788:
order, prompting French residents to flee to the fortress. Baudin, who expected negotiations to start again, found himself with further military operations to perform. Baudin decided to answer the challenge by a raid on
Veracruz. In addition to the garrison and the newly arrived forces, the city was protected by a belt of fortifications; it was, however, a small city, and its layout was well known to the French. Baudin thus decided to attempt a swift surprise strike to disarm the forts and kidnap Santa Anna. To strengthen the sparse forces available, the soldiers of the artillery and engineering were reinforced by sailors from the crews of the ships. On 5 December, at 5:00 in the morning, boats from the squadron landed 1500 men on the beaches before Veracruz; they split into three columns: two wings ascended the city walls near the strongholds of Santiago and Conception. The Mexicans were taken by surprise, so much so that no shots were fired. The two groups sabotaged the cannons and ran on the wall to reach the opposite side of the city.
795:, was tasked with blowing up the door commanding access to the harbor, storm the city and attack the buildings where the Mexican generals were thought to be staying. This largely succeeded, as the door was destroyed as planned and the column reached the Mexican headquarters almost unopposed; however, Mexican soldiers began to put up a resistance and Santa Anna managed to escape, although Arista was captured. The French retreated with their prisoner, fighting on the way with a unit of Mexican troops stationed in a monastery being used as barracks. Baudin, who had disembarked, declared the mission accomplished and ordered his men to re-embark. The two wing columns retreated without difficulties, but as the central column completed its reembarkment, it was hit by a counterattack led by Santa Anna. The French opened fire with captured cannons and with the light
268:
251:
220:
777:
445:
654:
141:
727:
311:
294:
280:
232:
855:, was hailed as a hero for his ultimately failed attempt at a counterattack; severely wounded, he had a leg amputated on 6 December and battled death for days. His narration of the battle made him very popular, to the point that his leg was buried in Mexico with full military honors. Santa Anna seized power on 20 March 1839 in a coup d'État, furthering the political instability that had been the cause of the conflict. In France the expedition elevated two officers to prominence: Baudin, an elderly veteran of the Napoleonic era; and the 20-year-old Prince of Joinville, third son of the ruling
666:, in Texas, and across the Rio Bravo. The Mexicans were in fact trying to wear down Baudin's forces until the blockade would have to be lifted to replenish the ships and rest the crews. The French, on the other hand, were taking the opportunity to reconnoiter the coast, measure the depth of water and observe the Mexican forces; they had noticed that the artillery of the fort was in a state of disrepair and a naval bombardment could be carried out. Eventually Baudin issued an ultimatum for 27 November at noon, and readied for combat. In the afternoon of 26 November the French formed a
304:
261:
25:
437:
480:, had his stocks pillaged by drunken Mexican soldiers. The French government decided to settle the matter once and for all by sending a military expedition to Mexico, tasked with demanding punishment for the culprits, guarantees for the security of French interests in the future, to demand that French citizens in the country be exempted from forced war contributions and borrowings and the payment of 600,000
473:
behalf from the French government, and their allies were becoming more numerous and urgent. Between 1828–38 a rash of killings, expropriations, forced borrowings, arbitrary arrests and other abuses were committed. The French government made several attempts at settling the matter by commercial agreements, demands for compensations and even threats of armed interventions, but to no avail.
