Mexican American War Tactics

The United States in the years prior to 1841 saw little advance in field artillery tactics. However, European commanders had seen much success in the implementation of Artillery and new tactics, sparking an American interest in what had made their artillery tactics so successful. The Mexican American War would be the proving ground for the new American strategy of implementing field artillery on the battlefield, and how it has shaped the modern infantry commander’s use of it. In the years leading up to the Mexican American War, a tactically minded secretary of war Joel Poinsett arranged for an expedition to Europe to determine which of the European artillery pieces and tactics were best suited for the American forces. Up until then artillery …show more content…
Santa Anna mustered 20000 troops and marched north, he lost 5000 troops during the march, to meet GEN Taylor troops. Santa Anna's troops would still outnumber GEN Taylors three to one. On 22 February 1847, Santa Anna offered terms that Taylor blatantly denied. Both sides began to skirmish back and forth to little avail. The fighting would break for the night however; the ensuing battle would begin early the following morning. The Mexican forces would have early success with two divisions attacking the left flank where the 2nd Indiana infantry would take the brunt of the attack. As was the new tactic of the time, there was a three-gun battery out in front of the 2nd lead by Lt. John O’Brien. O’Brien and his men fought valiantly with destructive canister fires until the infantry to his rear broke ranks and fled. At which time he and his men would tactically retreat leaving behind a single four-pounder that would fall into the hands of the enemy. It was not until the Mexican army had reached the Americans final defensive line (fallback position) that they were halted and forced to retreat in defeat by accurate and continuous fires from the …show more content…
It is a long accepted fact that Commanders in the Civil War were born in the fire of the Mexican War. Commanders of both sides in the Civil War learned many combat lessons fighting side by side. Knowledge gained throughout this war gave some Commanders victory in battles from Manassas to Gettysburg. The second change affected by the Mexican War was the concept of mobile, direct support Artillery that may have been the single most development of the Mexican War. The quick and decisive use of Artillery reshaped the combined use of Artillery and Infantry for