Battle of Buena Vista

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The Battle of Buena Vista was a pivotal 1847 engagement in northern Mexico during the Mexican–American War, where U.S. forces under General Zachary Taylor repelled a much larger Mexican army led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
alsoKnownAs Battle of La Angostura
artilleryRole U.S. artillery played a decisive role in repelling Mexican attacks
associatedWith Zachary Taylor’s nickname “Old Rough and Ready”
belligerent Mexico
United States
campaign Northern Mexico campaign of the Mexican–American War
casualtiesMexico over 1,000 killed, wounded, or missing
casualtiesUnitedStates several hundred killed, wounded, or missing
combatantCommanderFor Antonio López de Santa Anna, Mexico
Zachary Taylor, United States
commander Antonio López de Santa Anna
Zachary Taylor
commemoratedBy monuments and historical markers near the battlefield
conflictOf Mexican–American War
country Mexico
date 1847-02-22
endDate 1847-02-23
front land warfare
hasParticipant Jefferson Davis
hasPrimarySource Mexican military dispatches
official U.S. Army reports
historicalPeriod 19th century
historicalRegion Northern Mexico
location near Buena Vista, Coahuila, Mexico
notableFor U.S. forces repelling a numerically superior Mexican army
notableUnit Mexican Army of Operations in the North
U.S. Army of Occupation
outcome Mexican army withdrew from the field
partOf Mexican–American War
predecessorEvent U.S. occupation of Monterrey
primaryWeapons muskets, rifles, artillery
result United States victory
roleOfParticipant Jefferson Davis commanded the Mississippi Rifles
significance contributed to Zachary Taylor’s later election as President of the United States
enhanced Zachary Taylor’s national reputation
secured U.S. control of northern Mexico
strategicObjectiveMexico to destroy Zachary Taylor’s army in northern Mexico
strategicObjectiveUnitedStates to hold defensive positions and block Mexican advance
strengthMexico about 15,000 troops
strengthUnitedStates about 4,500 troops
successorEvent continued U.S. advance in northern Mexico
terrain narrow mountain pass and plateau
theater Northern Mexico theater of the Mexican–American War
tookPlaceNear Saltillo, Coahuila
typeOfEngagement defensive battle for U.S. forces
year 1847

Referenced by (3)

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