Opening Shots Buena Vista

[Mexican War]

     

     In the center of this battlefield photo 2nd Lieutenant, John O'Brien, Co. B, 4th U.S. Artillery, posted three, six pound guns.  O'Brien referred to this ground as the 'elevated plain' at Buena Vista.  His opening shots were the first artillery rounds fired on February 23, 1847. The forward elements of General Manuel Lombardini's Division approached this position. The Mexican view is the same as the modern viewer's perspective. The items in the relic photo were found in the foreground. 

[ScottG]

    Any idea what type of 6lb guns were used here and by the 4th, I have a model 1831e cast in 1836 that was said to be a Mexican War gun prior to being given to the Arkansas Militia and its service in the Civil War.    Scott

[Mexican War]

     Of the three guns deployed in the space of the photo provided, one was a Mexican four pound. (correction to my preliminary post)  the other two were six pound guns. Lieutenant John O'Brien wrote. "The 2nd regiment of Indiana Volunteers were ordered to support me.  On arriving at the point indicated [photo] I found myself within musket range of about three hundred Mexican infantry. while their battery, three hundred yards on my left, was pouring in heavy discharges of grape and canister. I opened upon the fire against the infantry and lancers with termendous effect. Every shot, whether canister or shell, seemed to tell. The enemy wavered and fell back. I advanced upon him about fifty yards."   

 

O'Briens report: U. S. Serial Set, Ex. Doc. No.1 p 160

 

    The full force of Lombardidn's Division overwhelmed the 2nd Indiana and O'Brien, three guns were lost. Company B, 4th Artillery suffered 28 casualties and the majority of its horses.  A battery of eight pound guns fired obliquely into O'Briens position. This Mexican San Blas Battery, was commanded by Captain I. Ballarta.

 

Report of General Antonio Corona, Invasion de los norte-americanos, Emilio del Castillo Negrete p. 509

 

     The fine details of the six pound guns would be very difficult to track down.  P.S. Your field gun is exceptionally maintained and presented.

[ScottG]

On 3/20/2025 at 3:47 PM, Mexican War said:

     Of the three guns deployed in the space of the photo provided, one was a Mexican four pound. (correction to my preliminary post)  the other two were six pound guns. Lieutenant John O'Brien wrote. "The 2nd regiment of Indiana Volunteers were ordered to support me.  On arriving at the point indicated [photo] I found myself within musket range of about three hundred Mexican infantry. while their battery, three hundred yards on my left, was pouring in heavy discharges of grape and canister. I opened upon the fire against the infantry and lancers with termendous effect. Every shot, whether canister or shell, seemed to tell. The enemy wavered and fell back. I advanced upon him about fifty yards."   

 

O'Briens report: U. S. Serial Set, Ex. Doc. No.1 p 160

 

    The full force of Lombardidn's Division overwhelmed the 2nd Indiana and O'Brien, three guns were lost. Company B, 4th Artillery suffered 28 casualties and the majority of its horses.  A battery of eight pound guns fired obliquely into O'Briens position. This Mexican San Blas Battery, was commanded by Captain I. Ballarta.

 

Report of General Antonio Corona, Invasion de los norte-americanos, Emilio del Castillo Negrete p. 509

 

     The fine details of the six pound guns would be very difficult to track down.  P.S. Your field gun is exceptionally maintained and presented.

 

         Thank you for the great information. When you mentioned the 4th US Artillery It really sparked an interest as our gun is part of Michigan's Military Heritage Museum and the 4th was stationed in Michigan for some time. 

         Thank you again for the compliment on the gun as well. She still goes to events and even live fires from time to time, though not as much since the pandemic... 

      Are you familiar with Paul Scheidlers research and recent book The Height of Folly on the rocket battery in the Mexican War? He is a friend and an overall great guy.

               Scott

          

[danimal03]

Great post and relics!  I think this genre is under studied.

[mikie]

Great posts. Great topic! Please keep at it. I’d love to hear more about this subject. 
mikie

[Mexican War]

Prior to the end of March 2025, I will add to the story of the 4th U. S. Artillery at Buena Vista.  

