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Santa Anna |
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Battle of Cerro Gordo |
Battle of Contreras |
Battle of Churubusco |
Battle of
El Molino Del Rey |
Battle of Chapultepec
Churubusco,
BATTLE OF. After the victory at Contreras, Mexico, the
Americans proceeded to attack the fortresses of San Antonio and
Churubusco. The latter was a small village 6 miles south of the city of
Mexico, and connected with it by a spacious causeway. At the head of the
causeway, near the village, was erected a strong redoubt, mounted with
batteries and heavily garrisoned. This was in front of the bridge over
the Churubusco River. The Convent-church of San Pablo, with its massive
stone walls, on an eminence, was converted into a fort, and around it
was the hamlet, defended by a covering of stone walls and a heavy stone
building fortified. |
Battle of Churubusco
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The outside
walls were pierced for cannon, high enough to fire plunging shot upon an
approaching enemy. All the stores and artillery saved from the wreck of
Contreras were gathered at Churubusco, with much sent from the city, for
Santa Anna had resolved to make a stand at
this place. He was at the city with 12,000 troops. When the Americans
began to move forward, the garrison of Antonio, perceiving themselves in
great danger of being cut off, abandoned the fort and fled towards
Churubusco, attacked and divided on the way.The retreat of the
Mexicans from San Antonio and the general march of all the Americans
upon Churubusco began the grand movements of the day. |
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The divisions of
Twiggs and Pillow were advancing on the west, and on a causeway
south the division of Worth was rapidly advancing to storm the redoubt
at the bridge. General Scott, at a mile distant from Churubusco, was
directing all the movements. The redoubt at the bridge was carried at
the point of the bayonet. At the same time Twiggs was assailing the
fortified church and hamlet, where a fierce battle raged for some time.
There the able Mexican General Rincon commanded, and there three masses
of Santa Anna's men opposed General Shields.
The veterans of Gen. Persifer F. Smith, who had captured Contreras, were
conspicuous in this fearful contest. The most desperate defence at the
church was made by deserters from the American army, led by Thomas
Riley. The alarmed Mexicans several times hoisted a white flag, in token
of surrender, when these Americans with halters about their necks as
often tore it down. The battle raged three hours, when the church and
the other defenses of Churubusco were captured. Meanwhile Generals
Shields and Pierce (afterwards President of the United States) were
battling furiously with Santa Anna's men, partly in the rear of the
defences of Churubusco. |
The Mexicans were there
7,000 strong—4,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry—but victory again crowned
the Americans. This was the fifth victory won on that memorable 20th
of August, 1847—Contreras, San Antonio, the redoubt at the bridge, the
Church of San Pablo, and with Santa Ana's troops. In fact, the combined
events of that day formed one great contest over a considerable extent
of territory, and might properly be known in history as the " Battle of
the Valley of Mexico." The number engaged on
that day was 9,000 effective American soldiers and 32,000 Mexicans. The
result was the capture by the former of the exterior line of Mexican
defenses, opening the causeway to the city and leaving it no other
resources but its fortified gates and the Castle of
Chapultepec. Fully 4,000 Mexicans
had been killed or wounded that day; 3,000 were made prisoners.
Thirty-seven pieces of fine artillery had been captured, with a vast
amount of munitions of war. The Americans lost, in killed and wounded,
about 1,100 men. See MEXICAN WAR; PIERCE,
FRANKLIN; PILLOW, GIDEON JOHNSON; SANTA ANNA,
ANTONIO; SCOTT, WINFIELD; SMITH,
PERSIFER FRAZER; WORTH, WILLIAM JENKINS. |
General
Franklin Pierce
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