Siege of Veracruz

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
LocationVeracruz, Veracruz
Result United States victory
Belligerents
 United States  Mexico
Commanders and leaders
United States Winfield Scott
David Conner
Matthew C. Perry		 Mexico Juan Morales
Strength
8,600[1]:244 3,360[1]:245
Casualties and losses
13 killed
55 wounded[1]:252[2]		 80 killed[1]:252 or ~350 killed
~50 wounded[2]
Civilian Casualties: ~100 to 500 killed[1]:252
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 the first large-scale 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.

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 men which manned three major forts guarding Veracruz:[1]:245

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 (4.8 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 and the first large scale amphibious landing conducted by the U.S. military was a success.

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 at Malibrán, cutting off the Alvarado road and the city's water supply.[1]:246 Quitman and Shields managed to drive off 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 manned 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'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 as Mexican morale began to drop.[1]:250

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 Madellin.[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

Further reading

  • Nevin, David; editor, The Mexican War (1978)
  • Alcaraz, Ramon, "Apuntes Para la Historia de la Guerra Mexico y los Estados Unidos"
  • Skelton, Ike, "It Ain't New"
  • Tschanz, David W. "Yellow Fever and the Strategy of the Mexican-American War"
  • Annual Reports 1894, War Department lists trophy guns: 3- 16 pounder, 3- 12 pounders, 1- 8 pounder, 2- 6 pounders, 1- 4 pounder and 1- 10 inch mortar.

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