Battle of Contreras

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Battle of Contreras

The Battle of Contreras by Carl Nebel. Oil on canvas, 1851.

Date	August 20, 1847
Location	Mexico City, D.F.
Result	United States victory

Combatants

United States

Mexico

Commanders

Winfield Scott

Antonio López de Santa Anna
Gabriel Valencia

Strength

8,500

20,000

Casualties

60 dead or wounded

700 dead
843 captured

Mexican–American War
Fort Texas – Palo Alto – Resaca de la Palma – Cañada – Mora – Embudo Pass – Pueblo de Taos – Monterrey – Buena Vista – Puebla – Cañoncito – Santa Fe – San Pasqual – Rio San Gabriel – La Mesa – Huamantla – Veracruz – Cerro Gordo – Contreras – Churubusco – Molino del Rey – Chapultepec – Mexico City – 1st Tabasco – Tuxpan – 2nd Tabasco – El Brazito – Sacramento

The Battle of Contreras, also known (particularly in Mexico) as the Battle of Padierna, took place during the night of August 19–20, 1847, in the final encounters of the Mexican-American War. In the Battle of Churubusco, fighting continued the following day.

1 Background
2 Battle
3 Aftermath
4 References

[edit] Background

During the march on Mexico City, the U.S. army under Major General Winfield Scott found its way north blocked by a strong Mexican force at the town of San Antonio. Scott sent a force west across the pedregal, a lava field, to the town of Contreras to flank the Mexican position. Mexican commander and President Antonio López de Santa Anna dispatched a force of about 5,000 soldiers under Gabriel Valencia to oppose the Americans.

[edit] Battle

The U.S. attacked and routed Valencia's Army of the North at Contreras. Participating in the attack was Brigadier General Franklin Pierce leading a brigade of regulars. During the fighting Pierce was seriously wounded when his horse fell on him.

[edit] Aftermath

With the rout of Valencia, the main Mexican position at San Antonio fell back to Churubusco. After the U.S. forces took San Antonio, they began to merge with the forces from Contreras for a further attack on Churubusco.