Twiggs' division took the hill on April 17, advancing up the slopes to El Telegrafo. A visiting Mexican official was apparently embarrassed at seeing the trophy displayed, and it was removed. It was later the subject of controversy about its return to Mexico.

Some cannons captured by Americans at Cerro Gordo were brought back to the United States as war trophies. The Third Regiment of Illinois Volunteers brought back a six-pound cannon which was displayed temporarily in the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts, and whose current whereabouts are unknown.

Scott moved on to Xalapa, and William J. Worth's division took San Carlos Fortress on April 22. Lee was highly praised by both Shields and Twiggs in reports and Scott himself wrote, "I feel impelled to make special mention of the services of Captain R.E. Lee, engineers...This officer, greatly distinguished at the siege of Vera Cruz, was again indefatigable during these operations, in reconnaissance as daring as laborious, and of the utmost value." Lee was promoted to the rank of brevet major as a result of the battle and gained a hero's reputation. Cerro Gordo, North Carolina, Cerro Gordo, Illinois, Cerro Gordo Township, Piatt County, Illinois, and Cerro Gordo Township, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota take their names from the battle.

Order of battle

Mexico was represented by the remnants of the Division of the North, totaling 5,650 personnel: 150 artillery, 4,000 infantry and 1,500 cavalry: including the Ampudia Brigade (the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 11th line infantry regiments), the Vasquez Brigade (the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th light infantry regiments) and the Juvera Cavalry Brigade (5th, 9th Morelia and the Coraceros cavalry regiments); plus reinforcements from the Capitol: the Rangel Brigade (the 6th Infantry Regiment, Grenadiers of the Guard, Libertad and Galeana battalions, two cavalry squadrons and eight guns), the Pinzon Brigade, and the Canalizo Special Cavalry Division. The 1,000-strong Artega Brigade, consisting of the Pueblo Activos and National Guard battalions, arrived at the end of the battle.

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File:Battle of Cerro Gordo depicted in Coffin's Building the Nation, 1883.jpg|An American ambush was discovered at the start of the battle. However, Mexican lines soon collapsed.

File:Map of the Cerro Gordo battle.jpg|Western portion of field. (Justin H. Smith's The War with Mexico).

File:Cerro Gordo battle field.jpg|Eastern portion of field. (Justin H. Smith's War with Mexico).

File:Furber & Stillman Battle Ground of Cerro Gordo 1846-1848 UTA.jpg|Furber & Stillman's Battle Ground of Cerro Gordo

</gallery>

See also

  • Saint Patrick's Battalion

References

Citations

Sources

  • The Mexican War, 1846–1848, K. Jack Bauer. Macmillan Publishing Co, Inc. New York. 1974. .
  • The Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy and Dupuy. Harper & Row, Publishers.
  • Santa Anna's Leg.
  • Michael Korda. Clouds of Glory: The Life and Legend of Robert E. Lee, New York: HarperCollins, 2014. .
  • "Apuntes para la historia de la guerra entre México y los Estados Unidos". Alcaraz, Ramón. Mexico City.
  • The Other Side: Or, Notes for the History of the War between Mexico and the United States, translated and edited in the United States by Albert C. Ramsey, New York: John Wiley, 1850.
  • Annual Reports, 1894 War Department lists trophy guns as: 1–8 pounder bronze, 2–6 pounders and 3–4 pounders.
  • Celebrations for Battle of Cerro Gordo, Washington D.C., 1847 , Shapell Manuscript Foundation
  • A Continent Divided: The U.S. – Mexico War, Center for Greater Southwestern Studies, the University of Texas at Arlington