September 814 1847 Strategic Context Despite being settled in Texas by Mexico to create a buffer against Apache Comanche and Navajo raids the growing AngloAmerican population revolts in 1836 to create an independent Texas republic sending Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna into ID: 530544
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Slide1
Mexico City September 8-14, 1847
Strategic Context
Despite being settled in Texas by Mexico to create a buffer against Apache, Comanche, and Navajo raids, the growing Anglo-American population revolts in 1836 to create an independent Texas republic, sending Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna into exile. Mexico refuses to recognize this republic and disputes its vast territorial claims to the Rio Grande River.. In 1845, Texas votes in favour of being annexed by the United States, greatly increasing tensions. In 1846, United States President James Polk sends an army under Zachary Taylor to invade northeastern Mexico. Taylor makes rapid progress, causing Santa Anna to return to lead the Mexican army. In March 1847, a second American army under Winfield Scott lands at Veracruz with the Mexican capital as his objective. Scott loses nearly one-third of his force in August, mostly from disease, before a short armistice comes into effect between the two sides. Scott then resumes the offensive against Santa Anna’s forces in front of Mexico City.
Stakes
+ An American victory would practically end the war and confirm American land gains of the present southwestern states.+ A Mexican victory would lift the sagging morale of its army and allow disease to take a further toll on Scott’s army, jeopardizing the entire campaign.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
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Mexico City, 1847Strength
United States Army
Well
Mexican Army
Demoralized
Winfield Scott
16,000
7,200
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
By Jonathan Webb, 2009Slide3
Southern North America c. 1846Slide4
US Army
(Scott)
The battlefield consists of the mainly open but low-lying ground southwest of Mexico City, the American objective. In the west, the ground is slightly higher and features a number of canalizing fortifications, such as the town of Tacubaya, the stone buildings of Molino del Rey and Casa Mata, and the raised castle of Chapultepec.. Between these fortifications and Mexico City, the ground is marshy and flooded in some parts, with movement restricted to the causeways running north-south and east-west. Small forts or
garitas
are situated at the entrances to Mexico City to control access. Key terrain on this battlefield consists of the causeways themselves and Chapultepec, which control mobility on the battlefield.
Molino del Rey
Chapultepec
Mexico City
Tacubaya
Mexican Army
(Santa Anna)
0
1 km
2 km
Casa Mata
Piedad Causeway
Citadel
Nino Perdido Causeway
Belen Causeway
San Cosme Causeway
La Veronica CausewaySlide5
US Army
(Scott)
Scott deploys a greater portion of his army under Worth for an assault on Molino del Rey because he hears the foundry there is melting down church bells to create cannons. Whether this rumour is intended by Santa Anna to lure Scott into attacking the fortress and thus incurring heavy casualties is unclear. Scott nonetheless deploys another portion of his army under Twigg to threaten the southern sector of Mexico City while he focuses on Molino del Rey’s capture. Santa Anna deploys his army to meet any threat on Mexico City and the fortresses of Molino del Rey and Chapultepec but does not appoint any significant subordinate commander for any sector; the individual regiments are therefore on their own for the most part. Santa Anna does appoint Alvarex to lead a large cavalry force against the flank of the Americans ready to besiege Molino del Rey.
Worth quietly sends one of three assault columns forward; it is met with a hail of fire just as it reaches the Mexican positions but succeeds in spooking the Mexicans guarding Molino del Rey. Santa Anna counterattacks with forces from Chapultepec after realizing how few the Americans are in number. Bitter fighting ensues in and around Molino del Rey
.
Twigg
Worth
Alvarez
Scott
Heavy artillery on both sides open fire as Worth sends his remaining assault columns in support. They surge past the first battered column, silence the Mexican guns, and engage in vicious no-quarter fighting along the front. The accurate fire from American artillery tip the balance in favour of the Americans as the assaulters carry the advance forward and occupy Molino del Rey
.
Some Mexican troops desert at this time but the majority withdraw in good order to Chapultepec.
