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. Included are major actions at the battles of Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, culminating with the fall of Mexico City. The U.S. Army under Winfield Scott scored a major success that ended the war.

Background

The major objective of American operations in central Mexico had been the capture of Mexico City. After capturing the port of Veracruz in March, General Winfield Scott was able to secure a base and move inland and defeat a large Mexican force at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. After routing the Mexicans at the Battle of Churubusco, Scott's army was less than eight kilometers away from its objective of Mexico City.

Battles

Molino del Rey

On September 8, the fight for Mexico City began. General Scott believed that a cannon foundry was located at the Molino del Rey, known as the King's Mill, located just over three kilometers outside the city. Scott sent the 1st Division under William J. Worth 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

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 barrage on September 12. The next day, September 13, the 4th Division, under John A. Quitman, spearheaded the attack against Chapultepec and carried the castle. Future Confederate generals George E. Pickett and James Longstreet participated in the attack. Serving in the Mexican defense were the cadets later immortalized as Los Niños Héroes. The Mexican forces fell back from Chapultepec and retreated within the city.

Attacks on the Belén and San Cosme Gates

Quitman's Division made its way down the Belén Causeway towards the Belén Gate, defended by General Terres & Colonel Garay with the 2d Mexico Activos and 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, 1st Light, part 3d Light and parts of Matamoros, Morelia and Santa Ana Battalions with 3 guns before withdrawing; Nino Perdido by the National Guards and 2 guns; and San Lázaro, Guadalupe and Villejo, which were defended by small infantry detachments. Other forces were stationed at la Piedad, the Insurgente bridge and in the rear of these before withdrawing to the Citadel.

Fall of Mexico City

The Junta had withdrawn their army: 14 Guns, 4,000 Cavalry, and 5,000 Infantry Cmdte. Arroyo: Lagos, Iturbide, & Tula Battalions, -3.) Gen. Martínez: various pickets, and -4.) Gen. Pérez: 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 were met by a Mexican officer who asked for a receipt for the captured ciudadela. 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. Quitman marched into the Zócalo 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 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'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.

Order of battle

United States

US Army – Major General Winfield Scott
DivisionBrigadeRegiments and Others

1st Division


MG William J. Worth		1st Brigade
K-17, W-69, M-8 = 94


Brevet BG John Garland
  • 2nd Artillery – Cpt. Horace Brooks
  • 3rd Artillery – Maj. Robert C. Buchanan
  • 4th Infantry – Maj. Francis Lee
  • Duncan's Battery – Capt. James Duncan
1st Division


MG William J. Worth		2nd Brigade
K-8, W-48, M-0 = 56


Brevet BG Newman S. Clarke
  • 5th US Infantry – Ltc James S. McIntosh
  • 6th US Infantry – Ltc Benjamin L. E. Bonneville
  • 8th US Infantry - Brevet Ltc George Wright
2nd Division


MG David E. Twiggs		1st Brigade
K-24, W-137, M-6 = 167


Brevet BG Persifor F. Smith
2nd Division


MG David E. Twiggs		2nd Brigade
K-18, W-80, M-4 = 102


Brevet BG Bennet Riley
  • 2nd US Infantry – Brevet Ltc Thompson Morris
  • 7th US Infantry – Brevet Col Joseph Plympton
  • 4th US Artillery – Maj John L. Gardner
3rd Division


MG Gideon Pillow 		1st Brigade
K-12, W-41, M-1 = 54


BG Franklin Pierce
  • 9th US Infantry – Col Truman B. Ransom, Jones M. Withers
  • 12th US Infantry – Col Milledge L. Bonham
  • 15th US Infantry – Col George Washington Morgan
  • Magruder's Battery, 1st U.S. Artillery – Capt John B. Magruder
3rd Division


MG Gideon Pillow 		2nd Brigade
K-8, W-69, M-9 = 89


BG George Cadwallader
4th Division


MG John A. Quitman		1st Brigade
K-35, W-245, M-0 = 280


BG James Shields
  • 2nd New York Infantry – Col Ward B. Burnett
  • 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry – Col William B. Roberts
  • South Carolina Palmetto Infantry – Maj Adley H. Gladden
  • Steptoe's Battery, 3rd U.S. Artillery – Capt Edward J. Steptoe
4th Division


MG John A. Quitman		2nd Brigade
K-7, W-24, M-0 = 31


Ltc Samuel E. Watson
Dragoons

Dragoon Brigade


Brevet BG William S. Harney
  • 1st US Dragoons, Company F – Capt Philip Kearny
  • 2nd US Dragoons – Brevet Col Edwin V. Sumner
  • 3rd US Dragoons – Ltc Thomas P. Moore

Mexico

7 August 1847—20,210 men and 104 artillery pieces acs
Mexican Army General Antonio López de Santa Anna
Chief of Artillery: General Martin Carrera
Chief of Engineers: General Ignacio Mora y Villamil
Alcaraz, Ramon "Apuntes para la historia de la guerra entre Mexico...†

Casualties

September 8