Siege of Veracruz
Part of the Mexican–American War

Scott's siege guns were in place on ground outside the city
DateMarch 9–29, 1847
Location
Veracruz, Veracruz
Result American victory
Belligerents
 United States  Mexico
Commanders and leaders
United States Winfield Scott
David Conner
Matthew C. Perry		 Mexico Juan Esteban Morales
Mexico Juan Aguayo
Mexico Juan José de Landero Bauza
Units involved
See order of battle See order of battle
Strength
8,600[1] 3,360[1]
Casualties and losses
13 killed
55 wounded[1][2]		 80[1]–350 killed
50 wounded[2]
3,000 captured
100–1,000 civilians killed[1]
Collado beach is on the right[3]

The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexican beachhead seaport of Veracruz during the Mexican–American War. Lasting from March 9–29, 1847, it began with an amphibious assault conducted by United States military forces, and ended with the surrender and occupation of the city. U.S. forces then marched inland to Mexico City.

Background

After the battles of Monterrey and Buena Vista, much of Zachary Taylor's Army of Occupation was transferred to the command of Major General Winfield Scott in support of the upcoming campaign.[1]: 237  That campaign, determined by Scott and other Washington officials, would be a Veracruz landing and an advance inland.[1]: 233  Mexican military intelligence knew in advance of U.S. plans to attack Veracruz,[1]: 204  but internal government turmoil left them powerless to send crucial reinforcements before the American assault commenced.

Opposing forces

Mexican defenses

Veracruz was considered to be the strongest fortress in North America at the time.[1]: 245  Brigadier General Juan Esteban Morales commanded a garrison of 3,360 soldiers occupying three major forts guarding Veracruz:[1]: 245 

  • Fort Santiago – south end of town
  • Fort Concepción – north end of town
    • These two forts included 3,360 troops and 89 guns: artillery, 2nd and 8th infantry regiments, 3rd Light Regiment, a picket of 11th Regt., Puebla Libres, Orizaba, Veracruz, Oaxaca and Tehuantepec national guards. Battalions, sappers and enlisted marines.
  • Fort San Juan de Ulúa – offshore on the Gallega Reef. Gen. Jose Durán with 1,030 troops and 135 guns:[1]: 245  artillery, Puebla and Jamiltepec activo battalions, companies of Tuxpan, Tampico and Alvardo activo battalions.
  • See Orders of Battle Mexican War.

Landings

The amphibious assault on Veracruz

The Americans arrived at Anton Lizardo, Veracruz in early March.[1]: 240  Scott agreed with Conner's suggestion for a landing site at Collado Beach, 3 mi (5 km) south of Veracruz.[1]: 241  The 1st Regular Division under Worth was chosen to make the landing first, followed by Patterson's volunteers and then Twiggs' regular division.[1]: 241 

Conner's Mosquito Fleet moved to within 90 yd (82 m) of the beach to supply covering fire if necessary.[1]: 241  By 12:15 pm on 9 March, this force was off Collado Beach, followed by larger vessels over the next three hours and a signal for landing the surfboats at 5:30 pm.[1]: 244  Just before the main force touched the beach, a gig dashed ahead, and General Worth with his staff jumped ashore.[1]: 244  Worth's whole division landed without firing or receiving a single shot. By 11 pm, Scott's entire army had been brought ashore without a single man lost.[1]: 244 

Siege

Envelopment

Once ashore Patterson's division began marching northward to effect a complete envelopment of the city.[1]: 245  One of Patterson's brigades under Gideon Pillow drove off a Mexican cavalry unit at Malibrán, cutting off the Alvarado road and the city's water supply.[1]: 246  Quitman and Shields managed to drive off with one shot the cavalry attempting to prevent the investment.[1]: 246  By 13 March, the U.S. had completed a 7 mi (11 km) siege line from Collado in the south to Playa Vergara in the north.[1]: 246  On 17 March, siege lines were dug for Scott's siege artillery, sufficient for taking the city but not Ulua.[1]: 247 

Investment

The besiegers were plagued by sorties from the city, and Col. Juan Aguayo used the cover of a storm to slip his Alvarado garrison into Veracruz.[1]: 247  Commodore Matthew C. Perry, Conner's successor, returned from Norfolk, Virginia after making repairs on the USS Mississippi, on 20 March.[1]: 248  Perry and Conner met with Scott regarding the Navy's role in the siege, and offered six guns that were to be operated by sailors from the ships.[1]: 249  The naval battery was constructed under the direction of Captain Robert E. Lee 700 yd (640 m) from the city walls.[1]: 250 

On March 22, Morales declined a surrender demand from Scott, and the American batteries opened fire at 4:15 pm followed by those of Commander Josiah Tattnall III's Mosquito Fleet at 5:45 pm.[1]: 249  The Naval battery's heavy cannonballs easily broke the coral walls.[1]: 250  Congreve rockets were fired into the defenses[1]: 250  and the combined fire forced the abandonment of Fort Santiago and Mexican morale began to drop[1]: 250  as civilian deaths reached the hundreds.[4]

On March 24, Persifor F. Smith's brigade captured a Mexican soldier with reports that Antonio López de Santa Anna was marching an army from Mexico City to the relief of Veracruz.[1]: 251  Scott dispatched Colonel William S. Harney with 100 dragoons to inspect any approaches that Santa Anna might make.[1]: 251  Harney reported about 2,000 Mexicans and a battery not far away, and he called for reinforcements.[1]: 251  General Patterson led a mixed group of volunteers and dragoons to Harney's aid and cleared the force from their positions, chasing them to Medellin.[1]: 251 

Surrender

Attack of the Gun Boats, San Juan de Ulloa, after a sketch by J. M. Ladd, USN

Scott made plans for an assault on the city when on 25 March, the Mexicans called for a cease-fire to evacuate women and children which Scott refused.[1]: 251  That night, Morales' council of war advised surrender prompting Morales to resign while General José Juan Landero assumed command.[1]: 251  A truce was called at 8 am on 26 March while terms of surrender were negotiated and concluded by 27 March.[1]: 251  On 29 March, the Mexicans officially surrendered their garrisons in Veracruz and Fort Ulúa and later that day, the U.S. flag flew over San Juan de Ulúa.[1]: 252–253 

Aftermath

The obstacle to an advancement to Mexico City was removed and Scott made immediate plans to leave a small garrison at Veracruz and march inland, his first objective being Jalapa.[1]: 259–261  Along the way, Scott would in fact encounter a sizable Mexican army under Santa Anna at the Battle of Cerro Gordo.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Bauer, K.J., 1974, The Mexican War, 1846–1848, New York: Macmillan, ISBN 0803261071
  2. 1 2 Johnson p.49
  3. ↑ Smith, J.H., 1919, The War with Mexico, New York: Macmillan
  4. ↑ "Un día como hoy, pero de 1847, fuerzas invasoras norteamericanas toman el puerto de Veracruz" [A day like today, but in 1847, Invading Northamerican forces take the Port of Veracruz]. Gobierno de Mexico, Servicio de Informacion Agroalimentaria y Pesqueria (in Spanish). Retrieved July 18, 2019.

Further reading

19°11′25″N 96°9′12″W / 19.19028°N 96.15333°W / 19.19028; -96.15333

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