American Forces Capture Mexico City
On September 14, 1847, American forces led by General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City, marking a pivotal moment in the Mexican-American War. This victory followed a series of military engagements that began with the American landing near Veracruz in March of the same year. Scott's strategic maneuvers included significant battles at Cerro Gordo and Contreras, which showcased his ability to adapt to the challenging terrain and fortifications set up by Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
The capture of Mexico City ultimately led to Santa Anna's surrender and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in early 1848. This treaty resulted in Mexico recognizing the Rio Grande as its northern boundary and ceding significant territories, including California and New Mexico, to the United States in exchange for $15 million. The conflict and its resolution had a lasting impact on U.S.-Mexico relations and shaped the territorial landscape of the American Southwest. The fall of Mexico City signified not only a military triumph but also a decisive turning point in the broader historical narrative surrounding the expansionist policies of the United States during the 19th century.
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American Forces Capture Mexico City
American Forces Capture Mexico City
On September 14, 1847, American forces under the command of General Winfield Scott gained control of Mexico City. Scott's capture of the “halls of Montezuma” was the decisive campaign during the Mexican War. The victory led to General Antonio López de Santa Anna's surrender and to Mexico's acceptance in 1848 of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. According to that treaty, Mexico recognized the Rio Grande as its northern boundary and ceded California and New Mexico (then comprising much of the present-day American Southwest) to the United States in exchange for $15 million.
Scott's 1847 campaign against Mexico City followed the route taken by Hernando Cortes during his conquest of Mexico more than three centuries earlier. On March 9 the American commander landed his force of more than 10,000 men along the beaches southeast of Veracruz. The soldiers then set about establishing their positions in a wide arc to the rear of the city, thereby cutting the port off from the rest of Mexico. On March 22 this undertaking was completed, and Scott demanded the immediate surrender of Veracruz. When the Mexicans refused, the Americans began a land and naval bombardment of the city. After four days of continuous shelling, negotiations for surrender started on March 26. Three days later American forces occupied the port.
Having gained control of Veracruz, Scott began the overland trek to Mexico City. With fewer than 9,000 troops the American general set out for the inland capital on April 8. His immediate objective was Jalapa, a town whose location 75 miles northwest of Veracruz and 4,250 feet above sea level made it free from the yellow fever that plagued the coastal lowlands. Proceeding along the national highway, Scott's forces advanced with little difficulty until they were about 20 miles from Jalapa. Then, on April 13 they encountered outlying enemy defenses at Plan del Río just below the important mountain pass at Cerro Gordo.
Less than two months after his crushing defeat at Buena Vista in northern Mexico, General Santa Anna had reorganized his army and readied his troops to defend the route leading from Veracruz to Mexico City. Choosing to engage Scott's army at Cerro Gordo, the Mexican general used the natural terrain of the area and his 13,000-man force to advantage. He established defenses extending two miles from the high bluff and river (the Rio del Plan) on his right, across the national highway to El Telégrafo (or Telegraph Hill, as the Cerro Gordo eminence was sometimes called) and another rise called La Atalaya on his left.
Although the Mexican troops were well positioned, adroit reconnoitering by Scott's engineers disclosed a path leading to the enemy's left flank. Scott exploited this passage. After the troops cleared away rocks and underbrush, he moved his artillery along the route. Aided by this firepower, American forces were able to capture La Atalaya on April 17. The following morning, the troops commanded by General Gideon J. Pillow undertook a diversionary attack against the Mexican right flank. Meanwhile, the main body of American soldiers assaulted Santa Anna's strongest fortification at El Telégrafo. The struggle was brief. By 10:00 A.M. on April 18 the Mexican army had retreated, leaving Scott and his men with more than 3,000 prisoners, a large number of arms, and control of the Cerro Gordo pass.
On April 19 Scott's troops marched into Jalapa. Three days later an expedition under the command of General William Jenkins Worth took control of the city of Perote. However, as his army moved westward, Scott faced a difficult problem. Many of his soldiers were 12-month volunteers, and their enlistments were due to expire in the middle of June. Scott pleaded his case and offered bounties to these volunteers to persuade them to extend their time with the army; but when his efforts failed he reluctantly decided to release them at once. Thus, during the first week in May 1847, about one-third of his force returned to the coast leaving Scott deep within enemy territory with an army of less than 7,000.
