The Mexican Army, back under the command of General Santa Anna, are revamped with a new sense of purpose. Moving to intercept the forces of General Taylor, a risk taker and uncommon officer, who has been given the orders to halt on all positions. Thinking he can catch the Americans off guard, Santa Anna pulls 20,000 troops and cavalry to cut off Taylor's men from resupplying from the local population and agricultural surroundings. Their movement however, was slow, allowing for Taylor to dig in position himself and his fellow officers in key tactical fighting stances that allowed him to take advantage of the surround territory and utilize his large artillery batteries. Santa Anna, carrying 8 pounder Napoleon cannons, allowed him to unify his cavalry and field artillery, igniting charges between lines with rapid indirect fire from behind the fighting line. This tactic, seen successful in previous encounters, deemed not successful due to the fact he was in the low ground. Moving his cannons to the American left and right flanks allowed him to split American forces, however, it had to be done in the cover of dark, at the same time the United States was doing the exact same thing. The next day of fighting, Santa Anna gave the orders of shifting the indirect fire to subordinate officers, however, due to the Chaos of battle, these tasks were lost, when the messenger runners were lost in the fight. Several batteries of Mexican artillery were over run, allowing the US to turn Mexico's own weapons against them. Deeming the casualties too high to see any reason to keep the attack, Santa Anna's war council suggested to fall back and retreat. Both sides taking significant losses, accepted to cease fire, and fell back to previous key positions. Santa Anna, losing more than double the casualties that Taylor was facing, wanted taylor to pursue. Knowing that he can take him on on the fly, Santa Anna wanted to draw the Americans farther south of Saltillo, into open, dry area. Taylor, seeing that he was still outnumbered and unable to mobilize the depleted forces efficiently to full fighting capability, pulled back and decided not to pursue.
Sources: "Description of the Battle of Buena Vista", Ramón Alcaraz 1850.
"My Confession", Samel E. Chamberlain 1855.
"the Angels of Buena Vista", John Greenleaf Whittier 1847
Sources: "Description of the Battle of Buena Vista", Ramón Alcaraz 1850.
"My Confession", Samel E. Chamberlain 1855.
"the Angels of Buena Vista", John Greenleaf Whittier 1847