View source for Siege of Veracruz

{{Short description|1847 battle of the Mexican-American War}}
{{Redirect|Battle of Veracruz}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = Siege of Veracruz
| partof      = the [[Mexican–American War]]
| image       = Battle of Veracruz.jpg
| image_size  = 300px
| caption     = Scott's siege guns were in place on ground outside the city
| date        = March 9–29, 1847
| place       = [[Veracruz, Veracruz|Veracruz]], [[Veracruz]]
| result      = American victory
| territory   =
| combatant1  = United States
| combatant2  = Mexico
| commander1  = [[Winfield Scott]]<br>[[David Conner (naval officer)|David Conner]]<br>[[Matthew C. Perry]]
| commander2  = Juan Esteban Morales
| units1      = [[Veracruz order of battle#United States|See order of battle]]
| units2      = [[Veracruz order of battle#Mexico|See order of battle]]
| strength1   = 8,600<ref name=Bauer />
| strength2   = 3,360<ref name=Bauer />
| casualties1 = 13 killed<br />55 wounded<ref name=Bauer /><ref name="Johnson p.49">Johnson p.49</ref>
| casualties2 = 80<ref name=Bauer />–350 killed<br>50 wounded<ref name="Johnson p.49">Johnson p.49</ref><br>3,000 captured
| casualties3 = 100–1,000 civilians killed<ref name=Bauer />
| notes       =
| campaignbox =
{{Mexico City Campaign}}
{{Campaignbox Mexican-American War}}
}}

[[File:Siege of Vera Cruz.jpg|thumb|450px|Collado beach is on the right<ref>Smith, J.H., 1919, ''The War with Mexico'', New York: Macmillan</ref>]]

On 9 March 1847, during the [[Mexican–American War]], the United States military made an [[amphibious landing]] and besieged the key Mexican seaport of [[Veracruz, Veracruz|Veracruz]]. The port surrendered twenty days later. The U.S. forces then marched inland to [[Mexico City]].

==Background==
After the battles of [[Battle of Monterrey|Monterrey]] and [[Battle of Buena Vista|Buena Vista]], much of [[Zachary Taylor]]'s [[Army of Occupation (Mexico)|Army of Occupation]] was transferred to the command of [[Major General]] [[Winfield Scott]] in support of the upcoming campaign.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|237}} That campaign, determined by Scott and other [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] officials, would be a Veracruz landing and an advance inland.<ref name=Bauer>Bauer, K.J., 1974, ''The Mexican War, 1846–1848'', New York: Macmillan, {{ISBN|0803261071}}</ref>{{rp|233}} Mexican military intelligence knew in advance of U.S. plans to attack Veracruz,<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|204}} but internal government turmoil left them powerless to send crucial reinforcements before the American assault commenced.

==Opposing forces==
{{Main|Veracruz order of battle}}

==Mexican defenses==
Veracruz was considered to be the strongest fortress in [[North America]] at the time.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|245}}  Brigadier General Juan Esteban Morales commanded a garrison of 3,360 soldiers occupying three major forts guarding Veracruz:<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|245}}
* Fort Santiago – south end of town
* Fort Concepción – north end of town
** These two forts included 3,360 troops and 89 guns: artillery, 2nd and 8th infantry regiments, 3rd Light Regiment, a picket of 11th Regt., Puebla Libres, Orizaba, Veracruz, Oaxaca and Tehuantepec national guards. Battalions, sappers and enlisted marines.
* [[San Juan de Ulúa|Fort San Juan de Ulúa]] – offshore on the Gallega Reef. Gen. Jose Durán with 1,030 troops and 135 guns:<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|245}} artillery, Puebla and Jamiltepec activo battalions, companies of Tuxpan, Tampico and Alvardo activo battalions.
* See Orders of Battle Mexican War.

==Landings==
[[File:Battleveracruzlanding.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The amphibious assault on Veracruz]]
The Americans arrived at [[Anton Lizardo, Veracruz]] in early March.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|240}} Scott agreed with Conner's suggestion for a landing site at Collado Beach, {{convert|3|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} south of Veracruz.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|241}} The 1st Regular Division under Worth was chosen to make the landing first, followed by Patterson's volunteers and then Twiggs' regular division.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|241}}

Conner's [[Mosquito Fleet]] moved to within {{convert|90|yd|m|abbr=on}} of the beach to supply covering fire if necessary.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|241}} By 12:15&nbsp;pm on 9 March, this force was off Collado Beach, followed by larger vessels over the next three hours and a signal for landing the surfboats at 5:30&nbsp;pm.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|244}} Just before the main force touched the beach, a gig dashed ahead, and General Worth with his staff jumped ashore.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|244}}  Worth's whole division landed without firing or receiving a single shot. By 11&nbsp;pm, Scott's entire army had been brought ashore without a single man lost.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|244}}

==Siege==
===Envelopment===
Once ashore Patterson's division began marching northward to effect a complete envelopment of the city.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|245}} One of Patterson's brigades under [[Gideon Pillow]] drove off a Mexican cavalry unit at Malibrán, cutting off the Alvarado road and the city's water supply.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|246}} Quitman and Shields managed to drive off with one shot the cavalry attempting to prevent the [[investment (military)|investment]].<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|246}} By 13 March, the U.S. had completed a {{convert|7|mi|km|abbr=on}} siege line from Collado in the south to Playa Vergara in the north.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|246}} On 17 March, siege lines were dug for Scott's siege artillery, sufficient for taking the city but not Ulua.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|247}}

