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Okla-homey
9/13/2006, 06:30 AM
Sept. 13, 1847: General Winfield Scott storms the Chapultepec fortress

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8526/cccccccccmapchapultepec1847io2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

159 years ago on this day in 1847, General Winfield Scott wins the last major battle of the Mexican War, storming the ancient Chapultepec fortress at the edge of Mexico City.

The war between the U.S. and its southern neighbor began the year before when President James Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor (and later president) to advance to the disputed Rio Grande border between the newly-minted American state of Texas and Mexico.

The Mexican government had once controlled Texas and refused to recognize the American claim on the state or the validity of the Rio Grande as an international border. Viewing Taylor's advance as an invasion of Mexican soil, the Mexican army crossed the Rio Grande and attacked the U.S. forces in Texas in April 1846. By mid-May the two nations were formally at war.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7403/ccccccccccccccccccccmexicanwaroperationsmapbx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Mexican army was larger than the American army, but its leadership, training, and supplies were all inferior to those of the U.S. forces. Mexican gunpowder was notoriously weak, and cannon balls from their guns often just bounced slowly across battlefields where the American soldiers simply stepped out of the way.

As a result, by January 1847, General Taylor had conquered California and the northern Mexican territories that would later make up much of the American southwest. But Taylor was reluctant to take the war into the heart of Mexico, and Polk instead turned to General Winfield Scott to finish the job.

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Winfield Scott in Mexico. Scott was a War of 1812 veteran and served his country until early in the Civil War.

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Winfield Scott in a photograph approximately fourteen years after he took Mexico City. By then, Scott was in overall command of the US Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was a legendary eater and had really packed on the pounds -- in fact, he was too big to mount a horse and rode about in a carriage. That said, he was among the only men in uniform in the North who understood the Civil War wasn't going to be a short, decisive affair having served with many of the Confederate military leaders when they fought brilliantly under him in Mexico. Scott is also credited with devising the "Anaconda Plan" which called for the total naval blockade of Confederate ports which ultimately strangled the South's economic ability to prosecute their defense. Shortly after preparing that plan, he retired from active service after almost fifty years in uniform of the United States.

In March, Scott landed nearly 12,000 men on the beaches near Vera Cruz, Mexico, captured the town, and began to march inland to Mexico City. Flanking the Mexican defenses at Cerro Gordo Pass, Scott stabbed southward below Mexico City, taking the towns of Contreras and Churubusco.

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/791/ccccccccccccchapultepeccastleyc2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Chapultepec fortress as it appears today in metropolitan Mexico City.

When a final attempt at peace negotiations failed in August, Scott advanced north on the Mexican capital. After Scott's forces stormed the fortress at Chapultepec, the last significant Mexican resistance was eliminated. The fortress was partially garrisoned by Mexican Military Academy cadets who wore distinctive red stripes along the outside seam of their trousers.

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Chapultepec during quieter pre-war days.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7651/ccccccccccccccccccccchapultepecmr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Storming of Chapultepec, Sept. 13, 1847.

On this day, United States Marines in Scott's attacking force led the assault and virtually annihilated the Messican cadets. The Marine Corps later adopted their red trouser stripe as a remembrance of that victory. To this day, Marine NCO's and officers sport that same red stripe on the outside seam of their dress uniform trousers. It is commonly known as the "Chapultepec Stripe."

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9609/ccccccccccccccccmexwar9pz3.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Marines crest the ramparts at Chapultepec. Note the red stripe on the trousers of the Mexican cadet (about to die) in the left foreground

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8315/ccccccccccccccccccccplateivenlisteddressuniformut7 .jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Modern USMC dress uniforms. NCO's and officers wear the red "Chapultepec" stripe

The next day, September 14, Scott marched his army into Mexico City and raised the American flag over the Mexican National Palace -- the "Halls of Montezuma" later celebrated in the famous Marine's Hymn.

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Bloodied but unbeaten Marines march into Mexico City on Sept. 14.

For the first time in U.S. history, the Stars and Stripes flew over a foreign capital.

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Miko
9/13/2006, 07:50 AM
AAU!

Miko
9/13/2006, 07:51 AM
btw, any pics of Heaven's scenes being guarded by United States Marines?:D

jk the sooner fan
9/13/2006, 08:06 AM
"Gone for Soldiers" by Jeff Shaara is a GREAT novel on the mexican american war

Okla-homey
9/13/2006, 08:14 AM
"Gone for Soldiers" by Jeff Shaara is a GREAT novel on the mexican american war

For the record, I refuse to call it the "Mexican-American War." It was simply called the Mexican War for over a century and a half in this nation and I refuse to cave to PC pressures and begin to refer to it as the Mexican-American in order to give props to Santy Anny.

BTW, in truth, it was a marvelous bit of early American imperialism. The whole matter and cause for war was pretty much trumped-up, brilliantly executed and well played all around by the White House, Congress, the State Departemnt as well as the the War and Navy Departments...War and Navy didn't combine to become the Defense Departement until 1947.

