Sit of Veracruz

The seat of Veracruz is held during the américano-Mexican Guerre, of the 9 to the March 29th 1847 around the port and of the town of Veracruz to the Mexico. It starts with the first unloading on broad scale of the history, led by the armed forces of the the United States and ends in the catch and the occupation of the city. The American forces will go then on Mexico City.

Context

After the battles of Monterrey and Buena Vista, the engagements in north cease. The majority of the troops of the occupying army of Zachary Taylor pass under the command of the General Winfield Scott. After having discussed it with the official ones of Washington, Scott agrees for an unloading to Veracruz, which will offer a head of bridge to American for their progression towards the interior of Mexico.

Involved forces

The United States

Scott has under its orders 12 ' 000 men, divided into 3 divisions, for this forwarding:

the 1st Division – William J. Worth
the 2nd Division – David E. Twiggs
the 3rd Division of volunteers – Robert Patterson

The troops of Worth and Twiggs previously fought with Monterrey and two of the brigades of Patterson are ordered by talented generals: John A. Quitman and James Shields. A brigade of cavalry ordered by William S. Harney also takes part in the task force. The naval artillery is under the orders of Commodore David Conner. Scott required that one manufacture barges of unloading for his troops, they is the first of the kind and was built by the shipyard of George Mr. Totten with Philadelphia.

Mexico

Veracruz is regarded at that time as the sourest fortress of Americas. The General Sergeant Juan Morals order a garrison of 3 ' 360 men who occupy the three principal forts which keep Veracruz:

Strong Santiago – in the south of the city,
Strong Concepción – with north,
Strong San Juan de Ulúa – at sea on the reef of Gallega.

The city itself is surrounded by a wall of 4.5 m in height. Defenses are made up of 235 guns including 135 on strong San Juan de Ulúa. It is thought that even if the city were to fall, Ulúa pourraît to hold and prohibit the access of the port of Veracruz. Because the garrison of Morals is not very important, it decides not to go so far as to engage the American forces in ground discovered and prefers to preserve its troops in the fortresses. Doing that, it leaves the beaches without defenses what represents targets of choice for the army of Scott.

Unloading

The American task force arrives at Veracruz at at the beginning of March. Scott studies defenses and concludes that a naval bombardment, only, will not be enough to make fall the city. It chooses the beach Collado with 5 km in the south of Veracruz for its unloading. The 1st Division of Worth is selected like unit of unloading. The ships of Connor position with less than one hundred meters of the beach, in order to offir an artillery cover where necessary.

With 3:30 the March 9th the 1st Division, embarked in the barges, reached the beach with the oar. Just before the large one of the troops does not touch ground, the Worth General jumps of his boat, it has water to the shoulders but street on the beach in order to be itself the first there. All the division of Worth unloads without only one shot not being exchanged. With 23:00 at the time of this first day, all the army of Scott with unloaded on this beach: the first grans unloading of the military history of the United States is a success.

The Seat

Surrounding

Once with ground the Division of Patterson makes movement towards north in order to encircle the city completely. One of the brigades of Patterson, ordered by Gideon Pillow puts in escape a unit of Mexican cavalry at Malibran, cutting the water provision of the city. Quitman and Shields are given the responsability to push back any attack of cavalry which would try to prevent the advance of the troops. Three days later, American completely encircles the city by a line of seat of 12 km Collado in the south with Vergana in north.

Preparation of the attack

A storm of raises and prevents Scott from unloading its guns of seat. At this point in time besieging them attacks undergo coming from the city and the Mexican Guérilla. Colonel Juan Aquayo benefits from the storm to allow the garrison Alvarado to join Veracruz. General Patterson thinks that one should benefit from the storm to take the city. Scott declines this option and mentions which does not want to lose more than one hundred men. The 18 the artillery is finally unloaded and Scott concludes that it is possible for him to take the city, but not Strong Ulúa.

The March 21st, Commodore Matthew C. Perry, second of Conner, arrives of Norfolk (Virginia), after having made repairs on the the WORN Mississippi , with order to replace Conner with the orders of the squadron. Perry and Conner entretiennet with Scott concerning the role of the marine in the seat and Perry proposes that 6 guns are been useful by sailors since the ships. At ground, under the direction of Captain Robert E. Lee an artillery battery is installation at 600 m of the city.

The March 22nd Morales declines the offer of capitulation which Scott presents to him then the American batteries open fire. The Mexican batteries answer with precision, even if few American are touched. Rockets flamers are drawn on defenses from the city, fire takes in Fort Santiago and constrained the Mexican gunners to give up their stations.

The March 24th, the brigade of Persifor F. Smith captures a Mexican soldier carrying a message indicating that Antonio López de Santa Anna and its army goes on Verracruz since Mexico City. Scott sends the Colonel Harney with 100 dragon S to watch for the arrival of Santa Anna. Harney reports that 2 ' 000 Mexicans and a battery are close and that he asks reinforcements. The Patterson General leads a group made up of volunteers and dragons which with the men of Harney dislodge the Mexicans of their positions.

Capitulation

With such news, Scott impatient and prepares plans of attack on the city. the March 25th, the Mexicans ask one to cease fire in order to discuss the terms of a rendering. The official Mexicans plead so that women and children are authorized to leave the city. Scott refuses, thinking that it is about a delaying tactics and makes continue the artillery shootings on the city. This same day, the second of Morals, the General Jose Juan Landero interposes in order to avoid with his chief the dishonor of the capitulation and request a truce with the invaders. A three days follows negotiation making it possible to the Mexicans to obtain terms of rendering which enable them to save the face. The March 29th the Mexican garrisons of Veracruz and Fort Ulúa go officially. This day, the flag of the United States floats on San Juan de Ulúa.

Consequences

Twelve days of bombardment lead to the capitulation of Veracruz and open the east coast of Mexico to forces U.S. Scott held its promise of minimal losses: 18 dead. Another factor on which Scott does not have any control is the Yellow fever which starts to strike its army. However Scott establishes its plans of countryside, it leaves a small garrison to Veracruz and walk towards the interior, its primary goal will be Xalapa. On its way Scott will meet the Mexican army ordered by Santa Anna with Cerro Gordo.

Sources

The Mexican War ; Nevin, David; Time Life Books; NY; 1978 ISBN 0809423022.
The Mexican-American War 1846-48 ; Bauer, K. Jack; NY; Macmillan, 1974; ISBN 0025078909.

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