Disposition of forces along the Sacramento

The Battle of Sacramento, or the battle of the Sacramento River, took place on February 28, 1847, during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

. About north of Chihuahua,

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, at the crossing of the

Sacramento River The Sacramento River () is the principal river of Northern California in the United States and is the largest river in California. Rising in the Klamath Mountains, the river flows south for before reaching the Sacramento–San Joaquin River D ...

, American forces numbering less than 1,000 were defeated by the superior superior Mexican army.Bauer, K.J., 1974, The Mexican War, 1846-1848, New York:Macmillan,

Background

On February 8,

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Alexander Doniphan's force of 924 soldiers and 300 civilians left El Paso del Norte for Chihuahua, despite learning that

John E. Wool John Ellis Wool (February 20, 1784 – November 10, 1869) was a US officer in the United States Army during three consecutive American-involved wars: the War of 1812 (1812–1815), the Mexican–American War (1846–1848), and with allegiance to ...

had abandoned his march there. Major Samuel Owens had the civilians formed into a battalion along with the

caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Campervan, a type of vehicle also known as a motor caravan *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Caravan (trail ...

of 312 wagons. On 25 February, they reached the Laguna de Encenillas, where they learned of the Mexican defenses prepared for them. Governor Trias had built up a force under the command of General Jose A. Heredia, consisting of Around 800 cavalry (Gen. Garcia Conde: Vera Cruz Dragoons, Durango & Chihuahua Lancers), 250 infantry (Chihuahua Activos), 119 artillerymen (10 field guns & 6 culverins), 180 National Guards and Mostly Volunteer rancheros. They had constructed a

redoubt A redoubt (historically redout) is a Fortification, fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on Earthworks (engineering), earthworks, although some are constructed of ston ...

near the

Hacienda A ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or '' finca''), similar to a Roman '' latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards ...

Sacramento where the El Paso road crosses the river, and at Hacienda el Torreon to the west. At sunrise on February 28, the Americans took up the line of march and formed the whole wagon train into four columns with the artillery and mounted men in the middle. Three companies screened the front. When the Americans arrived within sight of the Mexican defenses, Doniphan made a

reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...

of the enemy positions. Twenty-three separate works had been dug for twelve 4- to 9-pounders and nine lighter pieces.

Battle

Doniphan used his cavalry to screen the movement of his force parallel to the Arroyo Seco and to the right and out of range of the Mexican artillery. Doniphan formed the wagons into a fort after crossing the gully onto a plateau, and Major Meriwether Lewis Clark Sr.'s guns fired on General Garcia Conde's

lancer A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by India, Egypt, China, Persia, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the M ...

s, forcing them to flee. Doniphan's men approached the southernmost Mexican earthworks, held by Heredia's best troops. Doniphan ordered Capt. Richard H. Weightman's twin howitzers to the front accompanied by Capt. Reid's force of mounted cavalry men. Major Owens was killed in the charge, but Missourians took the fort. Trias made a

counterattack A counterattack is a tactic employed in response to an attack, with the term originating in "Military exercise, war games". The general objective is to negate or thwart the advantage gained by the enemy during attack, while the specific objecti ...

and Captured an Artillery piece that made the Americans Retreat. By 5 PM the fighting was over.

Aftermath

Unable to defend Chihuahua, Trias fled to Parras. Doniphan commented, "The fire of our battery was so effective as to completely silence theirs." Doniphan's men marched into Chihuahua on March 2, and on April 23 he was ordered to bring his men to

Saltillo Saltillo () is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. Mexico City, Monterrey, and Saltillo are all connected by a major railroad and high ...

, reaching Encantada on May 21.

In popular culture

The Battle of the Sacramento River is mentioned in the 1985

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

novel ''

Blood Meridian ''Blood Meridian Or The Evening Redness in the West'' is a 1985 epic historical novel by American author Cormac McCarthy, classified under the Western, or sometimes the anti-Western, genre. McCarthy's fifth book, it was published by Random Hou ...

''. While interned in a

Chihuahua City The city of Chihuahua or Chihuahua City ( ; Lipan language, Lipan: ) is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua (state), Chihuahua. , the city of Chihuahua had a population of 925,762 inhabitants. while the metropolitan area had a popu ...

prison, the main character meets a veteran of the battle who recounts the events.

Gallery

Image:Alexander William Doniphan.jpg, Colonel Alexander Doniphan File:Sacramento map Doniphan.jpg, Doniphan's Map from John T. Hughes' 1847 ''Doniphan's Expedition'' Sketch of the Battle of Sacramento Omnis Viae Private Collection

Sketch of the Battle of Sacramento Omnis Viae Private Collection

References

External links

- Missouri "Mormon" Frontier Foundation. - John Whitmer Historical Association.

- Kansas "bogus legislature" website.

- Columbia Encyclopedia.

- presented at the Truman Presidential Library in May 2007.
A Continent Divided: The U.S. - Mexico War
Center for Greater Southwestern Studies, the University of Texas at Arlington {{DEFAULTSORT:the Sacramento River

February 1847