The Battle For Mexico City Summary

THE FLYING ARTILLERY IN THE BATTLE FOR MEXICO CITY

In the 1840’s, with American expansion ongoing, under the principles of Manifest Destiny, James K. Polk entered into the presidency of the United States. Polk campaigned the ideals of manifest destiny and believed that territory under Mexican control should be acquired to facilitate further expansion. The lands in question are now known as California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, and the Mexican government was resistant and unwilling to part with them. With tensions rising between the two nations, Texas is annexed into the U.S. and Polk dispatches an envoy to Mexican President Nicolas Bravo in an attempt to purchase California and New Mexico. Nicolas Bravo was aware of his attempt

but refused to comply with the request. This prompted Polk to send troops to the disputed territory between the Nueces River and north of the Rio Grande River. Violence broke out on April 25, 1846 when Mexican cavalry and US Dragoons fought a brief skirmish that left 11 Americans dead and 5 wounded.
After the brief clash with forces under general Taylor, Mexican forces laid siege to an American outpost along the Rio Grande. In response to Mexican hostilities, General Taylor called in reinforcements and artillery support. Utilizing the superior artillery and the increased numbers of riflemen, General Taylor was able to break the siege and go on to defeat the enemy at Palo Alto driving them to Resaca De La Palma. After the retreat of the Mexican army Taylor declares his army victorious, rallies and then defeats them again at Resaca De La Palma. These clashes, coupled with the bolstering of American military might, in effect created a state of war along the border between Mexico and the United States. The official declaration of war from the United States Congress was announced on 13 May 1846.
The composition of the US Army light artillery at the time was horse drawn batteries comprised of combinations of the bronze model 1841 6-pound and 12-pound howitzers. This tactic of utilizing artillery was referred to as flying artillery due to the rapid mobilization, displacement, and employment capabilities when providing support to friendly Infantry. This tactic was originally fielded by Samuel B. Ringgold, MAJ, FA who also served among Zach Taylors occupation force and was mortally wounded by enemy cannon fire in the battle of Palo Alto. Major Ringgold died three days after being wounded, shortly after debriefing the battle.
Following the declaration of war, General Taylor moved his forces to Matamoros and garrisoned multiple locations along the new border, advancing toward Monterrey at the end of summer 1846.

Taylors forces clash with Mexican troops to seize the city, entering into an armistice in order to allow his army to recuperate. President Polk, fearing that Taylor was attempting to maneuver politically with the notoriety he was gaining on the battlefield, dispatched General Winfield Scott to Veracruz to become the main effort for driving toward Mexico City. A large portion of Taylors army was shifted to Scotts task force, in response to the armistice that the president did not approve of.

General Scotts arrival to Mexico kicked off the battle for Veracruz, wherein he landed with about 12,000 troops at Calldo Beach in order to assault and seize the city. The attack on Veacruz also marked the first large scale American amphibious assault. Once the city was secure, General Scott began his western movement towards Mexico City. Along the advance to Mexico City, American forces fought Mexican forces under General Santa Anna at Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, and also Molino Del Rey, the very outskirts of the

capitol.
Prior to assaulting the city proper, American forces had to attack the castle of Chapultepec, situated on the southwest boundary of Mexico City. Scott determined the castle must be defeated so as to enable the attack on the city and to keep the opposition from determining his ultimate plans. Chapultepec was built on a hill with 200 foot high slopes, was surrounded by difficult terrain and seemed an unlikely target to attack. On September 12 1847, General Scott ordered a feint attack to the southeast portion of the city. Once the enemy was focused on his demonstration, American artillery began an extensive bombardment of the fortress and city from positions that were thought untenable to supporting artillery. During the night, the Flying Artillery had been able to maneuver through the rocky terrain that the Mexican army believed blocked their flank from attack, due to the assumption that artillery could not be emplaced in that direction. Due to the light caissons and updated guns and techniques, the Americans were able to take the enemy, largely, by surprise.
The bombardment lasted until 0800 on 13 September, halting fires at night, until American Infantry was able to approach the castle, using ladders and pickaxes, and overrun the objective within two hours of launch.

Once the castle was secured, American troops stormed the causeway, breached the walls of Mexico City and fought through fierce resistance in order to establish a foothold within the city. By nightfall, the American troops had established positions inside the city for follow on attack. The civilian authorities decided that there had been enough damage to the city and allowed General Santa Anna to lead what was left of his army out of the city that night. Mexico City was surrendered to General Scott on September 14,

1847.
Throughout the entire campaign, American forces were pitted against numerically superior enemies, facing them in hostile territory. Americans, however, had the benefit of advanced weapons and training, such as the flying artillery previously discussed. The American Infantry had the distinct advantage of having artillery support able to be integrated completely with the front line of advance. This added even more fire power and maneuverability, whereas more conventional artillery of the time would have to either shift or cease firing when Infantry advanced. In the Battle of Mexico City specifically, the flexibility of the American light artillery enabled the enemy to be outmaneuvered and outflanked, allowed exploitation of terrain thought unusable and provided the Americans with a superior edge on the many battle fields of trying terrain. With the superior fire power of the 1841’s, firing six to one against the Mexican army. Ultimately playing a monumental role in the success of the United States in the Mexican American War and furthermore paving the way for the future of artillery, the incorporation of indirect fire on the battle field, and the overall way in which conventional and nonconventional battles are fought today.