Battle of Monterrey

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{{Infobox Military Conflict |conflict=Battle of Monterrey |image=Image:Ustroopsmarchonmonterrey.jpg |caption=US troops marching on Monterrey during the Mexican-American War, painting by Carl Nebel. |partof=Mexican-American War |date=September 21-23, 1846 |place=Monterrey, Nuevo León |result=U.S. victory |combatant1=United States |combatant2=Mexico |commander1=Zachary Taylor |commander2=Pedro de Ampudia |strength1=Army of Occupation
6,220 |strength2=7,000 Regulars
3,000 Militia |casualties1=120 killed
368 wounded
43 missing
531 Total |casualties2=367 killed and wounded |}} Template:Campaignbox mex-war-northren

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 US troops to a temporary standstill at the important fortress town of Monterrey, but eventually were forced surrendered their position.

After a number of embarrassing defeats and near misses, the Mexican Army of the North attempted to retreat south and refit before engaging the seemingly unbeatable 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 US forces.

For three days, US forces attempted to take the city without success. Heavy Mexican resistance caused considerable losses in the US ranks, and the US artillery found itself 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 played havoc with 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 fighting 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 disheveled, confused, bleeding soldiers of the Mexican Army congregated in the city plaza. Here the artillery which had previously been useless against stone walls worked all too well against human flesh and bone. Trapped in the city plaza, bombarded from a hidden enemy with howitzers, General Ampudia decided to negotiate. Taylor, still facing a larger army in enemy territory, negotiated a two month armitice in return for the surrender of the city.

The resulting armistice signed between Taylor and Ampudia had major effects upon the outcome of the war. Taylor was lambasted by Washington, where President James K. Polk insisted that the US 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 US observers.

For his part, some have argued that Ampudia had sown the seeds of defeat for 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 US Army, only to be forced into surrender by American heavy artillery. Many Mexicans felt that their generals simply did not want to win, and desertions and mutiny from the Mexican army became widespread problems.

See also

• Battles of the Mexican-American War

References

• Bauer, K. Jack. "The Mexican War, 1846-1848"