Battle of Buena Vista

Battle of Buena Vista by Carl Nebel.

Date	February 22–23, 1847
Location	Puerto de la Angostura, Coahuila
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

United States

Mexico

Commanders and leaders

Zachary Taylor
John E. Wool

Antonio López de Santa Anna
Pedro de Ampudia
Manuel Maria Lombardini
Antonio Canales Rosillo

Strength

4,594 or 4,750

15,142

Casualties and losses

267 killed
387 wounded
6 missing

591 killed
1,048 wounded
1,894 missing

The Battle of Buena Vista (February 22 – February 23, 1847), also known as the Battle of Angostura, saw the United States Army use artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican Army in the Mexican–American War. Buena Vista, a village in the state of Coahuila, is seven miles (12 km) south of Saltillo, in Mexico.

After the Battle of Monterrey and the end of the armistice, Major General Zachary Taylor's Army of Occupation with Brigadier General William J. Worth's 1,000 men advanced onto undefended Saltillo on November 16, despite orders to halt any movement further south, considering it strategic to cover the approaches to Monterrey and Parras de la Fuente. Taylor then directed General John E. Wool from Monclova to Parras, the objective being control of that agricultural area. Wool's force moved to Agua Nueva, south of Saltillo, on December 21, to counter rumors of impending attack.

In mid-August 1846 Antonio López de Santa Anna returned from exile and quickly assumed command of the Mexican army, abandoning any pretense of reconciling with the US. He reached San Luis Potosí on Oct 8 with a force of 25,000 men. In early January, Santa Anna acquired a letter from Gen. Winfield Scott ordering Worth's troops to join General David E. Twiggs' and General John A. Quitman's division's in Veracruz, prompting Santa Anna to make attack plans for Saltillo. General José de Urrea's cavalry would simultaneously retake Ciudad Victoria and cut off Monterrey from Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Santa Anna's army departed San Luis Potosí on Jan 27 with 21,553 men, and reached Encarnacion, south of Saltillo, with 15,142 men on Feb. 20.

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