Battle of Monterrey

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Battle of Monterrey

US troops marching on Monterrey during the Mexican-American War, painting by Carl Nebel.

Date	September 21-September 23, 1846
Location	Monterrey, Nuevo León
Result	U.S. victory

Combatants

United States

Mexico

Commanders

Zachary Taylor

Pedro de Ampudia

Strength

Army of Occupation
6,220

7,000 Regulars
3,000 Militia

Casualties

120 killed
368 wounded
43 missing
531 Total

367 killed and wounded

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 Monterrey (September 21–September 23, 1846) was an engagement in the Mexican-American War in which General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexican Army of the North managed to fight U.S. troops to a temporary standstill at the important fortress town of Monterrey, but eventually they were forced to surrender their position.

1 Background
2 Battle
3 Aftermath
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Background

After several defeats and near misses, the Mexican Army of the North attempted to retreat south and refit before engaging United States forces under General Zachary Taylor. Near the old fortress town of Monterrey, General Pedro de Ampudia received orders from Antonio López de Santa Anna to retreat further to the city of Saltillo, where Ampudia was to establish a defensive line. But Ampudia, who was hungry for victory and conscious that his men were nearing mutiny through constantly being forced to retreat, refused the order and chose instead to make a stand at Monterrey. Joining Ampudia at this engagement were an artillery unit, the largely Irish-American volunteers for Mexico San Patricios (or the Saint Patrick's Battalion), in their first major engagement against U.S. forces.

[edit] Battle

For three days, U.S. forces attempted to take the city without success. Heavy Mexican resistance caused considerable losses in the U.S. ranks, and the U.S. artillery was incapable of penetrating the walls of the numerous fortresses and fortifications in the area. In the third day Texas Ranger Division and an infantry division under the command of General William J. Worth managed to take four hills to the west of the city. These were emplaced with heavy cannon that were used to attack retreating forces fleeing the hill. A diversionary tactic allowed American divisions to stream into the city from the west and east.

Heavy Hand to hand combat within the city walls followed. The Texas Rangers taught the Americans a new trick: urban warfare. They threw a lighted artillery shell into a house that had been occupied by Mexican soldiers and forced them out. While it caused minor injury, it blew the Mexican soldiers out the windows. The Mexican Army congregated in the city plaza. Trapped in the city plaza and bombarded from the enemy with howitzers, General Ampudia decided to negotiate. Taylor, still facing a larger army in enemy territory, negotiated a two month armistice in return for the surrender of the city.

[edit] Aftermath

The resulting armistice signed between Taylor and Ampudia had major effects upon the outcome of the war. Taylor was lambasted by the federal government, where President James K. Polk insisted that the U.S. army had no authority to negotiate truces, only to "kill the enemy". In addition, his terms of armistice, which allowed Ampudia's forces to retreat with battle honors and all of their weapons, were seen as foolish and short-sighted by some U.S. observers.

For his part, some have argued that Ampudia had begun the defeat of Mexico. Many Mexican soldiers became disenchanted with the war. In a well-fortified, well-supplied position, an army of twelve thousand Mexican soldiers had nearly defeated the U.S. Army, only to be forced into surrender by American heavy artillery.