Battle of Buena Vista

The Battle of Buena Vista was a land battle of the Mexican-American War fought on 23 February 1847 in Buena Vista, Coahuila, seven miles (12 km) south of Saltillo, in northern Mexico. The numerically disadvantaged invading U.S. army, using heavy artillery, successfully repulsed the Mexican attack on their position.

Background

After the battle of Monterrey (Sept 21-23, 1846) most of Major General Zachary Taylor's Army of Occupation was sent to the gulf coast and were to become the bulk of Winfield Scott's expedition against Mexico City. Taylor felt that his soon-to-be political rival, James_K._Polk was attempting to deprive him of any further military success which would aid in his campaign for the presidency. Taylor decided to ignore orders to stay in Monterrey and march deeper into Mexico and seized Saltillo. Taylor also diverted the Center Division, under John E. Wool from its expedition in Chihuahua to join him in Saltillo. With Wool's division, the U.S. force totaled about 4,500 soldiers, most of them volunteer units fighting for the first time.

Related Topics:
Battle of Monterrey - Major General - Zachary Taylor - Army of Occupation - Winfield Scott - Mexico City - James_K._Polk - Presidency - Monterrey - Saltillo - John E. Wool - Chihuahua

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In the summer of 1846, Antonio López de Santa Anna returned from exile and quickly seized power. When Monterrey had fallen, Santa Anna raised an army in Mexico City numbering 25,000. When a letter from General Scott to Taylor telling of the transfer of the bulk of Taylor's army to the Gulf, fell into Mexican hands, Santa Anna quickly marched north to try and knock Taylor out of Mexico while U.S. forces were being withdrawn.

Related Topics:
1846 - Antonio López de Santa Anna - Monterrey - Mexico City

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