Battle of Contreras

Battle of Contreras
Part of the Mexican–American War

"The Battle of Contreras" by Carl Nebel. Oil on canvas, 1851.
Date19–20 August 1847
Location
Mexico City
Result American victory
Belligerents
 United States  Mexico
Commanders and leaders
United States Winfield Scott Mexico Gabriel Valencia
Mexico Agustín Jerónimo de Iturbide y Huarte
Strength
10,738[1]: 274  4,500[1]: 291 
Casualties and losses
~300 casualties [2] ~700 killed
1,225 wounded
~850 captured
22 artillery pieces lost [3]
843 captured[1]: 295 
Environs south of Mexico City[4]
Disposition of forces.[4]

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.[5] The armies re-engaged the next day in the Battle of Churubusco.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Bauer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Battle of Contreras, Summary". Retrieved 16 November 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
  3. ^ Winfield Scott estimated the total Mexican killed and wounded for Contreras and Churubusco at 4,297. See Bauer, page 295.
  4. ^ a b Smith, J.H., 1919, The War with Mexico, New York: Macmillan
  5. ^ Sandweiss, Martha A., Rick Stewart, and Ben W. Huseman. Eyewitness to War: Prints and Daguerreotypes of the Mexican War, 1846-1848. Fort Worth: Amon Carter Museum, 1989, p. 309.