844:, reported the effects of the shells in the fort. The fight also served as a confirmation to the usefulness of steamers to assist traditional warships in their maneuvers. Even though they were fitted only with 100-hp engines and paddles, they had efficiently positioned the frigates to their optimum firing positions. The French Navy had already used a steamer in this role during the
808:
The double defeat in San Juan de Ulua and
Veracruz itself induced the Mexican government to reopen negotiations to settle the conflict, especially since the French had not increased their demands as their position grew stronger. The Mexican Army evacuated Veracruz, but it remained under the authority
787:
The capture of San Juan de Ulua came as a surprise to the
Mexican government, which declared war on France, expelled all French citizens established in Mexico, relieved RincĂłn of command and sent an army of 3200 men, under Santa Anna and Arista, to retake Veracruz. This army reached the city in short
407:
on frigates, silenced the citadel and forced it to surrender on 28 November, a remarkable feat for the time. Mexican authorities, however, refused to cave in to French demands, forcing Baudin to mount a raid against the city itself on 5 December. Despite its limited ground forces, the French squadron
497:
refused to satisfy the demands. On 16 April 1838 diplomatic relations between France and Mexico broke down, leaving military action as a last recourse. However, the fortress of San Juan de Ulua was much too strong for
Bazoche's forces, who were further exhausted by months of campaigning and suffered
757:
At 20:30 a
Mexican boat sailed to the French squadron to parley and request a suspension of hostilities so that the fort could request orders from RincĂłn. Baudin granted a truce until the 28th at 2:00 in the morning, and personally wrote a letter, threatening to annihilate the fortress and offering
839:
is often reported to have stated in the House that the incident was the only recorded example of a strong fort overwhelmed entirely by a naval squadron. The French success was in part due to the use of newly introduced
Paixhans guns, even though the frigates had fired 7771 round shots and only 177
686:
stayed off the scene as an observer, while the other ships anchored near
Blanquila island. A number of neutral ships, including several naval ships from nations not party to the conflict but interested in its outcome, anchored off the scene to observe the events. The maneuvers were observed by the
741:
Soon afterwards, two powder depots were hit and exploded; they were followed by the signaling tower of the fort, which exploded in an impressive mushroom cloud of smoke and debris, later represented in many depictions of the battle. A fourth explosion occurred around 17:10. Fire from the
Mexican
472:
in 20 years. Civilian populations suffered from these struggles for power, as well as foreign expatriates, as the country had attracted considerable investments, notably in the mining industry. In particular, the 6000 French that had settled in Mexico periodically requested intervention on their
398:
Having crossed the
Atlantic to settle a dispute between France and Mexico, the squadron anchored off Veracruz and negotiated until all diplomatic means to resolve the dispute appeared exhausted. After announcing that hostilities would begin, Baudin had his squadron bombard the fort. French fire,
799:
of the boats, firing grapeshot that killed and maimed the
Mexicans; Santa Anna himself had his horse killed under him and was severely wounded. The French had sustained eight killed and 56 wounded, mostly from friendly fire in the confusion of the Mexican counterattack; the Mexicans suffered 31
722:
to join the fight, which was granted. She positioned herself in front of the frigates and started a well-directed fire, which Joinville commanded from the poop deck. At some point cannon fire from the fort penetrated the prince's cabin and shattered his dish; Joinville then took off his hat and
813:
with a fleet. The peace treaty was eventually signed on 9 March 1839, whereby the Mexican government relented. The 600,000 pesos were paid and French residents of Mexico enjoyed better protection. The squadron returned to Brest on 15 August 1839, after losing 24 men to yellow fever. Baudin was
635:
The bulk of the squadron left Toulon in the summer of 1838, stopping in Cadix to rendezvous with the ships inbound from Brest, and sailed for the Caribbean. A storm partially scattered the fleet en route, whose main forces reached Veracruz on 29 October, to be rejoined by later ships around
423:
and the modernization of navies around the world. Politically, the attack undermined the Mexican regime while bolstering the prestige of Santa Anna, contributing to the political instability of Mexico. In France the battle attracted considerable public attention at the moment, but was later
767:
surrendered the fort to the French that day; the three artillery companies landed and took position there. Baudin accepted that 1000 Mexican soldiers stay in Vera Cruz, as the French did not have sufficient troops to formally occupy the city. The ships then retreated from the reef, as the
661:
After his arrival, Baudin opened negotiations with Bustamante's government, but to no avail. The French blockade did hinder the Mexican economy, but it did not have a crucial impact, as the country was largely self-sufficient and other needed goods could be imported from Corpus Christi
492:
and three brigs, was sent to Mexico in late 1837 in order to demonstrate French resolve and anchored off Veracruz. As Mexico did not possess any warship capable of challenging the squadron, the frigates blockaded the city unopposed, seizing 36 merchantmen in the process, but President
709:
Never before had I seen a more nourished and well-directed fire. I had no other worry than to moderate its ardour. From time to time, I signaled a cease-fire to let the smoke that hid the fortress dissipate: we then corrected the pointing and fire would begin again with a renewed
762:
were demolished. At 3:00 the governor had still not answered; Baudin then threatened to bombard the city itself if the fort did not surrender immediately. In the early hours of the morning, RincĂłn caved and signed the capitulation of the fort and of the city. Commanding Gen.
