Battle of El Maguey

Battle of El Maguey
Part of the Mexican War of Independence
A portrait of Ignacio Lopez Rayon who commanded the retreating Mexican insurgents at El Maguey.
Date 2 May, 1811 Location El Maguey, Aguascalientes, Mexico Result Spanish royalist victory
Belligerents
Mexican Rebels	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ignacio López Rayón	Miguel Emparan Pedro García Conde Count of Rule
Strength
14 cannon	~3,000 soldiers

Part of a series on the
History of Mexico
Pre-Columbian
Spanish rule Conquest Colonial period War of Independence First Empire
First Republic Centralist Republic Texas Revolution Pastry War Mexican–American War
Second Federal Republic La Reforma Reform War French intervention
1864–1928 Second Empire Restored Republic The Porfiriato Revolution La decena trágica Plan of Guadalupe Tampico Affair Occupation of Veracruz Cristero War
Modern Maximato (1928–1934) Petroleum nationalization Mexican miracle Students of 1968 La Década Perdida 1982 economic crisis Zapatista insurgency Mexican peso crisis PRI downfall Mexican Drug War
Timeline
Mexico portal

The Battle of El Maguey was a battle of the War of Mexican Independence that occurred on 2 May, 1811 at El Maguey, in the State of Aguascalientes. The battle was fought between the royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown, commanded by General Miguel Emparan, and the Mexican rebels fighting for independence from the Spanish Empire, commanded by Ignacio López Rayón. The battle resulted in a victory for the Spanish royalists.

The Battle

In early May of 1811, the Spanish Brigadier General, Miguel Emparan, at the head of 3,000 men with the colonels Pedro García Conde and the Count of House Rule as his second in commands, pursued the army of Ignacio López Rayón through the state of Aguascalientes. The Spanish caught up with the Mexican rebels in the area around the ranch of El Maguey on 3 May.

Rayón sent his infantry, baggage and supplies to the town of La Piedad de Cavadas, but remained in his position at El Maguey with 14 pieces of artillery and a cavalry picket to fight a rearguard action against the overwhelming advancing Spanish forces. The stand was meant to give his infantry time to escape their pursuers so they could make an organized retreat from the Spanish. General Emparan gave battle and the two armies maneuvered for position around the ranch.

Rayón took advantage of the confusion caused by the smoke and dust in the air and fled the action whilst Emparan continued his advance. In the end, the royalists were able to successfully take possession of all the rebel cannon left behind on the battlefield.