One of the most
“vicious” battles of
the war was the
Battle of Buena
Vista 27
fought on February
22 and 23 of 1847,
near Saltillo. In
this battle 4,759
Americans engaged
about 15,000
Mexicans. Rather
than a battle, it
was a serious of
fights with few
positions changing
hands; consequently
it was at first
difficult to tell
who had won. 28
General Francisco
Mejia’s Buena Vista
Battle Report lauded
the
San Patricios’
“as worthy of the
most consummate
praise because the
men fought with
daring bravery.”
29