758:
an "honorable capitulation". The defenders had lost over 220 killed already, and had expended almost all the ammunition not destroyed in the explosion of the powder depot. One of the upper batteries was entirely destroyed, and most of the outer
809:
of the Bustamante government, while the French Army remained stationed in the fort. The British offered their mediation to ease the process, dispatching their Northern American squadron in the Gulf of Mexico, along with Ambassador
537:
was supposed to reinforce the squadron, but she was wrecked in Bermuda. Frigates were chosen because they were deemed strong enough to carry out a serious military mission but were sufficiently light to avoid causing tensions with
419:
The swift capture of the citadel by a small squadron of relatively light warships stunned military observers who had gathered to watch the scene, and marked the beginning of the era of
863:
during the bombardment and the main column during the raid. Joinville became a hero, and used his prestige to promote technical innovations like steam power. He was promoted to
840:
Paixhans shells; the bomb ketches had themselves fired 302 mortar bombs, and were credited with the destruction of the Mexican ammunition depots. The American observer, Admiral
1029:
640:, located about a kilometre from the city and protected by a reef. It had 103 bronze and 83 iron cannon and an effective strength of four to five hundred men.
754:
remained along with the bomb ketches. At sunset only a few of the French guns were still firing, and Baudin ordered a cease-fire at 20:00 to save ammunition.
632:, at the other end of the Gulf of Mexico, the squadron had to use Havana as a base, and thus made itself dependent on the good will of Spanish authorities.
1035:
624:
on the frigates. It also transported three artillery companies and one engineering company, but no naval infantry. With the nearest French stations in
688:
682:, two of them helped by the steamers. In the morning of the 27th the two bomb ketches were towed behind the frigates, close to the reef. The corvette
1151:
468:, and the rise of many different factions attempting to seize power. Several generals took power through force of arms, resulting in 20 different
272:
484:, equivalent to 3,000,000 francs. The Mexican government refused, and because of the triggering incident, the conflict has become known as the "
1072:
539:
42:
89:
61:
836:
1136:
1131:
1028:
792:
871:. The tactics used by the French squadron, and its use of steam power and shell artillery, were a prelude of the events of the
68:
1059:
425:
702:
settlement that I was in charge of proposing to the Mexican cabinet: I find myself in the necessity to open hostilities".
75:
516:
510:
776:
687:
Mexicans, who sent two officers over to further negotiate. At 14:00 Baudin sent them back with a message for General
108:
800:
killed and 26 wounded, according to the account of Santa Anna. Five bullet impacts were found on Baudin's own boat.
57:
528:
543:
968:
948:
444:
46:
1034:
891:
Which was inexact, as instances of forts reduced to silence by naval forces were recorded in the 18th century.
413:
284:
1146:
1141:
653:
620:. The squadron sported 380 guns, some of them heavy mortars mounted on the bomb ketches and newly introduced
509:, was sent later that year. The backbone of this squadron was provided by four powerful frigates: the 60-gun
488:". A first French frigate squadron under Captain Charles Louis Joseph Bazoche, comprising the 60-gun frigate
381:
236:
176:
522:
140:
845:
726:
457:
851:
In Mexico the war shook the political landscape. Santa Anna, who previously had been discredited by the
1111:
768:
strengthening sea rendered the anchorage dangerous. French casualties were four killed and 29 wounded.