===Investment===
The besiegers were plagued by sorties from the city, and Col. Juan Aguayo used the cover of a storm to slip his Alvarado garrison into Veracruz.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|247}} Commodore [[Matthew C. Perry]], Conner's successor, returned from [[Norfolk, Virginia]] after making repairs to {{USS|Mississippi|1841|6}}, on 20 March.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|248}} Perry and Conner met with Scott regarding the Navy's role in the siege, and offered six guns that were to be operated by sailors from the ships.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|249}} The naval battery was constructed under the direction of Captain [[Robert E. Lee]] {{convert|700|yd|m|abbr=on}} from the city walls.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|250}}

On March 22, Morales declined a surrender demand from Scott, and the American batteries opened fire at 4:15&nbsp;pm followed by those of Commander [[Josiah Tattnall III]]'s Mosquito Fleet at 5:45&nbsp;pm.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|249}} The Naval battery's heavy cannonballs easily broke the coral walls.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|250}} [[Congreve rocket]]s were fired into the defenses<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|250}} and the combined fire forced the abandonment of Fort Santiago and Mexican morale began to drop<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|250}} as civilian deaths reached the hundreds.<ref>{{cite web |website=Gobierno de Mexico, Servicio de Informacion Agroalimentaria y Pesqueria|url=https://www.gob.mx/siap/articulos/un-dia-como-hoy-pero-de-1847-fuerzas-invasoras-norteamericanas-toman-el-puerto-de-veracruz?idiom=es|title=Un día como hoy, pero de 1847, fuerzas invasoras norteamericanas toman el puerto de Veracruz|access-date=July 18, 2019|language=es|trans-title=A day like today, but in 1847, Invading Northamerican forces take the Port of Veracruz}}</ref>

On March 24, [[Persifor F. Smith]]'s brigade captured a Mexican soldier with reports that [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]] was marching an army from [[Mexico City]] to the relief of Veracruz.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|251}} Scott dispatched Colonel [[William S. Harney]] with 100 [[dragoon]]s to inspect any approaches that Santa Anna might make.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|251}} Harney reported about 2,000 Mexicans and a battery not far away, and he called for reinforcements.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|251}} General Patterson led a mixed group of volunteers and dragoons to Harney's aid and cleared the force from their positions, chasing them to [[Medellín, Veracruz|Medellin]].<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|251}}

===Surrender===
[[File:Attack of the Gun Boats, San Juan de Ulloa.jpg|thumb|300px|''Attack of the Gun Boats, San Juan de Ulloa'', after a sketch by J. M. Ladd, USN]]

Scott made plans for an assault on the city when on 25 March, the Mexicans called for a cease-fire to evacuate women and children which Scott refused.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|251}} That night, Morales' [[council of war]] advised surrender prompting Morales to resign while General José Juan Landero assumed command.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|251}}  A truce was called at 8&nbsp;am on 26 March while terms of surrender were negotiated and concluded by 27 March.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|251}} On 29 March, the Mexicans officially surrendered their garrisons in Veracruz and Fort Ulúa and later that day, the [[Flag of the United States|U.S. flag]] flew over San Juan de Ulúa.<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|252–253}}

==Aftermath==
The obstacle to an advancement to [[Mexico City]] was removed and Scott made immediate plans to leave a small garrison at Veracruz and march inland, his first objective being [[Xalapa|Jalapa]].<ref name=Bauer />{{rp|259–261}} Along the way, Scott would in fact encounter a sizable Mexican army under Santa Anna at the [[Battle of Cerro Gordo]].

==See also==
* [[Battles of the Mexican–American War]]
* [[List of amphibious assault operations]]
* [[San Carlos Fortress]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* Nevin, David; editor, ''The Mexican War'' (1978)
* Alcaraz, Ramon, "Apuntes Para la Historia de la Guerra Mexico y los Estados Unidos"
* Skelton, Ike, [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj00/fal00/skelton.htm "It Ain't New"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309042628/http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj00/fal00/skelton.htm |date=March 9, 2014 }}
* Tschanz, David W. [https://www.montana.edu/historybug/mexwar.html "Yellow Fever and the Strategy of the Mexican-American War"]
* Annual Reports 1894, War Department lists trophy guns: 3 – 16-pounder, 3 – 12-pounders, 1 – 8-pounder, 2 – 6-pounders, 1 – 4-pounder and 1 – 10-inch mortar.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* [http://library.uta.edu/usmexicowar/ A Continent Divided: The U.S.–Mexico War], Center for Greater Southwestern Studies, the University of Texas at Arlington
* [http://www.aztecclub.com/main-art.htm Aztec Club of 1847] annotated art gallery

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[[Category:Sieges of the Mexican-American War|Veracruz]]
[[Category:1847 in Mexico]]
[[Category:Veracruz (city)]]
[[Category:Mexico City Campaign|Veracruz]]
[[Category:Battles of the Texas Ranger Division|Veracruz]]
[[Category:Naval battles of the Mexican–American War|Veracruz]]
[[Category:Mexican–American War forts|Veracruz]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps in the 18th and 19th centuries|Veracruz]]
[[Category:March 1847 events]]
[[Category:Amphibious operations involving the United States|Veracruz]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1847|Veracruz]]
[[Category:History of Veracruz]]