Naval operations against Tabasco
In the spring of 1846 the United States Navy established a blockade against the east coast of Mexico, shutting down the ports and preventing supplies and trade goods from reaching the country. In the fall of the same year, the US Navy began aggressive actions against Mexican bastions along the Tabasco River, using a squadron of steamers and sailing schooners under the command of Matthew Calbraith Perry, whose brother, Oliver Hazard Perry, had been one of the naval heroes of the War of 1812. Perry’s squadron twice assaulted the towns of San Juan Bautista and Frontera, using heavy naval bombardments and landing parties.
After Perry captured the ports along the Tabasco (today’s Grijalva River) Mexico was sealed off from the outside world by sea. The Mexican state of Tabasco, as well as the state of Chiapas, rose in revolt against the Mexican government, seeking to join the nation of Guatemala. Emissaries from the insurgents sought out Perry to ask for his support. Perry declined, continuing to patrol the river and denying supplies to the Mexicans. The American troops dispatched to garrison San Juan Bautista and other towns along the river were soon stricken with yellow fever, and brought under frequent attacks by guerrillas and bandits.
Following Taylor’s victory at Buena Vista President Polk ordered his army to remain in place, and transferred a significant number of his troops to the command of Major General Winfield Scott. Scott’s army was to be used for the main thrust into Mexico, supported by naval forces which attacked at Veracruz. The fortifications around Veracruz were considered the most formidable in the world other than Gibraltar, and were well manned. The Americans planned to land troops south of the fortifications, which were bombarded by naval ships, after which they would be encircled by the American troops and the city reduced by siege.
The United States Army and Navy had not engaged in a major operation of such a nature before. The Navy was responsible for placing the army with its artillery, horses, supplies, and troops of cavalry and infantry ashore, in a manner which allowed it to immediately enter combat. Ships of lesser draft were positioned closer inshore to provide covering artillery fire as the army disembarked. Larger ships provided covering fire over the heads of the small boats oared by navy crews as they crawled to the beach. The Mexican Army was taken by surprise and the entire American army of 8,600 men was landed without casualties.
The landing at Veracruz was the first amphibious assault undertaken by the United States Army in its history, and one of the most successful. By the evening of March 9, 1847, the American army was entirely in position for an assault on the port of Veracruz, which when taken would open the road to Mexico City. The US Navy then supported the military operation against the fortifications through the construction of a naval battery ashore, using the heavy guns from the supporting ships. The battery was constructed by a young member of the Army Corps of Engineers, Captain Robert E. Lee, in a position from which it could readily destroy the enemy’s works.