Siege of Veracruz

9–29 March 1847, Veracruz and the castle of San Juan de Ulúa

American victory; Veracruz surrendered

On 9 March Conner's ships landed General Winfield Scott's army on Collado beach south of the city in specially built surfboats: more than 10,000 men came ashore in a single afternoon without losing a man. Perry took over the squadron on 21 March. The ships could not risk the guns of San Juan de Ulúa, but Josiah Tattnall's 'mosquito fleet' of small steamers and schooners ran in close to bombard it until Perry called them back, and sailors landed six heavy naval guns and manned a battery that breached the city wall. Veracruz surrendered on 27 March, and Scott began his march on Mexico City.

United States Navy

6+ ships, none lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
USS Mississippi Perry's flagship from 21 March	Frigate	Survived
USS Raritan	Frigate	Survived
USS Potomac	Frigate	Survived
USS Princeton	Steamer	Survived
USS Spitfire Tattnall's mosquito fleet	Gunboat	Survived
USS Vixen Tattnall's mosquito fleet	Gunboat	Survived

Flotillas and other craft	Number	Lost
Sloops, gunboats and steamers Including the schooner gunboats of the mosquito fleet, and dozens of army transports.	Many	?

Flotillas and other craft

Number

Lost

Sloops, gunboats and steamers

Including the schooner gunboats of the mosquito fleet, and dozens of army transports.

Many

Mexican garrison

No ships engaged

Forts, batteries and aircraft	Strength	Outcome
City of Veracruz and its forts Under General Juan Morales. The city walls were breached by the naval battery's heavy guns.	about 3,400 men	Surrendered on 27 March
Castle of San Juan de Ulúa The island fortress guarding the harbour, too strong for the squadron to attack directly. Bombarded at close range by Tattnall's mosquito fleet.	Not recorded	Surrendered with the city

Forts, batteries and aircraft

Strength

Outcome

City of Veracruz and its forts

Under General Juan Morales. The city walls were breached by the naval battery's heavy guns.

about 3,400 men

Surrendered on 27 March

Castle of San Juan de Ulúa

The island fortress guarding the harbour, too strong for the squadron to attack directly. Bombarded at close range by Tattnall's mosquito fleet.

Not recorded

Surrendered with the city

Map

Scott's army sails for Veracruz March 1847