The Skirmish at Matamoros on November 23, 1847, was a U.S. victory of Gen.

Joseph Lane Joseph "Joe" Lane (December 14, 1801 – April 19, 1881) was an American politician and soldier. He was a state legislator representing Evansville, Indiana, and then served in the Mexican–American War, becoming a general. President James K. P ...

, over a detachment under Colonel Piedras guarding the

depot Depot ( or ) may refer to: Places * Depot, Poland, a village * Depot Island, Kemp Land, Antarctica * Depot Island, Victoria Land, Antarctica * Depot Island Formation, Greenland Brands and enterprises * Maxwell Street Depot, a restaurant in ...

of the

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

Army

Light Corps Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), corresponding to frequencies of 750–420 ter ...

that had been harassing the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

line of communications on the National Road under Gen.

Joaquín Rea Joaquín Rea (?–1850) was a Mexican general in the Mexican–American War. General Rea led guerrilla forces of the Light Corps in harassing American convoys on the National Road between Vera Cruz and Puebla from May 1847. Due to this harassment ...

late in the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

March to Izucar de Matamoros and surprise attack

A night march in the rain from

Puebla Puebla ( en, colony, settlement), officially Free and Sovereign State of Puebla ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its cap ...

brought General Lane's force to the outskirts of Izucar de Matamoros, early in the morning. Lane quickly launched an attack, surprising and routing the guards at an outpost there. The surprised guards fled into the town with the Texan riflemen and Louisiana Dragoons in hot pursuit. Bursting into the town, a "short and sanguinary action" made the main body of troops flee and disperse into a forest on the far side of town leaving Gen. Lane in possession of the place and its depot, having suffered no casualties. 60 to 80 Mexicans were killed or wounded in the engagement, including the commander of the place, Colonel Piedras. 21 captured American soldiers were freed and armed with muskets, and mounted on horses captured from the enemy. At the depot they captured 3 artillery pieces, twelve boxes of ammunition, five hundred muskets, five hundred sabres which they had transport to take away. They spent the rest of the day resting and destroying the remaining twelve tons of shot, large amounts of bullets, matches, medical stores, and other public property from the depot. Three men were injured in an accident destroying the material.General Lane's report of the affairs at Matamoras and Galaxara, Congressional Edition, Volume 537, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1848. pp.86–89
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Aftermath

Lane returned to Puebla the next day but was intercepted on the way, by a larger force under Gen. Rea in the Pass of Galaxara. Lane had to fight his way through in the

Affair at Galaxara Pass Affair at Galaxara Pass, November 24, 1847, was a U.S. Army victory of Gen. Joseph Lane, over the Mexican Army Light Corps, an irregular force under Gen. Joaquín Rea. The Light Corps had been the principal force harassing the U.S. Army line ...

. The raid had destroyed the material needed to support an effective offensive by the Light Corps, rendering it a minor nuisance for the rest of the war.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matamoros, Skirmish at 1847 in Mexico Mexico City Campaign Battles of the Texas Ranger Division Puebla November 1847 events 1847 in the Mexican-American War

March to Izucar de Matamoros and surprise attack

Aftermath

See also

References