Battle of Huamantla
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Huamantla was a U.S. victory late in the Mexican-American War that forced the Mexican
Army to lift the Siege of Puebla
.
fell to General Winfield Scott
's army (September 14, 1847), Mexican forces began a siege on Puebla
. Less than a month later, a relief force was organized and marched out to Puebla under the command of Major General
Joseph Lane
. Mexican reinforcements were also moving to Puebla under the command of Antonio López de Santa Anna
, who had recently renounced his presidency.
, 25 miles from Puebla
. The next day, October 9, Lane's vanguard of Texas Rangers
under Captain Samuel Walker reached the town and sighted roughly 2,000 Mexican lancers. At the head of his Rangers, Walker charged into the city to drive out the Mexicans, but Santa Anna led a counter attack and stopped the Rangers. Walker was mortally wounded and, for about an hour, the Rangers desperately fought to hold their position in the town, some of them seeking refuge in a church. The rest of Lane's infantry arrived, attacked and drove out Santa Anna's force. When Lane heard of Walker's death he turned his troops loose, who pillaged and burned Huamantla, the only instance in the war in which a sizeable U.S. force had sacked a city.
and Mexico City clear.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Army to lift the Siege of Puebla
Siege of Puebla
The Siege of Puebla began the same day Mexico City fell to Winfield Scott and lasted for 28 days when a relief force was able to fight its way into the city and lift the siege.-Background:...
.
Background
The same day Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
fell to General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
's army (September 14, 1847), Mexican forces began a siege on Puebla
Puebla, Puebla
The city and municipality of Puebla is the capital of the state of Puebla, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. Being a planned city, it is located to the east of Mexico City and west of Mexico's main port, Veracruz, on the main route between the two.The city was founded...
. Less than a month later, a relief force was organized and marched out to Puebla under the command of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Joseph Lane
Joseph Lane
Joseph Lane was an American general during the Mexican-American War and a United States Senator from Oregon.-Early life:...
. Mexican reinforcements were also moving to Puebla under the command of Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
, who had recently renounced his presidency.
Battle
On October 8, 1847, Lane sent out spies who learned that Santa Anna's force was waiting in HuamantlaHuamantla
Huamantla is a city and its surrounding municipality of the same name, located in the eastern part of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala. It is the third-largest city in the state in population , with a 2005 census population of 47,286...
, 25 miles from Puebla
Puebla, Puebla
The city and municipality of Puebla is the capital of the state of Puebla, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. Being a planned city, it is located to the east of Mexico City and west of Mexico's main port, Veracruz, on the main route between the two.The city was founded...
. The next day, October 9, Lane's vanguard of Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
under Captain Samuel Walker reached the town and sighted roughly 2,000 Mexican lancers. At the head of his Rangers, Walker charged into the city to drive out the Mexicans, but Santa Anna led a counter attack and stopped the Rangers. Walker was mortally wounded and, for about an hour, the Rangers desperately fought to hold their position in the town, some of them seeking refuge in a church. The rest of Lane's infantry arrived, attacked and drove out Santa Anna's force. When Lane heard of Walker's death he turned his troops loose, who pillaged and burned Huamantla, the only instance in the war in which a sizeable U.S. force had sacked a city.
Aftermath
The battle was Santa Anna's last. The new Mexican government led by Manuel de la Peña y Peña first tried its power when it asked Santa Anna to turn over command of the army to General José Joaquín de Herrera. Three days after the battle, General Lane fought his way into Puebla and raised the siege. Lane continued raids against Mexican guerrillas to keep the supply route between the port of VeracruzVeracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
and Mexico City clear.