Early in May the forces under Worth continued to advance westward, and on May 15 they captured Puebla. By the end of May, Scott moved his headquarters to that important Mexican city. Awaiting additional troops, Scott's army had to remain in Puebla throughout the months of June and July. During that time the morale of the soldiers sagged badly, but reinforcements gradually came to their assistance. By early August American troops in Puebla numbered nearly 14,000, including 3,000 who were ill.
Setting forth again on August 7, Scott's army (minus the hundreds of sick who were left behind) reached the Valley of Mexico on August 11. With the arduous journey from the coast behind them, the American forces still faced the task of actually conquering the Mexican capital. Following his defeat at Cerro Gordo, Santa Anna had returned to Mexico City. There, having re -established his political power, he strengthened the capital's defenses and organized the 25,000 troops under his command. By the time Scott's army reached the Valley of Mexico, the Mexican general was prepared to meet the American assault.
Santa Anna's strategy was to supplement Mexico City's natural defenses since vast marshlands surrounding the capital made access possible only through a few stone causeways. Santa Anna fortified the most likely of these approaches-at the suburb of Guadalupe Hidalgo to the north and at Mexicalcingo to the south-with infantry and artillery. Between these two sites he erected his strongest defense atop El Peñón, a hill that commanded the main road from the east.
Scott learned of Santa Anna's disposition of his forces through reconnaissance operations. Initially he thought that Mexicalcingo would be the most vulnerable point at which to attack, but last-minute intelligence gathered by General Worth's men prompted a change of plan. Scott decided to circle around Xochimilco and Chalco Lakes, which lay east of Mexicalcingo, and attack San August(n, a town far below Santa Anna's southernmost fortifications.
Taking San August(n, Scott had the option of attacking north towards San Antonio where Santa Anna had quickly established defenses, or west across the Pedregal lava field to Contreras, which was defended by General Gabriel Valencia. The American commander chose the latter course, and on August 19 Pillow's men moved slowly toward Contreras, building a road across the lava field as they advanced. By evening the main element of Pillow's force was in position before Contreras, and a smaller portion had occupied the village of San Geránimo to the west and discovered a ravine leading behind Valencia's position.
Pillow and Scott decided to attack Valencia from the rear. At 3:00 A.M. on August 20 the Americans began to advance along the ravine leading from San Geránimo to Contreras. The Mexicans, who were concentrating on Pillow's diversionary force in front of them, were taken by surprise when the American forces struck from behind. The Mexicans received inflicted heavy casualties before surrendering.
With the fall of Contreras, San Antonio was outflanked and Santa Anna withdrew his forces to Churubusco. The Americans could have advanced directly from Contreras towards Mexico City, but Scott would have had to leave his right flank exposed to Santa Anna. The American commander refused to take the risk and decided to take Churubusco before attacking the capital. The Mexicans tenaciously defended their position against the American force, which was weary after the morning's action at Contreras, but by late afternoon Churubusco fell. The Americans found themselves within three miles of Mexico City.
His troops defeated twice in a single day, Santa Anna was anxious to delay further battle. The Mexican commander, rejecting a demand by Scott for immediate surrender, indicated interest in an armistice to permit negotiations. Scott, who also desired to give his weary troops rest, agreed. The negotiators talked until September 6, but failed to reach an agreement. On September 7, Scott moved north to Tacubaya, from which his forces could attack Mexico City's southwestern defenses. Two objectives lay ahead. First, there was the palace of Chapultepec. Second, at the western end of the park surrounding Chapultepec was a group of buildings known as Molino del Rey, where the enemy was supposedly manufacturing guns. On September 8 the Americans attacked Molino del Rey and took it at the cost of more than 700 men.
On September 12 the Americans began to bombard Chapultepec, and on the following morning they assaulted the palace. As a division under Brigadier General John A. Quitman advanced from the south, Pillow led his men from the southwest and Worth's forces came from the west. By 9:30 A.M. Chapultepec had fallen. The attackers pressed on towards Mexico City. Quitman drove for the Bel‗n Gate and Worth for the San Cosm‗ Gate. Both objectives were taken by nightfall.
Santa Anna decided to save his demoralized troops for another battle, and on the night of September 13 he withdrew his forces to Guadalupe Hidalgo rather than engage the Americans in the streets of the capital. On the morning of September 14 the Mexico City authorities, after an unsuccessful bid for negotiated terms, surrendered to the Americans. Quitman occupied the Grand Plaza and raised the American flag over the palace.
For all intents and purposes, the capture of Mexico City on September 14, 1847, marked the end of the Mexican War. The war's formal conclusion, however, had to await the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in February 1848.