The Bataille of Monterrey is held 21 with the September 23rd 1846 during the américano-Mexican Guerre. She opposes the General Pedro de Ampudia ordering the Mexican Army of North to the troops of army U.S. ordered by the General Zachary Taylor. She takes place in front of the fortress city of Monterrey where Ampudia decided to stop the advance of the US troops but it is constrained to give up the city and only one two months obtains armistice.

Reprocess and disobedience

After the defeats of Strong Texas, Palo Alto and of Resaca of Palma, the Mexican Army of North makes retirement in order to reorganize before again engaging the forces U.S. of the Taylor General which seem invincible. Close to the fortress old city of Monterrey, the General Pedro de Ampudia receives the order of Santa Anna to make retirement to the town of Saltillo where it will have to establish a defensive line. But Ampudia is assoifé of victory and conscious that its men are at the edge of the mutiny through being constrained to make retirement, it chooses to be unaware of the orders and to hold Monterrey. This battle is the first in which the volunteers américano-Irish for Mexico will take part, the San Patricios , as a unit of artillery against troops U.S.

Strong resistance

During three days, the American forces try to take the city without success. A strong Mexican resistance causes considerable losses in rows U.S. and the American artillery is unable to bore the walls of the many fortresses and fortifications which are vis-a-vis it.

At the third day, the Division of the Texas To arrange as well as a division of infantry under the command of the General William J. Worth take four hills in the West of the city. They are immediately occupied by heavy guns which decimate the Mexican troops fleeing the hills. A diversion which makes it possible American divisions to penetrate in the city by the West and Is. It follows a body with body in the middle of the walls of the city. The Texas Rangers show with American a new trick: the urban guerilla warfare. They send incendiary bombs in a house held by Mexican soldiers thus forcing them to leave. Whereas the shell causes only light wounds, fire forces the Mexicans to jump by the windows. The Mexican army gathers on the place of Monterrey where it are bombarded by the Obusier S enemies, the Ampudia General then decides to negotiate. Taylor, then always vis-a-vis an enemy higher of number, in enemy territory, negotiates a two months armistice in exchange of the rendering of the city.

Vilified Taylor

The armistice signed by Taylor and Ampudia will have major effects on the continuation of the war. Taylor is vilified by Washington, where President James K. Polk affirms that the US Army does not have any right to negotiate some truce that it is, it has only the right of " kill the enemy" (to kill the enemy). Who more is, the terms of the armistice which authorize the forces of Ampudia to make retirement with all their weapons and the honors, are seen like stupid and with short-sight by the American observers.

Others think that Ampudia has, in fact, sown seeds of the defeat of Mexico with Monterrey. Many Mexican soldiers are disillusioned by the war. In a fortified town, with provisions, ammunition and weapons in quantity, an army of 12 ' 000 men held in failure army U.S. for finally having to go under the blows of American heavy artillery.

Sources

• The Mexican War ; Nevin, David; Time Life Books; NY; 1978 ISBN 0809423022.

• The Mexican-American War 1846-48 ; Bauer, K. Jack; NY; Macmillan, 1974; ISBN 0025078909.

• US Military Accademy West Point

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