[Scarecrow]

Great post!  Thank you!  I've always had a special interest in the Mexican War.  In my younger days I had the good fortune to visit the battlefields of Palo Alto, Resaca de La Palma and Fort Brown (now a golf driving range) in Texas..  In Mexico I was able to visit Vera Cruz and the battlefields of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Molino del Rey, Churubusco and Chapultepec.  Unfortunately I never made it to Monterrey and Buena Vista.  When did you visit the battlefield of Buena Vista?  Great relics from there.

[ScottG]

   I thought I would share this Facebook page from a museum in Mexico that commemorates the battle, it is all in Spanish but there is a translate option. One of their members visited my museum here in Michigan and he was quite dedicated to the work they were doing to preserve some of the battle sites and artifacts.  Scott

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/633436268543792

[Mexican War]

     In the city of Saltillo, the museum is known as Museo Batalla de la Angostura (Battlefield of the Narrows). Residents of Saltillo know of the historical events from 1847 and will instantly point in the direction of the battlefield. 

 

     To the right of the utility pole in the battlefield photo the slope quickly gains in elevation.  The mountains in the background are Sierra de Zapaliname. Riflemen from Humphrey Marshall's Kentucky Cavalry were posted on this hillside. They received fire from General Pedro de Ampudia's Light Infantry Brigade. Marshall's command fired the first rifle shots at Buena Vista. 

 

     After the battle Dragoon officer James Henry Carleton returned to Maine on medical leave. He presented to the city of Bangor several relics from the Buena Vista battlefield. A quote from the New Orleans Picayune follows. The newspapers of this era often picked up articles from other papers to republish verbatim. 

 

     "Capt. J. H. Carleton of the 1st Dragoons, upon his return to Bangor, on account of ill health, presented to that city the following curiosities. A Tyrolese yager [Jaeger] or short rifle the first gun fired in the battle of Buena Vista, carried by bugler David Newman, used against a Mexican reconnoitering party just before the battle commenced on the 22nd of February." 

 

  

   The Jaeger rifle shown here is representative of the celebrated short rifle that originated in Hess and Bavaria.  Tyrol is a region in Austria and Italy. 

 

 

 

[illinigander]

Back to the artillery.  Were US troops still using iron guns in the MW?

illinigsnder

[Mexican War]

Iron Guns: U.S. field artillery in the Mexican War consisted of 6-pound guns and 12-pound howitzers.  The 18-pound guns were the optimum gun when siege artillery was required. I do not know the ratio of iron guns to bronze.  I have studied the placement of guns on the battlefield and their effectiveness.  In 1845 the drill manual and the organization of Artillery Regiments were up-to-date improvements.  The innovation, readiness, and maneuverability of the 6-pound gun and 12-pound howitzer made victory and survival a thin margin outcome for the Americans at Buena Vista. 

 

At Angostura (the narrows) on the American extreme right, Major John Washington observed the blast and destruction created by his five 6-pounders.  His three other guns, two 6-pounders and one 4-pounder were on the American extreme left. The ad-hoc Mexican brigade that advanced up the road was shredded by the Washington's guns. 

 

"The rapidity and precision of our fire scattered and dispersed this force in a few minutes, with considerable loss on his side, and little or none to our own."

 

I will add additional photos of the 6-pound gun at Wellsville N.Y. on my new post 'Angostura, the Pinch Point'.  

[illinigander]

 

I was told once (by whom?) that by the Mexican War the US regular artillery guns 6-pdr. & 12-pdr. how. were bronze and the iron ones were then only issued to state militias under the 1808 militia act.  At that time iron guns were still thought to be unsafe compared to bronze ones.  Remember the "walking sticks?

illinigander

 

[Mexican War]

Pittsburgh did not always produce the best iron and steel.  The foundries had learning curves.  The cast iron M1819 Walking Stick, was a 6-pounder. It gained a bad reputation because several burst at the breech.  A foundry in Pittsburgh filled a contract for a few dozen. There is one on display at the NSSA, North South Skirmish Association national range near Winchester, Virginia. 

 

I was unaware of the fine details concerning artillery in the 1808 militia act. 

[illinigander]

I hope you have time to continue your story, it is most interesting.  I would like to hear more from someone who has been to that site.

illinigander