Battle of Molino del Rey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Molino del Rey |
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| Part of the Mexican–American War | |||||||
 A painting of the battle |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Mexico |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Winfield Scott William J. Worth |
 Antonio León † Francisco Pérez Lucas Balderas † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 9,800 | 4,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 116 killed 671 wounded 18 missing |
269 killed 500 wounded. 685 captured |
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The Battle of Molino del Rey happened on September 8, 1847. It was one of the toughest fights during the Mexican–American War, as part of the Battle for Mexico City. The battle took place near Mexico City between Mexican forces led by General Antonio León and American forces under Major General Winfield Scott. Even though the Americans didn't gain much land, the Mexican forces couldn't stop them from capturing Mexico City just one week later.
Why the Battle Happened
The American army had set up camps south of Mexico City. General Scott and General Worth's soldiers were at Tacubaya, while other divisions were in nearby towns like Mixcoac and San Ángel.
On September 6, 1847, General Scott ended a ceasefire that had been in place after the Battle of Churubusco. This happened because talks broke down, and it became clear that the Mexican leader, Antonio López de Santa Anna, was getting ready to fight again.
The next day, September 7, American soldiers saw many Mexican horsemen near some large stone buildings. These buildings were called El Molino del Rey, which means "King's Mill." They were about 1,000 yards (about 1 km) west of the Castle at Chapultepec. A group of trees separated the mill from the castle, and the castle's cannons could easily reach the mill area.
General Winfield Scott heard that the mill might be a place where cannons were made. There were also rumors that Santa Anna was melting down church bells to make new cannons because he desperately needed more weapons. Because of this, Scott ordered General Worth to attack the mill. His orders were to capture it, destroy any factories, and get rid of any weapons found there.
The Mexican forces at Molino del Rey were led by Brigadier Antonio León. Brigadier General Francisco Pérez was in charge of a nearby building called Casa Mata. Brigadier General Simeón Ramírez's soldiers, with seven cannons, were in the ditch connecting the two places. General Juan Álvarez had 4,000 cavalry (soldiers on horseback) waiting as backup.
The Fight at Molino del Rey
At 5:45 AM on September 8, General Worth sent about 500 American soldiers to attack the western side of the mill buildings. This group was led by Major George Wright. Behind them, other American brigades and cannons were ready to support the attack.
Major Wright's soldiers faced heavy fire from Mexican cannons and small guns. They were forced to retreat, and many officers were killed or wounded. The Mexican soldiers even launched a counterattack. Similarly, another American group had to pull back, but their cannons forced the Mexican soldiers to leave Casa Mata.
General Worth sent more American soldiers into the fight. General León and Colonel Lucas Balderas, two Mexican commanders, were killed. The Mexican forces tried to counterattack twice, but the Americans managed to break through two gates. They then fought their way room by room to take the mill. This took about two hours. However, they found only a few molds for guns, not a full cannon factory.
Near noon, the Casa Mata building caught fire and exploded, causing more injuries. By 1:00 PM, the Americans had taken the mill, but they were back where they started in terms of their overall position. The battle was very costly for both sides. About 685 Mexican soldiers were captured, and many more were killed or wounded.
What Happened Next
Some historians called the Battle of Molino del Rey a "Pyrrhic victory" for the Americans. This means it was a victory, but it came at a very high cost. Even after destroying the mill, General Scott still needed a way to get into Mexico City. Because of this, preparations immediately began for the next big fight, the Battle of Chapultepec.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla del Molino del Rey para niños
