Battle of Molino del Rey

The Battle of Molino del Rey (8 September 1847) was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Mexican–American War as part of the Battle for Mexico City. It was fought in September 1847 between Mexican forces under General Antonio León against an American force under Major General Winfield Scott at El Molino del Rey on the fringes of Mexico City. The Americans made little progress in this battle, but the Mexican forces were unable to hold them back long enough to prevent the capture of Mexico City one week later.

Battle of Molino del Rey
Part of the Mexican–American War
A painting of the battle
Date 8 September 1847 Location Mexico City Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Winfield Scott William J. Worth	Antonio León † Francisco Pérez Lucas Balderas †
Strength
9,800	4,000
Casualties and losses
116 killed 665 wounded 18 missing[1]^:310	269 killed ~500 wounded 685 captured[1]^:311

Background

Disposition of forces[2]

The Americans were camped south of Mexico City, Scott and Worth's division at Tacubaya, Gideon Johnson Pillow's division at Mixcoac, David E. Twiggs division at San Ángel, and John A. Quitman's division at San Agustín.[1]^:308

On 6 September 1847, Scott ended the armistice following the Battle of Churubusco as negotiations broke down, as it became clear that Antonio López de Santa Anna was preparing to resume fighting.[1]^:307 On 7 September, a large number of Mexican horsemen were observed around a group of low, massive stone buildings known as El Molino del Rey or King's Mill.[1]^:308 Spread across the distance of this point, they were about 1,000 yards (0.91 km) west of the Castle at Chapultepec, which itself was about two miles (3 km) from the gates of Mexico City. A large grove of trees separated the Mill from the castle, while the castle's batteries covered the area.

General Winfield Scott received reports that the trees masked a foundry for casting cannon, and there were rumors that Antonio López de Santa Anna, leader of both the Mexican government and military, in desperate need of ordnance, was sending out church and convent bells to have them melted down and converted to cannon.[1]^:308 Scott ordered General Worth to attack and take the Mill, break up the factory, and destroy any munitions found.[1]^:308

Molino del Rey was manned by Brigadier Antonio León's Oaxaca Brigade, while Brigadier General Francisco Pérez manned the Casa Mata, and Brigadier General Simeón Ramírez's brigade with seven guns manned the ditch connecting the two.[1]^:308 General Juan Álvarez's 4,000 cavalry waited in reserve at the Hacienda Morales.[1]^:308

The National Guard Battalions of Liberty, Union, Querétaro, and Mina, were commanded by General León (1,400 men and 3 8-lb.guns ), and the brigade of troops (Grenaderos, San Blas Activos, Mixto de Santa Ana and Morelia Battalions) were commanded by General Joaquín Rangel. The 2nd light battalion, that of the Fijo the Mejico, and the 1st and 12th regiments of the line, with six pieces of artillery, were commanded by General Simeón Ramírez. The 4th light battalion (600 men)and 11th regiment of the line (900 men), were commanded by General Francisco Pérez. In the grove of Chapultepec, was the reserve 1st and 3d light battalions (700 men).

Battle

At 5:45 AM, on 8 September, Worth sent an assault column of 500 men, the 8th Infantry led by Major George Wright, down a gently sloping plain against the western end of the buildings.[1]^:309 Behind them he placed Colonel Charles F. Smith's light battalion and George Cadwalader's brigade in the center, and to their right was Garland's brigade and a battery under Captain Simon H. Drum. On the left, attacking the Casa Mata, was Colonel James Duncan's battery and a brigade commanded by Colonel James S. McIntosh.[1]^:309 Major Edwin Vose Sumner commanded three squadrons of dragoons on the left flank.[1]^:309 Captain Benjamin Huger's heavy guns provided support.[1]^:308

Major Wright's force came under intense artillery and small arms fire, which drove them back, killing eleven of fourteen officers.[1]^:309 Lt. Col. Miguel Maria Echeagaray's 3d Light Infantry launched a counterattack, prompting Worth to send in Capt. Ephraim Kirby Smith's light battalion.[1]^:309 Similarly, McIntosh's men withdrew in the face of a counterattack, but Duncan's guns forced Pérez's men to withdraw from Casa Mata.[1]^:310

Worth sent the Voltigeur Regiment and the 11th Infantry into the assault, while Scott sent in the 9th Infantry.[1]^:310 General León and Col. Lucas Balderas were killed.[1]^:310 Brigadier General Matías Peña y Barragán led two counterattacks but the Americans were able to force two gates and then fight room to room to take the mill after two hours, but found only a few gun molds.[1]^:310 The Casa Mata caught fire and blew up near noon, causing more casualties, but by 1 PM, the Americans were back where they started.[1]^:311

Aftermath

Contemporary lithograph portraying the "Blowing up the Foundry by the Victorious American Army under General Worth

Molina del Rey and Casa Mata. Carl Nebel

Col. Hitchcock called the battle a Pyrrhic victory for the Americans.[1]^:311 Scott still needed an assault path into the city, despite the destruction of Molino del Rey.[1]^:311 Preparations began immediately thereafter for the Battle of Chapultepec.

See also

• List of battles of the Mexican–American War

References

1. Bauer, K.J., 1974, The Mexican War, 1846–1848, New York: Macmillan, ISBN 0803261071
2. Smith, J.H., 1919, The War with Mexico, New York: Macmillan

Further reading

• Brooks, N.C. A Complete History of The Mexican War
• Alcaraz, Ramon et al. Apuntes Para la Historia de la Guerra entre Mexico y los Estados Unidos
• Ramsey, Albert C. The Other Side
• (1899) The Great Battles of All Nations, Volume 2. Edited by Archibald Wilberforce, 640–644. Peter Fenelon Collier & Son: New York.
• Annual Reports 1894, War Department lists trophy guns: 2× 6 pounders bronze, 1× 4 pounder.