Unfortunately, the downside is it ultimately resulted in texas' and california statehood

Okla-homey
9/13/2006, 08:38 AM
FWIW, here's some sniffy and lame crap about the mort messican cadets....


"Los Niños Héroes (the "Boy Heroes" or "Heroic Cadets" ) were six teenage military cadets who died defending Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle (then serving as the Mexican army's military academy) from invading U.S. forces in the 13 September 1847 Battle of Chapultepec.

"Their commanders, General Nicolás Bravo and General José Mariano Monterde, had ordered them to fall back from Chapultepec but the cadets did not; instead, they resisted the invaders until they were killed, with popular legend maintaining that the last survivor leapt from Chapultepec Castle wrapped in the Mexican flag to prevent it from being taken by the enemy.

"The cadets are honoured by an imposing monument at the entrance to Chapultepec Park; and the name Niños Héroes, along with the cadets' individual names, are commonly given to streets, squares and schools across the country. For many years they appeared on the MXP $5000 banknote, and they currently appear on the MXN $50 coin. Metro Niños Héroes on the Mexico City Metro is also (indirectly) named for them.

"The Niños Héroes were:

Juan de la Barrera
Juan Escutia
Francisco Márquez
Agustín Melgar
Fernando Montes de Oca
Vicente Suárez

"Juan de la Barrera was born in Mexico City in 1828, the son of Ignacio Mario de la Barrera, an army general, and Juana Inzárruaga. He enlisted at the age of 12 and was admitted to the Academy on 18 November 1843. During the attack on Chapultepec he was a lieutenant in the military engineers (sappers) and died defending a gun battery at the entrance to the park. Aged 19, he was the oldest of the six.

"Juan Escutia was born in Tepic (today's capital of the state Nayarit) at some time between 1828 and 1832. Records show he was admitted to the Academy as a cadet on 8 September 1847, but his other papers were lost during the assault. He is believed to have been a second lieutenant in an artillery company. Some say that this cadet wrapped himself up in the flag and committed suicide, jumping from the roof to keep it from falling into enemy hands. His body was found on the east flank of the hill, alongside that of Francisco Márquez.

"Francisco Márquez was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 1834. Following the death of his father, his mother, Micaela Paniagua, had remarried one Francisco Ortiz, a cavalry captain. He applied to the Academy on 14 January 1847 and, at the time of the battle, belonged to the first company of cadets. A note included in his personnel record says his bullet-riddled body was found on the east flank of the hill, alongside that of Juan Escutia. He was the youngest of the six.

"Agustín Melgar was a native of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, born there at some time between 1828 and 1832. He was the son of Esteban Melgar, a lieutenant colonel in the army, and María de la Luz Sevilla, both of whom died while he was still young, leaving him the ward of his older sister. He applied to the Academy on 4 November 1846. He was expelled for missing a review on 4 May 1847 but was re-admitted on 8 September. A note in his personnel record explains that after finding himself alone, he tried to stop the enemy on the north side of the castle. He was able to shoot and kill one of the invaders before taking refuge behind some mattresses in one of the rooms. Grievously wounded, his comrades placed him on a table, alongside which his lifeless body was found on 15 September, after the castle had fallen.

"Fernando Montes de Oca was born in Azcapotzalco, then a town just to the north of Mexico City and nowadays one of the boroughs of the Federal District, between 1828 and 1832. His parents were José María Montes de Oca and Josefa Rodríguez. He had applied to the Academy on 24 January 1847, and was one of the cadets who remained in the castle despite the recommendation of General José Mariano Monterde that they return to their homes. His personnel record reads: "Killed for his country on 13 September 1847."

"Vicente Suárez was born in 1833 in Puebla, Puebla. He was the son of Miguel Suárez, a cavalry officer, and María de la Luz Ortega. He applied for admission to the Academy on 21 October 1845. A note in his record reads: "Killed defending his country at his sentry post on 13 September 1847. He ordered the attackers to stop, but they continued to advance. He shot one and stabbed another in the stomach with his bayonet, and was killed at his post in hand-to-hand combat. He was killed for his bravery, because his youthfulness made the attackers hesitate, until he attacked them."

"The bodies of the six youths were buried in the grounds of Chapultepec Park, in an uncertain location. In 1947 their remains were found and identified and, on 27 September 1952, were re-interred at the Monument to the Heroic Cadets in Chapultepec.

"On March 5, 1947, nearly a century after the Battle of Chapultepec Castle, U.S. President Harry S. Truman placed a wreath at the monument and stood for a few moments of silent reverence."

