Cerro Gordo is a difficult mountain pass, at the foot of the eastern slope of the Cordilleras, on the great national road from
Vera Cruz to the city of
Mexico.
Santa Ana, by extraordinary efforts after the battle of
Buena Vista (q. v.), had gathered a force of about 12,000 men from among
the sierras of
Orizaba, concentrated them upon the heights of
Cerro Gordo, and strongly fortified the position.
When the capture of
Vera Cruz (q. v.) was completed,
General Scott prepared to march upon the
Mexican capital, along the national road.
He left
General Worth as temporary governor of
Vera Cruz, with a sufficient garrison for the
Castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and moved forward (April 8, 1847) with about 8,000 men, the division of
Gen. D. A. Twiggs in advance.
Twiggs approached
Cerro Gordo on the 13th, and found
Santa Ana in his path.
Scott arrived the next morning and prepared to attack the stronghold.
On the 17th he issued a remarkable
general order, directing, in detail, the movements of the army in the coming battle.
These directions followed, secured a victory.
That order appeared almost prophetic.
On the 18th the attack commenced, and very severe was the struggle.
It was fought in a wild place in the mountains.
On one side was a deep, dark river; on the other was a frowning declivity of rock 1,000 feet in height, bristling with batteries; while above all arose the strong fortress of
Cerro Gordo.
The place had to be taken by storm; and the party chosen to do the work was composed of the regulars of
Twiggs's division, led by
Colonel Harney.
Victory followed the efforts of skill and bravery, and strong
Cerro Gordo fell.
Velasquez, the commander of the fortress, was killed; and the
Mexican standard was hauled down
[
83]
by
Serg. Thomas Henry. Santa Ana with
Almonte and other generals, and 8,000 troops, escaped; the remainder were made prisoners.
Santa Ana attempted to fly with his carriage, which contained a large amount of specie; but it was over turned, when, mounting a mule take from the carriage harness, he fled to the mountains, leaving behind him his wooden leg—a substitute for the real one which was amputated after a wound received in the defence of
Vera Cruz in 1837.
In the vehicle were found his papers, clothing and a pair of woman's satin slippers The victory of the
Americans was com plete and decisive.
The trophies were 3,000 prisoners (who were paroled), forty three pieces of bronze artillery (cast in
Seville, Spain), 5,000 stand of arm (which were destroyed), and a large quan tity of munitions of war. The fugitive were pursued towards
Jalapa with vigor In that battle the
Americans lost 431 men The loss of the Mexicans was about 1,200 killed and wounded.
