Battle of Cerro Gordo

E58884

The Battle of Cerro Gordo was a pivotal 1847 engagement in which U.S. forces under General Winfield Scott outflanked and decisively defeated Mexican troops defending the road to Mexico City.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Battle of Sierra Gordo 1

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
alsoKnownAs Battle of Cerro Gordo
surface form: Battle of Sierra Gordo
associatedWith Cerro Gordo, Veracruz
belligerent Mexico
United States of America
surface form: United States
campaign Siege of Veracruz
surface form: Winfield Scott’s campaign against Mexico City
commander Antonio López de Santa Anna
David E. Twiggs
Gabriel Valencia
James Shields
Luis Pinzón
Robert Patterson
William Jenkins Worth
surface form: William J. Worth

Winfield Scott
conflictOf Mexican–American War
conflictType land battle
country Mexico
date 1847-04-18
endDate 1847-04-18
era 19th century
followedBy Battle of Churubusco
Battle of Contreras
front Veracruz–Mexico City route
historicalSignificance demonstrated effectiveness of U.S. professional officer corps
pivotal victory that accelerated the U.S. advance on Mexico City
location near Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
MexicanCasualtiesKilledAndWounded approximately 1,000
MexicanPrisonersTaken approximately 3,000
notableFeature use of a mountain trail to turn the Mexican left flank
notableParticipant George McClellan
surface form: George B. McClellan

Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard
surface form: Pierre G. T. Beauregard

Robert E. Lee
partOf Mexican–American War
precededBy Siege of Veracruz
primaryMexicanArmyFormation Armed Forces of Mexico
surface form: Mexican Army
primaryUSArmyFormation United States Army
surface form: U.S. Army
result United States victory
startDate 1847-04-17
strategicObjective to open the road to Mexico City
strategicOutcome U.S. forces gained control of the road to Mexico City
strengthMexico approximately 12,000–15,000 troops
strengthUS approximately 8,500 troops
tacticalCharacteristic Mexican forces occupied fortified heights
U.S. forces outflanked Mexican defensive positions
terrain rugged hills and narrow defiles
theater Taylor’s Northern Mexico campaign
surface form: Central Mexico campaign
USCasualtiesKilledAndWounded approximately 430
weaponry smoothbore artillery and muskets
year 1847

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Battle of Cerro Gordo alsoKnownAs Battle of Cerro Gordo
this entity surface form: Battle of Sierra Gordo
Siege of Veracruz followedBy Battle of Cerro Gordo
Mexican–American War majorBattle Battle of Cerro Gordo