Okla-homey
9/13/2006, 08:41 AM
Thank you, Homey, for another great lesson. I would, however, like to dispel the thread's title impression that this was solely a jarhead operation. ;)

Winfield Scott gave one of my old unit's its nickname at the victory parade when he said: "Gentlemen, that is the Old Guard"...refering to the 3rd US Infantry.
Below is from this website. (http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremonies/old_guard.html)

"The 3rd U.S. Infantry

The 3rd U.S. Infantry, traditionally known as "The Old Guard," is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving our nation since 1784.

The Old Guard is the Army's official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, and it also provides security for Washington, D.C., in time of national emergency or civil disturbance.

The unit received its unique name from Gen. Winfield Scott during a victory parade at Mexico City in 1847 following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. Fifty campaign streamers attest to the 3rd Infantry's long history of service, which spans from the Battle of Fallen Timbers to World War II and Vietnam.

Since World War II, The Old Guard has served as the official Army Honor Guard and escort to the president. In that capacity, 3rd Infantry soldiers are responsible for the conduct of military ceremonies at the White House, the Pentagon, national memorials and elsewhere in the nation's capital. In addition, soldiers of The Old Guard maintain a 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns, provide military funeral escorts at Arlington National Cemetery and participate in parades at Fort Myer and Fort Lesley J. McNair."

Of course. But the jarheads led the assault on the fortress and that gives them dibs on this particular fandango.;)

jk the sooner fan
9/13/2006, 08:42 AM
For the record, I refuse to call it the "Mexican-American War." It was simply called the Mexican War for over a century and a half in this nation and I refuse to cave to PC pressures and begin to refer to it as the Mexican-American in order to give props to Santy Anny.

BTW, in truth, it was a marvelous bit of early American imperialism. The whole matter and cause for war was pretty much trumped-up, brilliantly executed and well played all around by the White House, Congress, the State Departemnt as well as the the War and Navy Departments...War and Navy didn't combine to become the Defense Departement until 1947.

Unfortunately, the downside is it ultimately resulted in texas' and california statehood

i guess i call it that because there were both mexicans and americans fighting.....and because its so long ago that i dont think i'm going to offend any of the participants......

usmc-sooner
9/13/2006, 08:59 AM
Homey

I always knew it as my blood stripe.

Good post, thanks for posting

Sooner in Tampa
9/13/2006, 09:05 AM
SEMPER FI!!!!!

hurricane'bone
9/13/2006, 09:06 AM
After Scott's forces stormed the fortress at Chapultepec, the last significant Mexican resistance was eliminated.

I read that as "...last signficant Mexican restraunt..." and chuckled a little.

OklahomaTuba
9/13/2006, 09:10 AM
We should have NEVER left! Thanks Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo!

It was a great realestate deal though...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/09/Wpdms_mexican_cession.jpg/300px-Wpdms_mexican_cession.jpg

All this for only $15 Mill.

We took half of Mexico's territory, and only had to deal with 1% of the population.

Well, until now at least. ;)

OklahomaTuba
9/13/2006, 09:14 AM
BTW, heres the intro to the treaty, its good stuff...


IN THE NAME OF ALMIGHTY GOD
The United States of America and the United Mexican States animated by a sincere desire to put an end to the calamities of the war which unhappily exists between the two Republics and to establish Upon a solid basis relations of peace and friendship, which shall confer reciprocal benefits upon the citizens of both, and assure the concord, harmony, and mutual confidence wherein the two people should live, as good neighbors have for that purpose appointed their respective plenipotentiaries, that is to say: The President of the United States has appointed Nicholas P. Trist, a citizen of the United States, and the President of the Mexican Republic has appointed Don Luis Gonzaga Cuevas, Don Bernardo Couto, and Don Miguel Atristain, citizens of the said Republic; Who, after a reciprocal communication of their respective full powers, have, under the protection of Almighty God, the author of peace, arranged, agreed upon, and signed the following:
Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic.

Mixer!
9/13/2006, 09:33 AM
An old recording of the Marine Corps Hymn (.wav file) (http://www.rightmusic.info/mp3/march/British/AngloAmerican%20-%20The%20Marine%20Hymn.wav)

Vaevictis
9/13/2006, 05:50 PM
We should have NEVER left! Thanks Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo!

On the plus side, we don't have to deal with that cesspool being part of our country. Imagine if we had a Puerto Rico the size of Mexico in the Union.

TUSooner
9/13/2006, 06:03 PM
Didn't Abe Lincoln oppose that war ?

12
9/13/2006, 06:09 PM
Holy moley! I can't believe I let this one slide until so late in the day. My wife will really enjoy this one.

TUSooner
9/13/2006, 06:27 PM
We should have NEVER left! Thanks Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo!

It was a great realestate deal though...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/09/Wpdms_mexican_cession.jpg/300px-Wpdms_mexican_cession.jpg

All this for only $15 Mill.

We took half of Mexico's territory, and only had to deal with 1% of the population.

Well, until now at least. ;)
Maybe somebody ought to tell the Mexicans that we won; they don't seem to be paying much attention to that new border dealio. :O