Download
1 / 22
221 likes | 434 Views
The Mexican War, 1846-1847. The War Begins. President James Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to advance his army into Texas, which was annexed into the United States in July 1845.
E N D
The War Begins President James Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to advance his army into Texas, which was annexed into the United States in July 1845. By February 1846, Taylor had an army of 4000 troops, along with some Texas Rangers stationed along the Rio Grande, as disputed territory between Texas and Mexico.
Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma May 8 and 9, 1846 In his advance, Taylor’s army was met by a larger Mexican force at Palo Alto on May 8, and at Resaca de la Palma on May 9, 1846. Both were U.S. victories with few casualties. The Mexicans suffered larger casualties, approx. 1000 killed. Both victories were due to artillery advantages and close infantry tactics.
Following both battles, and the brief siege at Ft. Texas (later named Ft. Brown), Congress declared war on Mexico, on May 13, 1846. The size of the army was increased to 15,540, and President Polk authorized the call for volunteers to 50,000. Polk wanted to seize all Mexican territories north of the Rio Grande, westward to the Pacific.
By August 1846, Taylor had a force of 15,000 men at Camargo, and began his march on Monterrey with less than half that number, due to illness and disease caused by the summer heat and heavy rains. Monterrey was defended by more than 7,000 Mexicans with new British 9 and 12 lb. guns, inflicting over 800 casualties on the Americans before the Mexican surrender on September 24, 1846.
Santa Anna’s Return President Polk allowed Santa Anna to return to Mexico from his exile in Cuba, hoping that Santa Anna could bring a peace to Mexico. Instead, Santa Anna reestablished himself as the head of the Mexican military and immediately planned to defeat the United States. Most of General Taylor’s troops were sent south to join General Scott’s invasion at Vera Cruz, leaving Taylor vulnerable in the desert.
The Battle of Buena Vista, Feb. 23, 1847 Santa Anna intercepted the American orders stating that most of Taylor’s troops were headed south, leaving the U.S. strength at Saltillo with just under 5,000 soldiers. Santa Anna marched his army of 15,000 across the northern Mexico desert to reach Taylor’s position by February 19, 1847.
Santa Anna tried to probe the American right and center without success, and shifted his main effort to the American left flank, along the eastern hills of the Sierra Madres. Braxton Bragg and Jefferson Davis, future Confederate general and Confederate president, figured prominently in defeating Santa Anna’s attack on the American left, with the use of superior artillery, under Bragg, and infantry attacks, led by Davis. Santa Anna was forced to retreat after this attack.
The significance of the battle at Buena Vista was that the Americans now had complete control over all of northern Mexico, California, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern Texas. The success allowed Zachery Taylor to return to the U.S. and run for President in 1848, which he would win. His defeat of President Polk made up for the dispute they had over Taylor’s handling of the surrender of Monterrey, in September 1846. The war now shifted to the south, to Vera Cruz, and General Winfield Scott.
Vera Cruz, March 9-27, 1847 General Winfield Scott invaded Mexico, attacking first at Vera Cruz, on March 9, 1847. Leading an army of 13,660 men, Scott was attacking a walled city that was defended by 4300 Mexican soldiers. An artillery bombardment began on March 22, including 10-inch mortars, 32-pound naval guns, and 8-inch shell guns, all aimed at destroying the city’s walls and demoralizing the enemy.
The Battle of Cerro Gordo Advancing due west, General Scott traveled on a well guarded road, commanded on both sides by Santa Anna’s artillery pieces. Robert E. Lee, one of Scott’s officers, found a safe route through the dense country to attack the Mexican left flank with heavy artillery. When the battle started on April 18, 1847, although outnumbering the Americans by 4,000 men, the Mexicans were forced to retreat, suffering over 1,000 casualties. The Americans had 64 killed, 353 wounded.
May – August 1847 For the next three months, Scott rested and refitted his army at Puebla. A large number of volunteer soldiers returned to the U.S. when their enlistments ran out, and Scott’s force was slightly more than 5,800 men.
Contreras (Aug. 19-20, 1847) Scott decided to attack Mexico City from the west, making a long flanking march south of the city, to attack at Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec.
Outflanked Again At Contreras, the Americans met heavy resistance to their front, and their attack stalled. During the night of Aug. 19/20, the Americans outflanked the Mexicans again, marching around their position to attack them from the rear, and again from the front simultaneously, defeating the Mexicans in 17 minutes. The American lost 60 killed, while the Mexican forces suffered 700 killed, 800 captured, including four generals.
Churubusco (Aug. 21, 1847) The next day Scott pursued the Mexican army to Churubusco. Santa Anna’s army fought well and put up their heaviest resistance yet, but eventually lost the battle due to a lack of ammunition. The American had 1,000 killed and wounded (155 KIA, 876 WIA), and the Mexicans suffered 4,000 killed and wounded.
Chapultepec, September 13, 1847 After resting and reorganizing for two weeks, the Americans marched northwest to Chapultepec, attacking an old cannon foundry at El Molino del Ray on September 8, and the castle of Chapultepec on September 13, overrunning the Mexicans by 9 am. The Americans suffered 800 casualties, having started the day with 8,000 troops, compared to Santa Anna’s forces, which numbered over 15,000 men.
Immediately following the capture of Chapultepec, on September 13, Scott immediately advanced his army on Mexico City, less than two miles to his front, both north and east of Chapultepec. Attacking along the only two routes available, the Americans fought their way through the city gates, the San Cosme Gate and the Belen Gate, only to begin savage house to house fighting over the next 24 hours.
Winfield Scott remained in Mexico until 1848, negotiating with the Mexican government for an end to the war, which came on February 2, 1848, with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The treaty stated that U.S. would pay Mexico $15 million dollars and pay for all claims by Americans against Mexico. Mexico would have to recognize the Rio Grande as the border with the U.S., and give up its lands in New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, and Upper California.
Santa Anna Following the war, Santa Anna spent time in exile in Jamaica, Cuba, Colombia, and the United States. He returned several times to Mexico to become president, eleven times in all. He died in Mexico City, in 1876.