82:
1116:
1060:
L'expansion commerciale française au Mexique et les causes du conflit franco-mexicain de 1838-1839
1126:
1121:
764:
315:
35:
705:
At 14:30 the three frigates opened fire, followed by the two bomb ketches. Baudin later stated:
924:
821:
The fall of San Juan de Ulua came as a surprise to the world. Neutral observers, notably from
952:
864:
1003:
822:
494:
8:
469:
693:
637:
449:
388:
759:
420:
588:, had to reroute to Havana after sustaining damage in a storm), and two bomb ketches,
829:
287:
698:, the Mexican commander: "I have lost all hopes to obtain through pacific means the
149:
852:
810:
997:
303:
260:
1037:
Biographie des célébrités militaires des armées de terre et de mer de 1789 à 1850
868:
392:
197:
856:
841:
667:
506:
465:
409:
377:
298:
255:
1105:
1087:
1074:
734:
719:
370:
224:
201:
815:
621:
499:
404:
374:
750:
to retreat, and they were taken away in tow by the steamers; the flagship
436:
872:
400:
605:
440:
An engraving of the French admiral Charles Baudin, by an unknown author.
957:. Les gloires maritimes de la France. Paris: E. Plon. pp. 113–114.
629:
625:
485:
132:
796:
699:
24:
477:
172:
973:
604:, to facilitate maneuvers in the harbor, and two corvettes armed
481:
384:
663:
636:
mid-November. The city of Veracruz was defended by the fort of
461:
1049:
Vicente Riva Palacio - México a través de los siglos - Mexico
476:
In 1837 a French pastry cook named Remontel, established in
648:
718:, having cruised off the fort by the north, requested
947:
781:
Details on the taking of St-JEAN ULLOA and VERA CRUZ
1052:
Henry B. Parkes _ Histoire du Mexique PAYOT - Paris
542:. The squadron also comprised the 24-gun corvettes
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
999:Army and Navy Chronicle, and Scientific Repository
742:batteries then greatly diminished. Baudin ordered
835:, reported the effect of the French bombardment.
1103:
961:
657:Positions of the ships during the bombardment.
596:. Furthermore, the squadron had two steamers,
1042:(in French). Paris: Poignavant et Compagnie.
995:
424:overshadowed by the much more considerable
146:Expedition of Vice-Admiral Baudin to Mexico
969:"NAVY ESTIMATES. (Hansard, 11 March 1839)"
731:Épisode de l'expédition du Mexique en 1838
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
775:
725:
652:
616:, for logistics. Baudin had his flag on
443:
435:
1152:19th-century military history of France
649:Bombing and capture of San Juan de Ulua
395:, from 27 November to 5 December 1838.
369:, was a naval engagement that pitted a
1104:
1026:
989:
399:particularly heavy mortars mounted on
917:
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
783:, illustrated by an unknown author.
771:
13:
867:and to Knight in the Order of the
505:A stronger second squadron, under
14:
1163:
929:. Impr. Royale. 1839. p. 474
309:
302:
292:
278:
266:
259:
249:
230:
218:
139:
23:
1020:
974:Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
926:Annales maritimes et coloniales
408:succeeded in capturing General
34:needs additional citations for
1137:Naval battles involving Mexico
1132:Naval battles involving France
941:
904:
885:
464:gaining independence from the
58:"Battle of Veracruz" 1838
1:
949:Jurien de la Gravière, Edmond
898:
431:
426:French intervention in Mexico
391:, which defended the city of
163:27 November – 5 December 1838
803:
7:
846:Invasion of Algiers in 1830
584:(a ninth brig, the ten-gun
458:Mexican War of Independence
414:Antonio LĂłpez de Santa Anna
10:
1168:
828:, under Captain Robb, and
791:The central column, under
367:Battle of San Juan de UlĂşa
643:
344:
321:
242:
211:
155:
138:
130:
125:
1030:"Baudin (Charles)"
1027:Mullié, Charles (1852).
1002:. Wm. Q. Force. p.
878:
859:, who had commanded the
412:and in wounding General
373:frigate squadron under
353:224 killed and wounded
784:
738:
723:saluted the Mexicans.
712:
658:
453:
448:Layout of the fort of
441:
243:Commanders and leaders
16:Part of the Pastry War
865:capitaine de vaisseau
793:François de Joinville
779:
729:
707:
656:
447:
439:
350:64 killed and wounded
345:Casualties and losses
1147:December 1838 events
1142:November 1838 events
996:Force, W.Q. (1839).
