Cerro Gordo order of battle


The following units and commanders of the U.S. and Mexican armed forces fought in the battle of Cerro Gordo from April 17–18, 1847 during the Mexican–American War. The U.S. 1st Division and 1st Brigade, 3rd Division remained in the rear at Veracruz.

United States

Army of Invasion: MG Winfield Scott
Headquarters
DivisionBrigadeRegiments and Others

2nd Division

MG David E. Twiggs

Asst. Adjutant General:
1st Lt. William T. H. Brooks		1st Brigade

Col William S. Harney
  • 1st U.S. Artillery : Major Thomas Childs
  • 7th U.S. Infantry: Lt. Colonel Joseph Plympton
  • Mounted Rifles: Major Edwin V. Sumner w Apr 17, Major William W. Loring
2nd Division

MG David E. Twiggs

Asst. Adjutant General:
1st Lt. William T. H. Brooks		2nd Brigade

Col Bennet Riley
  • 2nd U.S. Infantry: Captain Thompson Morris
  • 3rd U.S. Infantry: Captain E. B. Alexander
  • 4th U.S. Artillery: Major John L. Gardner
  • Voltigeurs: Colonel Timothy Patrick Andrews
2nd Division

MG David E. Twiggs

Asst. Adjutant General:
1st Lt. William T. H. Brooks		Artillery
  • Light Battery: Captain Francis Taylor
  • Rocket and Howitzer Battery: Major George H. Talcott
3rd "Volunteer" Division

MG Robert Patterson

Asst. Adjutant General:
1st Lt. William H. French		2nd Brigade

BG Gideon J. Pillow w Apr 18

Colonel William B. Campbell
  • Independent Company of Kentucky Infantry: Captain John Stuart Williams
  • 1st Pennsylvania Infantry: Colonel Francis M. Wynkoop
  • 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry: Colonel William B. Roberts
  • 1st Tennessee Infantry: Colonel William B. Campbell
  • 2nd Tennessee Infantry: Colonel William T. Haskell
3rd "Volunteer" Division

MG Robert Patterson

Asst. Adjutant General:
1st Lt. William H. French		3rd Brigade

BG James Shields w Apr 18

Colonel Edward D. Baker
  • 3rd Illinois Infantry: Colonel Ferris Foreman
  • 4th Illinois Infantry: Colonel Edward D. Baker
  • 2nd New York Infantry: Colonel Ward B. Burnett

Mexico

DivisionBrigadeRegiments and Others

Division of the East		Ampudia Brigade
Division of the EastVasquez Brigade
  • 1st Light Infantry
  • 2nd Light Infantry
  • 3rd Light Infantry
  • 4th Light Infantry
Division of the EastJuvera Cavalry Brigade
Division of the EastRangel Brigade
  • 6th Infantry
  • Grenadiers of the Guard
  • Libertad Militia Battalion
  • Galeana Militia Battalion
Division of the EastPinzon Brigade
  • Atlixco Militia Battalion
  • Zacapoaxtla Militia Battalion
  • Matamoros and Tepeaca Militia Battalion
Division of the EastArteaga Brigade
Division of the EastCanalizo Cavalry Division
  • Jalapa,Chalchicomula& Orizava Squadrons

As actually deployed

  • Right – Gen. L. Pinzon – 5th Infantry, Atlixco Battalion and one Art. Battery
  • Center – Navy Capt. B. Araujo – Libertad,and Zacapoastla Battalions and one Art. Battery
  • Left – Col. Badilo – Jalapa, Coatepec and Teusitlan National Guard Companies and one Art. Battery
  • Camp of Matamoros – Gen. Jarero – Matamoros and Tepeaca Battalions and one gun
    • Battery on the road – Gen.br. R. Diaz de la Vega-6th Infantry, Grenaderos Battalion and one Art. Battery
    el Telegrafo – Gen.br. C. Vasquez, Col. Lopez Uraga, Col R.Palacios – 3d Infantry and one Art. Battery
    Reserve in Camp at Cerro Gordo- Gen.div. A. Lopez de Santa Ana – 1st, 2d, 3d & 4th Light , and 4th & 11th Line.Artillery reserve,general park, hospital, baggage etc.
    Cavalry at Coral Falso – Gen. V. Canalizo -Hussars Squadron, 5th & 9th Line Cavalry, Morelia & Coraceros Regiments, Jalapa, Chalchicomula and Orizava Squadrons.
    Notes:
    1. Manuel Balbontin, a Mexican artillery officer during the war does not cover the battle.
    2. Mexican Artillery batteries usually had 4 guns. Batteries with larger guns had fewer than this. Guns were grouped together by size, i.e. a battery of 4 four pounders, or a battery of 3 twelve pounders A total of 43 guns would indicate about 11 batteries. Col. L. Palacios was killed while commanding artillery. Naval Capt P. Ruiz y Baranda, Naval Lt. F. Fernandez, and Capt. V. Arguelles and Lts. M. Camacho, B. Arnable & J. R. Cobarrubias were all captured commanding artillery. Naval Capt. Godinez and artillery officers Malagon and Olzinger were also present.Battery commanders? Naval Capt. Araujo, above was probably a battery commander also. Or, about ten battery commanders.
    3. GMT Games posits Pinzon with 7 guns, Araujo with 8 guns, Badillo with 9 guns, Diaz with 7 guns Vasques with 4 guns, Jarero with 5 guns. Or about ten batteries.