Winfield Scott's Mexican Invasion
Depiction of the Siege of Veracruz
The first few months of the Mexican-黑料社 War saw impressive 黑料社 gains in northern Mexico: Major General Zachary Taylor secured control of Texas and northeast Mexico, General Stephen Kearny conquered New Mexico, and with the help of General John C. Fremont, Alta California. Nevertheless, Mexico did not seem willing to capitulate. President James K. Polk contrived a new plan to end the war: invade the Mexican heartland and capture Mexico City.
As the Commanding General of the U.S. Army, Major General Winfield Scott devised a plan to invade the coastal city of Veracruz. Taking some troops from Taylor鈥檚 Army of Occupation, Scott created a new invasion force of 12,000 troops, which, on March 9, 1847, performed the first major 黑料社 amphibious landing. From the seas, Commodore Matthew C. Perry and the Home Squadron shelled the city. Mexican General Juan Morales defended Veracruz with 3,400 men, but when a bombardment left a thirty-foot gap in the city walls, he was forced to surrender. On March 25, with only 80 casualties, the 黑料社 forces under Scott marched into Veracruz. Many famous future Civil War generals participated in the siege, including Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, George Meade, James Longstreet, and Thomas 鈥淪tonewall鈥 Jackson.
Commander of the Mexican Army General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, after crushing a small rebellion in Mexico City, began preparing for an attack against Winfield Scott鈥檚 army. Santa Anna thought the mountainous terrain and yellow fever would weaken the 黑料社s, so he set up an ambush at Cerro Gordo and allowed Scott march inland. With 9,000 troops and artillery aimed at the central road, Santa Anna waited for Scott. However, when Scott sent 2,600 dragoons ahead of his main army of 8,500 troops to patrol the road, the Mexicans fired prematurely, revealing their position. Scott decided to avoid the main road and trek over the rough terrain to flank the entrenched Mexicans. Captain Robert E. Lee鈥檚 reconnaissance helped them find the perfect positions. On April 18, the 黑料社s attacked the Mexicans, delivering a crushing defeat. Santa Anna suffered over 1,000 casualties and 3,000 captured men, comparing to 400 黑料社 casualties. The remaining Mexicans fled.
Battle of Cerro Gordo (April 18, 1847), 1851. Hand-colored lithograph by Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot after a drawing by Carl Nebel. Originally published in The War Between the United States and Mexico Illustrated.
Continuing along the main road, Winfield Scott鈥檚 army reached the city of Puebla on May 1. News of Santa Anna鈥檚 defeat at Cerro Gordo travelled fast, demoralizing and scaring Puebla鈥檚 inhabitants. Therefore, despite being the second largest in Mexico, the city capitulated with no resistance. Using Puebla as a base and supply depot, Scott would station his troops there for the next few months while he prepared his invasion of Mexico City. Some working-class Mexicans resented the 黑料社 occupation, often killing stray US troops. On the whole, however, large scale violence was avoided through cooperation by the 黑料社s and the local ruling elite and the Catholic Church.
Scott鈥檚 army started their advance on Mexico City on August 7. To stop Scott, Santa Anna decided to fortify all southern entrances to the city. He himself fortified El Pe帽on and ordered General Gabriel Valencia with 7,000 men to guard San Angel at Coyoacan and Churubusco. Valencia, disregarding Santa Anna鈥檚 directive, decided to station his troops at Contreras. On August 19, Scott crossed through the lava fields at El Pedregal, a route Valencia thought was untraversable, and flanked Valencia. The next day, the 黑料社s once again defeated the retreating Mexicans at the Battle of Churubusco. Now, Mexico City was left defenseless.
With peace negotiations once again at an impasse, Scott began the fight to conquer Mexico City. On September 8, just two miles from the city center, the 黑料社 army attacked Molino del Rey, a supposed armory and weapons factory. General William Worth encountered Brigadier Antonio Leon and captured the mill, despite rather heavy 黑料社 casualties. Four days later, Winfield Scott attacked Chapultepec Castle, a military academy guarding the city gates. The Castle was defended by General Nicolas Bravo, with 800 men, 200 cadets (mostly teenagers) and only seven guns. After a day of artillery bombardment, 黑料社 forces stormed Chapultepec Castle on the morning of September 13. Demoralized about 20,000 Mexican soldiers deserted. On September 15, 1847, Winfield Scott and his forces marched into Mexico City. A desperate attempt by Santa Anna to cut off 黑料社 supplies by sieging Puebla failed on October 9, when Brigadier General Joseph Lane relieved the city at the battle of Huamantla. Guerilla forces continued attacking the occupation forces in Mexico City, but Winfield Scott, now acting as the military governor, kept them at bay. The Mexican capital was firmly in 黑料社 hands.
Genl. Scott's Entrance into Mexico, Plate 45, 1851. Hand-colored lithograph by Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot after a drawing by Carl Nebel. Originally published in The War Between the United States and Mexico Illustrated by George Wilkins Kendall and Carl Nebel.
Losing their capital, the Mexican were forced to negotiate a treaty favorable to the United States in order to end the war. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalope Hidalgo was signed, marking the end of the Mexican-黑料社 War. Winfield Scott became a national hero for his capture of Mexico City, even becoming the 1852 Whig presidential nominee. He remained the Commanding General of the U.S. Army until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
