Battle of Huamantla

Battle of Huamantla
Part of the Mexican–American War
The death of Capt. Walker
Date October 9, 1847 Location Huamantla, Tlaxcala Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Lane	Antonio López de Santa Anna
Strength
2,700[1]: 330	2,000[1]: 331
Casualties and losses
13 killed 22 wounded[1]: 331  10 missing.	?

The Battle of Huamantla was a U.S. victory late in the Mexican–American War that forced the Mexican Army to lift the siege of Puebla.[1]: 331 

Background

Santa Anna left Puebla at the end of Sept., to intercept Joseph Lane's relief column, planning an ambush at Paso del Pintal.[1]: 331  Learning of Santa Anna's men at Huamantla, Lane left his train under guard and marched toward that city, Captain Samuel H. Walker's four companies of cavalry in the lead.[1]: 331 

Battle

Walker charged, upon seeing Santa Anna's lancers, driving the Mexicans from the town.[1]: 331  Santa Anna led a counterattack, Walker was shot by a civilian in a nearby house, and his men retreated into a church.[1]: 331  The Mexicans then retreated to Querétaro.[1]: 331 

Lane turned his troops loose in a drunken sack of the town.[1]: 331  They reached Puebla on 12 Oct. to lift the siege.[1]: 331 

Order of battle

United States

Brigade	Regiments and Other
Lane's Brigade[2][3]    BG Joseph Lane	4th Indiana Volunteer Infantry: Colonel Willis A. Gorman 1st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry battalion: Colonel Francis Murray Wynkoop 9th U.S. Infantry, four companies: Major Folliot T. Lally 2nd U.S. Infantry, detachment of six companies: Captain Samuel P. Heintzelman Mounted detachment: Captain Samuel H. Walker Texas Mounted Infantry: Captain Samuel H. Walker Louisiana Cavalry: Captain Besacon Louisiana Cavalry: Captain Lewis Georgia Cavalry: Captain Loyal 3rd Artillery Battalion: Captain George Taylor Field’s Battery: Lt Field
Guarding Supply Train	4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Colonel Charles H. Brough 7th U.S. Infantry, detachment: Captain Simmons Pratt's Battery, 2nd U.S. Artillery: Lt Pratt

Mexico

Mexican Army: General Antonio López de Santa Anna

See also

• Battles of the Mexican–American War

References

1. Bauer, K.J., 1974, The Mexican War, 1846–1848, New York: Macmillan, ISBN 0803261071
2. History of the Mexican War by Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox
3. History of the War Between the United States and Mexico by John Stilwell Jenkins

Further reading

• Nevin, David; editor, The Mexican War (1978)

External links

• From the Baltimore Republican and Argus
• A Continent Divided: The U.S. - Mexico War, Center for Greater Southwestern Studies, the University of Texas at Arlington

Justin H. Smith's The War with Mexico

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