After the victory at
Contreras,
Mexico, the
Americans proceeded to attack the fortresses of
San Antonio and
Churubusco.
The latter was a small village 6 miles south of the city of
Mexico, and connected with it by a spacious causeway.
At the head of the causeway, near the village, was erected a strong redoubt, mounted with batteries and heavily garrisoned.
This was in front of the bridge over the Churubusco River.
The Convent-church of San Pablo, with its massive stone walls, on an eminence, was converted into a fort, and around it was the hamlet, defended by a covering of stone walls and a heavy stone building fortified.
The outside walls were pierced for cannon, high enough to fire plunging shot upon an approaching enemy.
All the stores and artillery saved from the wreck of
Contreras were gathered at
Churubusco, with much sent from the city, for
Santa Ana had resolved to make a stand at this place.
He was at the city with 12,000 troops.
When the
Americans began to move forward, the garrison of Antonio, perceiving themselves in great danger of being cut off, abandoned the fort and fled towards
Churubusco, attacked and divided on the way.
The retreat of the Mexicans from
San Antonio and the general march of all the
Americans upon
Churubusco began the grand movements of the day. The divisions of
Twiggs and
Pillow were advancing on the west, and on a causeway south the division of Worth was rapidly advancing to storm the redoubt at the bridge.
General Scott, at a mile distant from
Churubusco, was directing all the movements.
The redoubt at the bridge was carried at the point of the bayonet.
At the same time
Twiggs was assailing the fortified church and hamlet, where a fierce battle raged for some time.
There the able
Mexican General Rincon commanded, and there three masses of
Santa Ana's men opposed
General Shields.
The veterans of
Gen. Persifer F. Smith, who had captured
Contreras, were conspicuous in this fearful contest.
The most desperate defence at the church was made by deserters from the
American army, led by
Thomas Riley.
The alarmed
Mexicans several times hoisted a white flag, in token of surrender, when these
Americans with halters about their necks as often tore it down.
The battle raged three hours, when the church and the other defences of
Churubusco were captured.
Meanwhile
Generals Shields and
Pierce (afterwards
President of the
United States) were battling furiously with
Santa Ana's men, partly in the rear of the defences of
Churubusco.
The
Mexicans were there 7,000 strong—4,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry—but victory again crowned the
Americans.
This was the
fifth victory won on that memorable 20th of August, 1847—Contreras,
San Antonio, the redoubt at the bridge, the Church of San Pablo, and with
Santa Ana's troops.
In fact, the combined events of that day formed one great contest over a considerable extent of territory, and might properly be known in history as the “Battle of the
Valley of Mexico.”
The number engaged on that day was 9,000 effective American soldiers and 32,000 Mexicans.
The result was the capture by the former of the exterior line of
Mexican defenses, opening the causeway to the city and leaving it no other resources but its fortified gates and the
[
155]
Castle of
Chapultepec.
Fully 4,000 Mexicans had been killed or wounded that day; 3,000 were made prisoners.
Thirty-seven pieces of fine artillery had been captured, with a vast amount of munitions of war. The
Americans lost, in killed and wounded, about 1,100 men. See
Mexico, War with;
Pierce, Franklin;
Pillow, Gideon Johnson;
Santa Ana, Antonio;
Scott, Winfield;
Smith, Persifer Frazer;
worth, William Jenkins.
