thumb|350px|Justin H. Smith's The War with Mexico
Following the Battle of Chapultepec, Santa Anna withdrew his forces from Mexico City, leading a portion in an attempt to take Puebla and cut off Winfield Scott's supply route from Veracruz. The siege of Puebla began the same day Mexico City fell to Scott and lasted for 28 days Childs had 500 soldiers to guard the city. After the fall of Mexico City, General Antonio López de Santa Anna renounced his presidency and split his forces, taking half of them to try to retake Puebla. Santa Anna arrived on 22 September, and launched a 500-man attack on the convent, once again unsuccessfully, yet called for Childs to surrender, which he refused.
Relief
At the end of September, Santa Anna departed with most of the Mexican forces to confront General Joseph Lane's relief column.
As Lane's forces began entering the outskirts, Mexican lancers charged into the city's main plaza. Colonel Childs ordered a company from the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry to take up position near the plaza. The Pennsylvanians charged and chased the Mexicans several blocks before being turned back by a counterattack.
At this time, Lane's vanguard entered the city along the National Road. They were fired on from Mexican muskets within a brick building on the street's south side. Lane formed Colonel Charles Brough's 4th Ohio Infantry into battle line supported by Colonel Francis Wynkoop's detachment of the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry destined to soon be reunited with their brethren inside the garrison. A quick charged secured this building bringing Lane's forces withing a block of the American defenses. Street fighting continued as the Mexicans made a confused retreat. Colonel Willis A. Gorman's 4th Indiana Infantry and Captain Samuel P. Heintzelman's 2nd U.S. Infantry battalion joined Colonel Brough's Ohio infantry as they converged on the main plaza. General Rea retreated and rejoined the forces of Santa Anna. The 28-day siege ended.
References
Further reading
- Nevin, David; editor, The Mexican War (1978)