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The Battle of Buena Vista (February 22–23, 1847), known as the Battle of La Angostura in Mexico, and sometimes as Battle of Buena Vista/La Angostura, was a battle of the Mexican–American War. It was fought between U.S. forces, largely volunteers, [3] under General Zachary Taylor, and the much larger Mexican Army under General Antonio López ...
- February 22-23, 1847
- Inconclusive
- Puerto de la Angostura, Coahuila
Battle of Buena Vista, (Feb. 22–23, 1847), battle fought near Monterrey, Mex., in the Mexican-American War (1846–48), the war between the United States and Mexico. A U.S. army of about 5,000 men under General Zachary Taylor had invaded northeastern Mexico, taking Monterrey and Saltillo.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Oct 30, 2023 · The Battle of Buena Vista was fought from February 22–23, 1847, between the United States and Mexico, during the Mexican-American War. The outcome of the battle was an American victory. The battle is considered to be the bloodiest battle of the war.
- Randal Rust
- General Taylor's March
- Santa Anna's Gambit
- The Battlefield at Buena Vista
- The Battle of Buena Vista Begins
- The Battle Ends
- Aftermath of The Battle
- Sources
Hostilities had broken out between Mexico and the USA in 1846. American General Zachary Taylor, with a well-trained army, had scored major victories at the Battles of Palo Altoand Resaca de la Palma near the US/Mexico border and had followed up with the successful siege of Monterrey in September of 1846. After Monterrey, he moved south and took Sal...
General Santa Anna, recently welcomed back to Mexico after living in exile in Cuba, swiftly raised an army of 20,000 men, many of whom were trained, professional soldiers. He marched north, hoping to crush Taylor. It was a risky move, as by then he was aware of Scott’s planned invasion from the east. Santa Anna rushed his men north, losing many to ...
Taylor learned of Santa Anna's advance and deployed in a defensive position near the Buena Vista ranch a few miles to the south of Saltillo. There, the Saltillo road was flanked on one side by a plateau accessed by several small ravines. It was a good defensive position, although Taylor had to spread his men thinly to cover it all and he had little...
Santa Anna launched his attack the following day. His plan of attack was direct: he would send his best forces against the Americans along the plateau, using the ravines for cover when he could. He also sent an attack along the main road to keep as much of Taylor’s force as possible occupied. By noon the battle was progressing in favor of the Mexic...
The Americans enjoyed a healthy advantage in terms of artillery: their cannons had carried the day at the battle of Palo Alto earlier in the war and they were again crucial at Buena Vista. The Mexican attack stalled, and the American artillery began pounding the Mexicans, wreaking havoc and causing massive loss of life. Now it was the Mexicans’ tur...
The battle had ended, however. During the night, the Mexicans disengaged and retreated: they were battered and hungry and Santa Anna didn't think they would hold for another round of combat. The Mexicans took the brunt of the losses: Santa Anna had lost 1,800 killed or wounded and 300 captured. The Americans had lost 673 officers and men with anoth...
Eisenhower, John S.D. So Far from God: the U.S. War with Mexico, 1846-1848. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1989Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States.New York: Hill and Wang, 2007.Hogan, Michael. The Irish Soldiers of Mexico.Createspace, 2011.Scheina, Robert L. Latin America's Wars, Volume 1: The Age of the Caudillo 1791-1899Washington, D.C.: Brassey's Inc., 2003.The Battle of Buena Vista (February 22–23, 1847), known as the Battle of La Angostura in Mexico, and sometimes as Battle of Buena Vista/La Angostura, was a battle of the Mexican–American War. It was fought between US forces, largely volunteers, under General Zachary Taylor, and the much larger Mexican Army under General Antonio López de ...
The Battle of Buena Vista, fought on February 22 and 23, 1847, stands as one of the pivotal moments in the Mexican-American War, a conflict that erupted after the annexation of Texas. The result led to significant territorial changes in North America, which would have far-reaching effects for both t
The Battle of Buena Vista, fought from February 22 to February 23, 1847, stands as one of the most significant engagements of the Mexican-American War. This conflict, which pitted the United States against Mexico, not only tested the military strategies and capabilities of the time but also had lasting implications for the territorial expansion ...