495:Anastasio Bustamante
470:Presidents of Mexico
365:, also known as the
43:improve this article
1088:19.2092°N 96.1314°W
1084: /
1064:Bulletin Hispanique
785:
739:
670:with the frigates
659:
454:
442:
363:Battle of Veracruz
273:François d'Orléans
126:Battle of Veracruz
1112:Conflicts in 1838
1093:19.2092; -96.1314
714:Around 15:30 the
359:
358:
207:
206:
119:
118:
111:
93:
1159:
1099:
1098:
1096:
1095:
1094:
1089:
1085:
1082:
1081:
1080:
1077:
1057:
1048:
1043:
1041:
1032:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1010:
993:
987:
986:
984:
982:
965:
959:
958:
945:
939:
938:
936:
934:
921:
915:
908:
892:
889:
853:Texas Revolution
811:Richard Pakenham
772:Raid on Veracruz
697:
638:San Juan de UlĂşa
450:San Juan de UlĂşa
389:San Juan de UlĂşa
314:
313:
312:
306:
297:
296:
295:
283:
282:
281:
271:
270:
269:
263:
254:
253:
252:
235:
234:
233:
223:
222:
221:
157:
156:
143:
123:
122:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
1167:
1166:
1162:
1161:
1160:
1158:
1157:
1156:
1117:Veracruz (city)
1102:
1101:
1092:
1090:
1086:
1083:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1071:
1070:
1058:Jacques Penot,
1055:
1046:
1023:
1018:
1008:
1006:
994:
990:
980:
978:
977:. 11 March 1839
967:
966:
962:
954:L'amiral Baudin
946:
942:
932:
930:
923:
922:
918:
909:
905:
901:
896:
895:
890:
886:
881:
869:Legion of Honor
837:Lord Wellington
806:
774:
691:
651:
646:
574:Dupetit-Thouars
460:concluded with
434:
421:shell artillery
355:1 fort captured
354:
339:
334:
332:
330:
328:
310:
308:
307:
293:
291:
290:
279:
277:
267:
265:
264:
250:
248:
231:
229:
219:
217:
193:
179:
144:
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1165:
1155:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1127:1838 in France
1124:
1122:1838 in Mexico
1119:
1114:
1068:
1067:
1053:
1050:
1044:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1016:
988:
960:
940:
916:
902:
900:
897:
894:
893:
883:
882:
880:
877:
857:Louis-Philippe
842:David Farragut
805:
802:
773:
770:
668:line of battle
650:
647:
645:
642:
507:Charles Baudin
466:Spanish Empire
433:
430:
428:in the 1860s.
410:Mariano Arista
378:Charles Baudin
357:
356:
351:
347:
346:
342:
341:
336:
335:2 bomb ketches
324:
323:
319:
318:
299:Mariano Arista
275:
256:Charles Baudin
245:
244:
240:
239:
227:
214:
213:
209:
208:
205:
204:
195:
189:
188:
187:French victory
185:
181:
180:
171:
169:
165:
164:
161:
153:
152:
150:Théodore Gudin
136:
135:
128:
127:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1164:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1109:
1107:
1100:
1097:
1065:
1061:
1054:
1051:
1045:
1040:
1038:
1031:
1025:
1024:
1005:
1001:
1000:
992:
976:
975:
970:
964:
956:
955:
950:
944:
928:
927:
920:
914:, pp. 169–170
913:
907:
903:
888:
884:
876:
874:
870:
866:
862:
858:
854:
849:
847:
843:
838:
834:
833:
827:
826:
819:
817:
812:
801:
798:
794:
789:
782:
778:
769:
766:
765:Antonio Gaona
761:
755:
753:
749:
745:
736:
735:Horace Vernet
733:, painted by
732:
728:
724:
721:
720:authorization
717:
711:
706:
703:
701:
695:
690:
689:Manuel RincĂłn
685:
681:
677:
673:
669:
665:
655:
