History os United States Question, from 1812 to 1912
What were some of the major battles in the Mexican War? Discuss at least one battle in each of
the three theaters (N. Mexico, S. Mexico, and California). Please explain
Solution
1. Battle of Canoncito:
The Battle of Cañoncito, took place near Santa Fe, New Mexico, the capital of the Mexican
Province of New Mexico, during the Mexican-American War on 8 August through 14 August
1846.
United States Army General Stephen W. Kearny had moved southwest from Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas with about 1,700 men in his Army of the West. Kearny\'s orders were to secure the New
Mexico territory and Alta California.
On August 9 in Santa Fe, Governor Manuel Armijo wanted to avoid battle, but Catholic priests,
Diego Archuleta (the young regular-army commander), and the young militia officers Manuel
Chaves and Miguel Pino forced him to muster a defense. Armijo set up a position in Apache
Canyon, a narrow pass about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the city. However, on August 14,
before the American army was even in view, he decided not to fight. (An American named
James Magoffin claimed he had convinced Armijo and Archuleta to follow this course; an
unverified story says he bribed Armijo. When Pino, Chaves, and some of the militiamen insisted
on fighting, Armijo ordered the cannon pointed at them.The New Mexican army retreated to
Santa Fe, and Armijo fled to Chihuahua.
2. Battle of Yerba Buena:
The Battle of Yerba Buena was an engagement during the Mexican-American War, during which
the U.S. Navy captured and occupied the town of Yerba Buena, California (Present-day San
Francisco, California) without firing a shot.
Upon declaring war on Mexico on May 13, 1846, President James Polk immediately called for
the capture California from the Mexicans. California had been a territory that Polk had desired
ever since the annexation of Texas in 1845, and when war with Mexico broke out, he saw the
perfect opportunity to take hold of the land he wanted. The U.S. Pacific Squadron was given the
order to occupy every important port and city in California, with force if necessary. On July 7,
1846, the ships USS Savannah, USS Cyane and USS Levant captured the Alta Californian
capital city of Monterey without firing a shot. This procedure of occupation would set the stage
for the Battle of Yerba Buena, which would follow a few days later.
3. Battle of Cerro Gordo:
In the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott\'s United States troops out-flank and drive
Santa Anna\'s larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position.
After United States forces captured the port of Veracruz on 29 March 1847, General Winfield
Scott advanced towards Mexico City on 2 April by crossing the Rio Antigua. General Antonio
López de Santa Anna, commanding Mexican forces in the area, had prepared fortifications at
Cerro Gordo, near Xalapa, with more than 12,000 soldiers in a fortified defile, dominated by El
Telegrafo.These included several batteries under th.
History os United States Question, from 1812 to 1912What were some.pdf
1. History os United States Question, from 1812 to 1912
What were some of the major battles in the Mexican War? Discuss at least one battle in each of
the three theaters (N. Mexico, S. Mexico, and California). Please explain
Solution
1. Battle of Canoncito:
The Battle of Cañoncito, took place near Santa Fe, New Mexico, the capital of the Mexican
Province of New Mexico, during the Mexican-American War on 8 August through 14 August
1846.
United States Army General Stephen W. Kearny had moved southwest from Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas with about 1,700 men in his Army of the West. Kearny's orders were to secure the New
Mexico territory and Alta California.
On August 9 in Santa Fe, Governor Manuel Armijo wanted to avoid battle, but Catholic priests,
Diego Archuleta (the young regular-army commander), and the young militia officers Manuel
Chaves and Miguel Pino forced him to muster a defense. Armijo set up a position in Apache
Canyon, a narrow pass about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the city. However, on August 14,
before the American army was even in view, he decided not to fight. (An American named
James Magoffin claimed he had convinced Armijo and Archuleta to follow this course; an
unverified story says he bribed Armijo. When Pino, Chaves, and some of the militiamen insisted
on fighting, Armijo ordered the cannon pointed at them.The New Mexican army retreated to
Santa Fe, and Armijo fled to Chihuahua.
2. Battle of Yerba Buena:
The Battle of Yerba Buena was an engagement during the Mexican-American War, during which
the U.S. Navy captured and occupied the town of Yerba Buena, California (Present-day San
Francisco, California) without firing a shot.
Upon declaring war on Mexico on May 13, 1846, President James Polk immediately called for
the capture California from the Mexicans. California had been a territory that Polk had desired
ever since the annexation of Texas in 1845, and when war with Mexico broke out, he saw the
perfect opportunity to take hold of the land he wanted. The U.S. Pacific Squadron was given the
order to occupy every important port and city in California, with force if necessary. On July 7,
1846, the ships USS Savannah, USS Cyane and USS Levant captured the Alta Californian
capital city of Monterey without firing a shot. This procedure of occupation would set the stage
for the Battle of Yerba Buena, which would follow a few days later.
3. Battle of Cerro Gordo:
2. In the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's United States troops out-flank and drive
Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position.
After United States forces captured the port of Veracruz on 29 March 1847, General Winfield
Scott advanced towards Mexico City on 2 April by crossing the Rio Antigua. General Antonio
López de Santa Anna, commanding Mexican forces in the area, had prepared fortifications at
Cerro Gordo, near Xalapa, with more than 12,000 soldiers in a fortified defile, dominated by El
Telegrafo.These included several batteries under the command of brigadier generals Luis Pinzon,
Jose Maria Jararo, and Romulo Diaz de la Vega. Scott's leading division, commanded by David
E. Twiggs, reached the Cerro Gordo Pass on 12 April.
