Battle of Churubusco

Battle of Churubusco
Part of the Mexican–American War

"Battle of Churubusco" by J. Cameron, published by Nathaniel Currier
DateAugust 20, 1847
LocationMexico City, D.F.
Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
 United States Mexico
Commanders and leaders
United States Winfield Scott

Mexico Antonio López de Santa Anna

Mexico John Riley
Strength
8,497[1]:301 3,800
Casualties and losses
133 killed
865 wounded[1]:301		 263 killed
460 wounded
1,831 captured[1]:301
Environs south of Mexico City[2]
Churubusco[3]

The Battle of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, while Santa Anna's army was in retreat from the Battle of Contreras (Padierna) during the Mexican–American War. It was the battle where the San Patricio Battalion, made up largely of American deserters, made their last stand against U.S. forces. The U.S. Army defeated the more than two-to-one outnumbered defending Mexican troops. After the battle the U.S. Army was only 5 miles (8 km) away from Mexico City. About 50 of the captured San Patricio's were later hanged.

Background

Following their defeats at Contreras Santa Anna ordered Major General Nicolás Bravo with the Army of the Center to retreat from San Antonio to Churubusco.[1]:296 Santa Anna also ordered Major General Manuel Rincon to hold the Franciscan Convent of San Mateo in Churubusco, with earthworks and seven guns, and placed General Francisco Perez on the tete-de-pont on the south bank of the river.[1]:296 Two regiments were placed along the river while the convent included the Bravo Battalions of the Mexico City National Guard and the San Patricio Battalion, plus Santa Anna formed a reserve along the highway to the north.[1]:296

Battle

Scott sent David Twiggs and Gideon Johnson Pillow's divisions from San Angel to Coyoacán, while he ordered William J. Worth to turn the San Antonio position.[1]:296 Worth sent Col. Newman S. Clarke's brigade and Lt. Col. Charles F. Smith's light battalion across the Pedregal lava field to the west of San Antonio, while Col. John Garland faced San Antonio on the south.[1]:297

During retreat from San Antonio, the Mexican defenders (part of the 1st Line of Defense (or sometimes the "Army of the Center") with Col. F. Villarreal and about 2,000 men: 700 of the "Hidalgo," 500 of the "Victoria" (Lt. Col. P. Jorrin) Natl. Guards Battalions, and 800 others: under Cols. A. Zerecero & J. G. Perdigon Garay), were struck in flank by Clarke's Brigade. Garland moved forward as the Mexicans withdrew from San Antonio and captured a general and four guns.[1]:297

Scott ordered an attack on the convent.[1]:297 In addition to the stone walls of the convent, the defenses included a series of incomplete trenches the Mexicans had begun digging prior to the attack.[4] Some elements of the Tlapa and Lagos Battalions arrived as reinforcements. Three cannon were placed on the right; two in the center; and the remaining two on the left. Independencia was assigned to defend the upper walls, the right flank leading to the bridge, the unfortified south and north sides, and two adobe huts further forward on the battlefield. The Bravos and the San Patricios were stationed on the left, behind barricades. In support along the Rio Churubusco was the Perez Brigade : 2,500 men (11th Line, 1st, 3d & 4th Light Infantry Regiments)

Worth's division took on the tete-de-pont, while Twiggs' the convent.[1]:298 Rincon's gunners were able to force Taylor's battery to withdraw,[1]:298 and Perez's defense on the tete-de-ponte twice repulsed Major Benjamin Bonneville's 6th Infantry charge.[1]:298 The attack by Franklin Pierce and James Shields, crossing the river on the Coyoacan-Mixcoac road in an attempt to cut off the Mexican retreat, was also stopped.[1]:298 However, Worth turned the Mexican left and crossed the river, while the 8th and 5th Infantry took the tete de pont.[1]:300 Capt. Duncan then set up a battery to attack the convent.[1]:300

Two of the Mexican cannons had melted and a third had fallen from its mount. Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Peñúñuri of Independencia led a handful of men in a bayonet charge and was defeated. He and Captain Luis Martínez de Castro, who had accompanied him, were killed in the battle. Officers from the Bravos attempted to raise the white flag over the convent walls on three occasions.[1]:300 They were prevented from doing so, however, by members of the San Patricios who feared the fate that awaited them if they were taken prisoner.[5] They were ultimately captured and court-martialed for desertion, including the leader, John O'Riley. U.S. Captain James Milton Smith finally stopped the fighting by putting up a white handkerchief.[1]:300

Aftermath

The Americans captured 192 prisoners and 3 pieces of artillery at the tete de pont.[1]:300 They captured 1,259 prisoners, including 3 generals and the San Patricios leader Lt. Col. Francisco Rosenda Moreno, plus 7 pieces of artillery at the convent.[1]:300 They captured another 380 prisoners further up the road.[1]:300

Seventy-two men of the San Patricios Battalion were court-martialed by the United States Army as deserters. Two separate courts-martial were held, one at Tacubaya on 23 August, and another at San Ángel on 26 August. Fifty were sentenced to hang, having deserted after war had been declared. Those who had deserted earlier received 50 lashes. (See Saint Patrick's Battalion for a more complete description.)

Scott did not continue the pursuit into Mexico City, "...willing to leave something to this republic...I halted our victorious corps at the gates of the city."[1]:301

A brigade of volunteers from New York was billeted to the convent, remaining there until September 7.

Parts of the battle were portrayed in the mini-series North and South, as well as the film One Man's Hero (1999).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Bauer, K.J., 1974, The Mexican War, 1846-1848, New York:Macmillan, ISBN 0803261071
  2. ↑ Smith, J. H., 1919, The War with Mexico, New York: Macmillan
  3. ↑ Smith, J. H., 1919, The War with Mexico, New York:Macmillan
  4. ↑ Ramsey (1850), pp. 292
  5. ↑ Pam Nordstrom, "SAN PATRICIO BATTALION," Handbook of Texas Online , accessed March 11, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

Further reading

  • Balbontin, Manuel " Recuerdos de la invasion norte-americana, 1846-1848.
  • Annual Reports 1894, War Department lists trophy guns as:1- 16 pounder bronze, 4- 8 pounders, 4- 6 pounders and 3- 4 pounders.

Coordinates: 19°21′22″N 99°08′56″W / 19.356°N 99.149°W / 19.356; -99.149

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