641:
639:
633:
631:
627:
623:
622:Paixhans guns
619:
615:
611:
607:
603:
599:
595:
591:
587:
583:
579:
575:
571:
567:
563:
559:
555:
551:
547:
546:
541:
536:
532:
531:
526:
525:
520:
519:
515:, the 50-gun
514:
513:
508:
503:
501:
496:
491:
487:
483:
479:
474:
471:
467:
463:
459:
451:
446:
438:
429:
427:
422:
417:
415:
411:
406:
405:Paixhans guns
402:
396:
394:
390:
386:
383:
379:
376:
372:
368:
364:
352:
349:
348:
343:
337:
326:
325:
320:
317:
316:Antonio Gaona
305:
300:
289:
286:
276:
274:
262:
257:
247:
246:
241:
238:
228:
226:
216:
215:
210:
203:
199:
196:
191:
190:
186:
183:
182:
178:
174:
170:
167:
166:
162:
159:
158:
154:
151:
147:
142:
137:
134:
129:
124:
121:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
1069:
1063:
1047:(in Spanish)
1036:
1021:Bibliography
1007:. Retrieved
998:
991:
979:. Retrieved
972:
963:
953:
943:
931:. Retrieved
925:
919:
911:
906:
887:
860:
850:
831:
824:
820:
816:Vice-Admiral
814:promoted to
807:
790:
786:
780:
756:
751:
747:
743:
740:
730:
715:
713:
708:
704:
683:
679:
675:
671:
660:
634:
617:
613:
609:
601:
597:
593:
589:
585:
581:
577:
573:
569:
565:
561:
557:
553:
552:; the brigs
549:
544:
534:
533:; Bazoche's
529:
523:
517:
511:
504:
500:yellow fever
489:
475:
455:
418:
401:bomb vessels
397:
380:against the
375:Rear Admiral
366:
362:
360:
331:2 corvettes
212:Belligerents
200:occupied by
145:
131:Part of the
120:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
1091: /
1056:(in French)
873:Crimean War
692: [
329:4 frigates
192:Territorial
1106:Categories
1079:96°07′53″W
1076:19°12′33″N
899:References
797:carronades
630:Guadeloupe
626:Martinique
566:Cuirassier
486:Pastry War
432:Background
285:Santa Anna
133:Pastry War
99:April 2022
69:newspapers
1009:30 August
981:30 August
933:30 August
825:Satellite
823:HMS
804:Aftermath
748:Iphigénie
710:vivacity.
700:honorable
680:Iphigénie
562:Voltigeur
558:Lapérouse
554:Alcibiade
512:Iphigénie
951:(1888).
912:op. cit.
760:defenses
614:Caravane
606:en flûte
535:Herminie
490:Herminie
482:Piastres
478:Tacubaya
452:in 1838.
393:Veracruz
333:8 brigs
322:Strength
198:Veracruz
173:Veracruz
168:Location
910:Penot,
752:Néréide
676:Néréide
618:Néréide
610:Fortune
602:Phaéton
598:Météore
594:Cyclope
590:Vulcain
586:Laurier
570:Eclipse
540:Britain
518:Néréide
385:citadel
382:Mexican
194:changes
83:scholar
1066:, 1973
1039:
861:Créole
832:Levant
744:Gloire
716:Créole
684:Créole
672:Gloire
664:harbor
644:Battle
578:Dunois
550:NaĂŻade
545:Créole
524:Gloire
462:Mexico
371:French
340:1 fort
338:3,229
327:3,000
301:
258:
237:Mexico
225:France
202:France
184:Result
177:Mexico
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
879:Notes
696:]
582:Zèbre
530:Médée
498:from
90:JSTOR
76:books
1011:2015
983:2015
935:2015
830:USS
746:and
678:and
628:and
612:and
600:and
592:and
580:and
548:and
527:and
456:The
403:and
361:The
160:Date
62:news
1004:159
387:of
45:by
1108::
1062:,
1033:.
971:.
875:.
848:.
818:.
694:fr
674:,
608:,
576:,
572:,
568:,
564:,
560:,
556:,
521:,
502:.
416:.
175:,
148:,
1013:.
985:.
937:.
737:.
288:Ă—
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
