Battle of the Sacramento River

Battle of the Sacramento River
Part of the Mexican-American War
Battle of the Sacramento by F. Bastin
Date February 28, 1847 Location about 25 miles north of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, at a river pass of the Sacramento Result Decisive U.S. victory.
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders
Colonel Alexander Doniphan	General Jose A. Heredia
Strength
~1,000 infantry, cavalry, artillery	1,200 infantry 1,200 cavalry 1,420 militia 300 artillery 16 guns total: 4,120
Casualties and losses
2 killed 7 wounded	~300 killed ~300 wounded 40 captured

The Battle of the Sacramento River took place on February 28, 1847 during the Mexican-American War. About twenty-five miles north of Chihuahua, Mexico at the river Sacramento.

Background

In early 1847, Colonel Alexander Doniphan was heading south with his small army of about 1,000 men (including officers), which included primarily infantry, cavalry and artillery. on February 8, Doniphan left the town of El Paso del Norte to escort a merchant caravan and about 315 wagons to Chihuahua. On the 25 of February, the U.S. Army reached the Inseneas region when informed by spies that a force of 1,500 Mexican soldiers held the town. The American army continued and the Mexican garrison retreated without fighting. Continuing further, the U.S. army reached the Sacramento River. on the 27, the Americans learned that the Sacramento River pass had been fortified and defended by a larger Mexican force. At sunrise on the 28, the last day of February, the U.S. army took up the line of march and formed the whole train, consisting of 315 heavy traders, wagons, a commissary and company of wagons, into four columns. Colonel Doniphan placed the artillery and all the operators in intervals between the columns of wagons. The cavalry was used as a shield to protect the artillery. When the Americans arrived within three miles of the Mexican defenses, they made a reconnoissance of the enemy positions and the arrangement of their cannons. Several redoubts had been dug by the Mexicans. Protecting the 1,200 Mexican infantry and 1,420 militia, 1,200 Mexican cavalry men waited outside the fortified pass for orders to engage, 16 cannons and culverin pieces were among the defenses.

Battle

After opening hostilities with a salvo of cannon fire and followed by a Mexican salvo, the American army, supported by their own battery, attacked the right flank of the Mexican defenses, commanded by a General Heredia. The attack on the right meant that several of the Mexican artillery pieces on the left were out of range to suppress the American assault. The American artillery fire was effective, allowing the U.S. force to advance fast. Just out of the Mexicans range, they stopped ahead of the enemy battery to prevent casualties from the cannons. Doniphan then ordered howitzers to the front. Protected by a force of mounted cavalry men, the howitzers charged and then were used to bombard and destroy the main Mexican battery on the right. Most of the U.S. cavalry were dismounted and with the infantry, following the howitzers forward. At a quick pace the Americans reached the walls of the Mexican redoubts on the right and quickly overran its defenders. As the U.S. army moved right the Mexican cavalry attacked the American's left side, to try and flank the offenders themselves, they were repulsed. Now free to flank the leftern portion of the Mexican defenses, the U.S. army finished the attack and captured the rest of the Mexican artillery and about 40 defenders in close quarters combat. The fighting lasted no more than an hour when the Mexicans began to retreat, bringing an end to the battle of the Sacramento.

Colonel Doniphan

Aftermath

Unable to defend Chihuahua, the remaining Mexican units retreated south, leaving the city to American occupation. Almost 300 Mexicans were killed in the battle, as well as almost 300 wounded. Victims of the American artillery, Doniphan is said to have commented; "Our artillery was so effective that it blocked the sound of the Mexican guns." About 40 Mexican soldiers were taken prisoner. In the fast action, the U.S. suffered only two dead and seven wounded. Large amounts of Mexican supplies were also captured by the U.S. force.

See also

• Battles of the Mexican-American War

References

• Bauer, K. Jack (1974). The Mexican War, 1846–1848. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 0-8032-6107-1. 
• Brooks, N.C. Compete History Of The Mexican War: Grigg, Elliot & Co.Philadelphia 1849
• Listing of 1846–1848 US Army Casualites

External links

• Col. Doniphan's report of the battle
• Marker to Doniphan in Clay Co., MO. - Missouri "Mormon" Frontier Foundation. - John Whitmer Historical Association.
• Doniphan biography. - Kansas "bogus legislature" website.
• Doniphan. - Columbia Encyclopedia.
• Speaking of History Podcast with audio of John Dillingham speech on the life of Alexander Doniphan. - presented at the Truman Presidential Library in May, 2007.