Battle of Chapultepec

Battle of Chapultepec
Part of the Mexican–American War, Battle for Mexico City
Battle of Chapultepec, Carl Nebel, 1851
Date September 12–13, 1847 Location Chapultepec Castle, Mexico City, Mexico Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Winfield Scott	Nicolás Bravo Felipe Santiago Xicoténcatl †
Strength
Total Army approx 2,000[1]	1,232 total Mexican Army 832 soldiers in the Castle 400 soldiers from San Blas Battalion
Casualties and losses
138 killed 673 wounded[1] 29 missing[2]: 321  Total: 862	c. 600 killed (most from San Blas Battalion) The rest were captured or wounded

The Battle of Chapultepec took place between a U.S. force and Mexican soldiers holding the strategically located Chapultepec Castle just outside Mexico City, fought 13 September 1847 during the Mexican–American War. The building, sitting atop a 200-foot (61 m) hill, was an important position for the defense of the city.

The battle was part of the campaign to take Mexico City, for which General Winfield Scott's U.S. Army totaled 7,200 men. General Antonio López de Santa Anna, commander of the Mexican army, had formed an army of approximately 25,000 men. Mexican forces, including military cadets of the Military Academy, defended the position at Chapultepec against 2,000 U.S. troops. The Mexicans' loss opened the way for the U.S. to take the center of Mexico City.

In Mexican history, the battle is cast as the story of the brave deaths of six cadets, the Niños Héroes, who leapt to their deaths rather than be taken captive, with one wrapping himself in the Mexican flag. U.S. sources also feature many depictions of the battle from the U.S. point of view.^[3] Although it lasted only about 60–90 minutes, the battle has great importance in the histories of both countries.