Battle of Casa Pedro
or The Battle of Poor Pedro’s farm
Situation: Mexican Army units under General Ortega attempt to
slow the rapid advance U.S. forces as they approach Casa Pedro. Advance
elements of Gen Taylor’s Army under Colonel Persifor F. Smith are tasked with
clearing the road to Agua Sucia.
Opposing forces
Mexican forces
General Ortega
1st Line Infantry regiment
Bravo Militia Battalion
San Geronimo Militia Battalion
Esteban's Ranchero's
Figueroa's Ranchero's
Captain Jorge's Artillery Battery 4 4 pdr guns
Total force 1910 men 4 guns
American forces
Colonel Persifor F Smith
5th U.S. Infantry
7th U.S.Infantry
Steen's Squadron 1st U.S. Dragoons
Mc Call's Texas Ranger Company
Mackell's Artillery Battery Btty K 1st U.S. Artillery 4 6 pdr guns
Total force 1037 men 4 guns
Deployment
Mexican Deployment
General
Ortega deployed his Division center on the road intersecting Casa Pedro with
the 1st Infantry placed along the stock corral fence fronting Casa
Pedro on the Mexican left flank. Astride the Road Ortega placed his 4 pdr gun
battery with Tuco’s Bravo Militia Battalion deployed to right side of the road
along the stone wall enclosure protecting the grain field. Supporting Tuco’s
troops were the troops of the San Geronimo Militia Battalion in reserve to the
rear and right of the grain field. On the extreme Mexican right were Esteban’s
and Figueroa’s Ranchero’s led by Gen. Canales the legendary “Chaparral Fox”
The Mexican Battle line viewed from the right flank
with the Mexican Irregular cavalry in foreground
U.S. Deployment
Colonel
Smith receiving reports from the Texas Rangers attached to the Dragoons of the
presence of the enemy deployed across
the road and ready to give battle quickly deployed from road column on to plain
to the right of the road with the 7th U.S. Infantry on the right in open order line with Mackall’s Battery in
the center of the line supported on its left by the 5th U.S.
Infantry with the 1st Dragoon’s and Rangers formed in column on the
road ready to deploy if needed.
U.S. forces prepare for the battle to
come.
Opening phase
Colonel Smith
noting the Mexican deployments holds in place and directs Mackell’s Battery to commence
fire on the Mexican line to soften up the enemy infantry prior to launching an
assault. The Mexican Artillery returns fire under expert direction of Captain
Jorge and quickly dismounts one of Mackell’s guns. General Ortega then orders
Canales to launch an attack upon the infantry supporting the America artillery
and to cover the charge against the U.S. Dragoons on the far right.
Esteban’s Ranchero’s charge the U.S. line
supported by Canales and Figueroa’s Ranchero’s
The Infamous Charge of Irregular
brigade
Ordering his
men into line, Canales advanced steadily toward the 5th U.S. Infantry
with Esteban’s ranchero’s quickly covering the distance and Figaro’s rancheros
preparing themselves to countercharge any threat from the Dragoon’s and their
Tejanos lackeys. Esteban’s men closed the distance before the dreaded Americano Artillery could bring their
guns to bear while the Americano infantry stood there dumbfounded as his loyal
Ranchero’s leveled their lances and charged home. At 50 paces the Americano
line erupted in a sheet of flame and men and horses were soon falling and writhing
in agony on the ground. Esteban could only see scatter bands of his Rancheros
riding pell-mell back past Figueroa’s men with all semblance of order given way
to fear and panic at the devastation wrought by the Americano line. Their
attention fixed on the flight of Esteban’s men, Canale's command didn’t realize
that the dreaded Americano artillery redirected their fire upon Figueroa’s
Ranchero’s. A well placed shot caused panic amongst the ranks and they too fled
to the rear despite the exhortations of their general.
Esteban’s Ranchero’s ride to Glory
“The
Ranchero's advanced in groups of riders until almost upon our bayonets, Our
volley emptied many saddles and the rest took flight as fast as their small
horses could carry them”
Lt. Hall 5th
U.S. Infantry
The U.S. Dragoons
and the Rangers spurned their mounts forward following the rapidly retreating foe
and preventing any attempt by Canales to rally the fleeing wreck of his command.
With the
rout of the Mexican cavalry Col. Smith orders a general advance against the
enemy battle line. Mackell’s battery begins to concentrate fire on the Tuco’s Bravo
Militia Battalion with telling results despite the cover from the stone wall casualties begin to mount.
Tuco’s Bravo Militia Battalion taking
heavy fire supported by Jorge’s battery along the road.
Captain Jorge’s battery knocks out a limber
from the battery until forced to change targets to slow down the advancing
infantry. On the Mexican Left the U.S. 7th Infantry advanced under the
fierce fire of the Mexican Artillery with gaps appearing in their lines. In the
Center the Mexican artillery continued to pound the 7th Infantry whilst Mackell’s
Artillery blew large gaps in the Bravo Battalion’s line. General Ortega
personally leads the San Geronimo Militia on the right flank to support Tuco’s decimated
Bravo Battalion against the attack of the 5th U.S. Infantry..
Mackell's Battery pounds the Mexican line in support of the infantry attack.
The 5th
U.S. Infantry under Major Scott steadily advanced to within musket range of the
Mexican lines exchanging volleys with the defenders alongside the stone wall
when suddenly Major Scott was struck by a Mexican bullet which pierced his coat
but caused no harm, Scott was reported to have said "It would take a better
marksman than that one to fell me, Give ‘em Hell Boys!".
The U.S. battle line advanced under the cover of artillery
“We
advanced steadily facing a torrent of fire from the Mexican line with grape and
musketry falling thickly amongst us.”
Private Ezra Washburn 7th
U.S. infantry
Meanwhile
General Ortega advanced the San Geronimo’s forward against the attack of the 5th
Infantry to relieve the pressure on Tuco’s men huddling against the wall under
the murderous fire. He observed Canales and his panicked men ride by on his
right in disarray closely pursued by the Dragoons and Texans when out of the
dust the Dragoons stopped reformed and were preparing to charge his flank.
Ortega immediately ordered the Battalion to form square to repel the charge and
waited for the inevitable.
General Ortega Advances the San Geronimo Battalion forward
General Ortega’s square is raked by
the 5th volleys as the Dragoon’s and Texans prepare to charge.
Meanwhile on
the Mexican left General Pino orders the 1st Mexican Infantry to
advance against the 7th U.S. Infantry which has suffered heavy
losses in its approach. Both side closing to within 50 paces unleash devastating
volleys into each other. Despite the losses both regiments hold their ground.
Tuco’s
Bravo Battalion under direct artillery and musket fire unleashes another volley
at the 5th U.S. Infantry in which a bullet strikes Major Scott
killing him instantly.
Ortega’s
hastily formed square is raked by the musketry of the 5th opening gaps in the square just as the
Dragoons and Ranger charge home which proves too much for the poorly trained
militiamen and they break pursued by the Dragoons and wild Texans. General Ortega
is mortally wounded and captured by the Texans trying to escape the battlefield,
The militiamen in square fire off an
ineffectual volley before breaking and running.
Jubilant Texans and Dragoons run down
the fleeing Mexicans with captured General Ortega in tow
The
surrender of General Ortega and the rout of his troops make General Pino realize
he had a sudden appointment to get to and he and his staff flee the battlefield
leaving behind his brigade to the mercy of the Gods of War. The abandonment of
the army by their generals quickly turned the defense into a rout with few
escaping. However the losses inflicted on the U.S. forces prevents a active
pursuit and nightfall closes in.
General Pino and staff in all their Glory
