Battle of Contreras

Overview

The Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place on 19–20 August 1847, in one of the final encounters of the Mexican–American War, as invading U.S. forces under Winfield Scott approached the Mexican capital. American forces surprised and then routed the Mexican forces of General Gabriel Valencia, who had disobeyed General Antonio López de Santa Anna's orders for his forces' placement. Although the battle was an overwhelming victory for U.S. forces, there are few depictions of it in contemporary popular prints. The armies re-engaged the next day in the Battle of Churubusco.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Contreras was one of the final engagements as Winfield Scott's forces advanced on Mexico City during the Mexican-American War. American forces surprised and routed the Mexican division under General Gabriel Valencia, who had disobeyed Santa Anna's orders regarding his forces' placement — a breakdown in Mexican command that contributed directly to the scale of the defeat, which cost the Mexican side 1,225 casualties. Despite being an overwhelming American victory, the battle generated little contemporary popular documentation. The engagement was immediately followed by the Battle of Churubusco the same day, placing Contreras within a rapid sequence of actions that steadily dismantled Mexican resistance on the approaches to the capital.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)