


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....
  • Battle of Monterrey
    Battle of Monterrey

    In the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War, General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexico Army of the North was defeated by U.S. forces under the command of Zachary Taylor....
  • List of conflicts in the United States
    List of conflicts in the United States

    List of conflicts in the United States is a timeline of events that includes Indian wars, battles, skirmishes, major Terrorism attacks, Wiktionary:massacre, and other related items that have occurred in the United States's geographical area, including overseas territories since 1776....


Sources

  • Alcaraz, Ramon, et al."apuntes para la historia de la guerra entre Mexico y los Estados Unidos" (1848)
  • Balbontin, Manuel,"La Invasion Americana 1846 a 1848..." (1890)
  • Bauer, K. Jack, "The Mexican War, 1846–1848"
  • Nevin, David; editor, "The Mexican War" (1978)
  • Roa Barcena, Jose Maria,"Recuerdos de la invasion norteamericana,1846–1848" (1947)
  • Katcher, Phillip R.,"The Mexican American War 1846–1848" (1976)