As Worth commits his force to take the remaining fortress of Casa Mata, Alvarez moves to hit the American assault line’s flank with his cavalry force. A tiny flank guard of 270 American cavalry under Sumner bravely charge the 4,000 cavalry to guard the flank. Sumner catches them at a narrow river crossing, but are still vastly outnumbered and fall back until Worth redirects his guns to break up the Mexican attack. Worth’s two assault columns then capture Casa Mata with heavy losses while the third guards Molino del Rey against any Mexican counterattack.
The Mexican withdrawal is not a rout. Santa Anna personally rides to Chapultepec in order to rally the retreating troops and use them in a spirited counterattack to retake Molino del Rey. The outcome of this engagement hangs in the balance, decided only when the Mexicans withdraw for good under the firepower of the American artillery.
US Army
(Winfield Scott)
7,200
Mexican Army
(Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna)
16,000
Landmarks
0
1 km
2 km
Symbol guide
Mexican Army
(Santa Anna)
Molino del Rey
Chapultepec
Mexico City
Tacubaya
Casa Mata
Piedad Causeway
Citadel
Nino Perdido Causeway
Belen Causeway
San Cosme Causeway
La Veronica Causeway
US Army Mexican Army
Infantry Infantry
Artillery Artillery
Headquarters Headquarters
CavalrySlide6
US Army
(Scott)
Subordinates
The Americans receive a blow to their morale when they realize that Molino del Rey was never being used as a foundry to produce cannons. Meanwhile, both sides take a few days to rest and reorganize their forces. Scott divides his forces into four divisions: two demonstrate south of Mexico City while the other two threaten Chapultepec. Santa Anna fears an attack on Mexico City itself and places minimal forces in Chapultepec, quelling protests from his subordinates by promising necessary reserve forces will be sent in case of attack. During the night, Scott marches the 3
rd
Division west of Chapultepec to take part in the attack.
Scott lays down a lengthy bombardment on Chapultepec which achieves the desired effect as Mexican troops begin to desert. He then sends 3
rd
and 4
th
Divisions against the south and east sides of the fortress while 1
st
Division edges forward to guard against any major counterattacks. Santa Anna sends reinforcements too late; they pin down 4
th
Division until 3
rd
Division outflanks them and gains firm control over Chapultepec. Scott’s subordinates do not stop there however, Worth and Quitman pursue the retreating Mexicans along the causeways.
Santa Anna begins to pull units back to defend Mexico City while Worth and Quitman continue to pressure the retreating Mexican units. Worth has a little more difficulty reaching the
garitas
that guard the entrances to the city as he must deal with a limited cavalry attack first. Both divisions are halted once they reach the
garitas
anyways. The Americans settle down to bombard the
garitas
and the Mexicans return fire until both sides run low on ammunition, deadlocking the situation.
Worth is the commander who single-handedly breaks the deadlock. He detaches a special sapper unit under Ulysses S. Grant and pins the Mexican unit in his sector with a limited attack. Grant knocks down a few city walls in order to mount howitzers on rooftops in the Mexican rear. The unexpected fire from these powerful guns quickly force the Mexicans to flee deep into the city. Although Santa Anna’s force still outnumbers the American force as it prepares to lay siege to Mexico City, Santa Anna evacuates his further dispirited army.
US Army
(Winfield Scott)
7,200
Mexican Army
(Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna)
16,000
0
1 km
2 km
Symbol guide
Mexican Army
(Santa Anna)
Landmarks
Molino del Rey
Chapultepec
Mexico City
Tacubaya
Casa Mata
Piedad Causeway
Citadel
Nino Perdido Causeway
Belen Causeway
San Cosme Causeway
La Veronica Causeway
US Army Mexican Army
Infantry Infantry
Artillery Artillery
Headquarters Headquarters
Cavalry
1
st
Division – Worth
2
nd
Division – Twiggs
3
rd
Division – Pillow
4
th
Division – QuitmanSlide7
Mexico City, 1847Casualties & Aftermath
United States Army:
Mexican Army:
1,500or21%
4,500or28%
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
The war did not end with the capture of Mexico City; the same day the city fell, Santa Anna laid siege to the American supply garrison of Puebla. The Mexicans were driven off a month later but this, along with the 30,000 convicts released before Mexico City’s evacuation greatly complicated the military and political situation. Negotiations finally succeeded in February 1848 in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, recognizing Texas’ accession and ceding the present southwestern states to the United States.
Slide8
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2009