BATTLE OF CHURUBUSCO: ANTECEDENTS, CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES - HISTORY - 2025

The Battle of Churubusco (August 20, 1847) was a warlike confrontation between Mexico and the United States, which occurred during the First American Intervention in Mexico. The United States wanted to occupy the territories that were south of the border with Mexico.

The armed combats took place on August 20, 1847, near the old Convent of Santa María de Churubusco, which was located on the outskirts of Mexico City.

Battle of Churubusco, August 20, 1847.

General Manuel Rincón and Pedro María Anaya were in command of the Mexican army, while Generals Winfield Scott, David Emanuel Twiggs and William J. Worth were in command of the United States Army.

The Battle of Churubusco had a very high cost for the US Army, which ended with 1,053 casualties, while the Mexican troops only 259 casualties. The fighting was largely sustained by soldiers and commanders who managed to escape the Battle of Padierna, south of Mexico City.

The battle

Start

The Mexican troops were able to regroup on the outskirts of the Convent of Santa María de Churubusco. The mission of the Mexican army in Churubusco was to stop the advance of the troops towards the Mexican capital.

The place turned out to be a strategic fortification, moderately protected, to hold back General Scott and his men. To get there, the invading troops had to cross the bridge located in front of the convent. This would give the Mexican army time to prepare for battle.

The fighting began after 11:00 am on August 20, after US troops were stationed in the vicinity of the convent.

Until the enemy was within range, the Mexican troops did not begin firing, as ordered by Generals Anaya and Rincón. The Mexican attack surprised the invading army, which responded with artillery fire.

The Mexican army faced the assault on the bridge that leads to the convent with five guns and in hand-to-hand combat. The US troops expected the battle to last only minutes, but instead the fighting lasted for 4 hours.

The defense of the Churubusco bridge was heroic. The Mexican army was able to resist the assault on the bridge for two and a half hours, causing 366 casualties among the invaders.

Bridge fall

When the bridge fell into enemy hands, the Mexicans had to retreat towards the convent. Then, General Scott ordered them to be besieged on two flanks, the rear of the convent and the Hacienda de Portales.

Artillery, rifle and hand-to-hand combat intensified. However, the US military superiority did not manage to subdue the Creole troops withdrawn around the convent.

General Scott launched successive assaults on the convent from the front and all sides, supported by mortars and cannons. The Mexican defense continued to resist and the deaths among US troops increased dramatically.

The precarious Mexican fortification finally fell, due to the lack of gunpowder and ammunition from the Mexican army. Unfortunately, a US Army bomb blew up the Mexican powder reserve.

Background and causes

The Battle of Churubusco is a consequence of the first American intervention in Mexico, which happened after the independence of Texas in 1835.

The United States proposed to take all the territories located to the south on the border with Mexico, which previously had belonged to the viceroyalty of New Spain.

The Mexican reaction was intensified by the decision made by American settlers from the settlements of Texas, New Mexico, and Alta California to join the United States.

This situation initially generated tensions and the US intervention in Mexico, known as the US - Mexico War.

The United States Army achieved a series of victories and advanced towards the Mexican capital, where the defeat of the invaded country would be sealed.

In the advance towards Mexico City, the army commanded by Winfield Scott decided to surround the city and enter from the south. After the battle of Padierma on August 19, 1847, the combatants fell back to regain strength in the Convent of Churubusco.

Consequences

As ammunition and gunpowder ran out, the Mexican troops did not surrender. Generals Anaya and Rincón ordered their men to enter the convent. There was no surrender or capitulation, and the Americans were baffled.

The Americans cautiously entered the convent and saw the Mexican troops in formation. General Twiggs, one of the commanders of the invading troops, asked General Anaya about the ammunition. The latter replied: "If there were a park, you wouldn't be here."

Prisoners

Generals Manuel Rincón and Pedro María Anaya were taken prisoner in Churubusco. General Scott and the other officers treated them with deference, in consideration of their heroism and dignity. Several days later both generals were released.

Separation of factions from the United States Army

The bravery shown by the Mexicans in defending the convent was the most significant element in this battle. Another was the desertion from the United States Army of an entire battalion made up of German and Irish soldiers.

The Battalion of San Patricio commanded by John Riley sympathized with the Mexicans who were fighting in defense of their territory. Perhaps because they disagreed with the reasons for the intervention or for religious reasons, since they were also Catholic.

National Museum

In 1869, the former convent of Churubusco, where this epic battle in the history of Mexico was fought, was declared a National Monument by presidential decree.

Punishment of deserters

The Americans severely punished the defectors. Some were hanged and others imprisoned. Currently, they are paid homage in the National Museum of Interventions where the old convent was.

Peace treaty

The Mexican delegates met with US Generals Smith, Quitman, and Pierce. On August 22, a ceasefire was signed in the town of Tacubaya, while those sent by the president of the United States, James K. Polk, arrived to sign a peace treaty.

On September 8, 1847, the armistice was broken when the US Army attacked Molino del Rey near the Castillo de Chapultepec. Some time later, the United States troops took Mexico City again.

Protagonists

Manuel Rincon and Pedro María Anaya

The Mexican troops, made up of just 1,300 soldiers, were commanded by Generals Manuel Rincón and Pedro María Anaya.

This army was made up of students, professionals, artisans and merchants, organized into the Bravos Battalion and the National Independence Regiment.

John Riley (defector)

The Mexican army was joined by the San Patricio Battalion, made up of deserters from the US troops led by the Irish officer, John Riley (1805-1850).

David Emanuel Twiggs, William J. Worth, and Winfield Scott

The American forces were an army made up of professional troops, who had the best weaponry of the time. In command were Generals David Emanuel Twiggs, William J. Worth, commanded by General Winfield Scott.

References

1. Battle of Churubusco (August 20, 1847). Consulted of lhistoria.com
2. August 20, 1847, Battle of Churubusco. Retrieved on March 3, 2017 from imer.mx
3. John Riley. Consulted of es.wikipedia.org
4. The martyrs of the Battalion of San Patricio. Consulted of masdemx.com.
5. Battle of Churubusco. Consulted of es.media.org
6. Mexican troops under the command of Pedro María Anaya and Manuel Rincón fight against the forces under Scott's command in Churubusco. Consulted of memoriapoliticademexico.org.