Battle of Veracruz (1838)


 * For other battles at Veracruz see Battle of Veracruz (disambiguation).

The Battle of Veracruz, or the Battle of San Juan de Ulúa, is a naval battle that opposed a French frigate squadron under Contre-amiral Charles Baudin to the Mexican citadel of San Juan de Ulúa that defended the city of Veracruz between the 27 November 1838 to 5 December.

Having crossed the Atlantic to settle a dispute between France and Mexico, the squadron anchored off Veracruz and negotiated until all diplomatic means to solve the dispute appeared exhausted. After announcing that hostilities would begin, Baudin had his squadron bombard the fort. French fire, particularly heavy mortars mounted on Bomb vessels and Paixhans guns 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 succeeded in capturing Mariano Arista and in wounding General Antonio López de Santa Anna.

The swift capture of the citadel at the hands of a limited squadron of relatively light warships stunned military observers who had gathered to watch the scene, and marked the beginning of the era of shell artillery and the modernisation of navies across the world. Politically, the attack undermined the Mexican regime while bolstering the prestige of Santa Anna, contributing to further the political instability of Mexico. In France, the battle yielded considerable public attention at the moment, but was later overshadowed by the much more considerable French intervention in Mexico in the 1860s.

Background
The Mexican War of Independence concluded with the country of Mexico gaining independence from Spain, and a flourishing of different factions attempting to seize power. Several generals disputed authority over the country through the force of arms, resulting in 20 different Presidents of Mexico 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 behalf from the French government, and their allies were becoming more numerous and urgent. Between 1828 and 1838, a wealth 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.

In 1837, a French pastry cook named Remontel, established in Tacubaya, had his stocks pillaged by drunken Mexican soldiers. The French government decided to settle the matter once 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, that French citizens in the country be exempted from forced war contributions and borrowings, and 600 000 Piastres, equivalent to three million francs. The Mexican government refused, and because of the triggering incident, the conflict was nicknamed "Pastry War".

A first French frigate squadron under Captain Charles Louis Joseph Bazoche, comprising the 60-gun frigate Herminie and three brigs, was sent to Mexico in late 1837 in order to demonstrate French resolve off Vera Cruz. As Mexico did not possess any warship capable of challenging the squadron, the frigates blockaded the city unopposed, seizing a 36 merchantmen in the process, but President Anastasio Bustamante refused to satisfy the demands. On 16 April 1838, diplomatic relations between France and Mexico broke down, leaving armed action as a last recourse. However, the fortress of San Juan de Ulua was much too strong for Bazoche's forces, who were furthermore exhausted by months of campaign, and suffered from Yellow fever.

As stronger second squadron, under Counter admiral Charles Baudin, was then sent the next year. The backbone of this squadron was constituted by four powerful frigates: the 60-gun Iphigénie, the 50-gun Néréide, Gloire and Médée; Bazoche's Herminie 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 sufficiently light to avoid challenging the British naval supremacy. The squadron also comprised the 24-gun corvettes Créole and Naïade; the brigs Alcibiade, Lapérouse, Voltigeur, Cuirassier, Eclipse, Dupetit-Thouars, Dunois and Zèbre (a ninth brig, the 10-gun Laurier, had to reroute to Havana after sustaining damage in a storm), and two bomb ships, Vulcain and Cyclope. Furthermore, the squadron had two steamers, Météore and Phaéton, to facilitate maneuvers in the harbour, and two corvettes armed en flûte, Fortune and Caravane, for logistics. Baudin had his flag on Néréide. The squadron sported 380 guns, some of them heavy mortars mounted on the Bomb vessels and newly introduced Paixhans guns on the frigates. It also transported three artillery companies and one engineering company, but no naval infantry. With the nearest French stations in Martinique and Guadeloupe, at the other end of the Gulf of Mexico, the squadron had to use Havana as a base, and thus leave itself dependent to the good will of Spanish authorities.

The brunt 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 Vera Cruz on 29 October, to be rejoined by later ships around mid-November.

The city of Vera Cruz was defended by the fort of San Juan de Ulúa, a strong fortress located about a kilometre off the city, and protected by a reef. The citadel was deemed invulnerable to naval attacks and thought of highly enough to be nicknamed "the Gibraltar of the Indies", However, many of these guns were by then obsolete, and with the civil turmoil endured by the country, many of the soldiers were badly equipped and armed, famished and ill.

Bombing and capture of San Juan de Ulua
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 harbour, in Texas, and across the Rio Bravo. The Mexicans were in fact trying the 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 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 certain state of disrepair and that a naval bombardment could be carried out. Eventually, Baudin thus gave an ultimatum for the 27th of November at noon, and readied for combat.

In the afternoon of 26, the French formed a line of battle with the frigates Gloire, Néréide and Iphigénie, two of them helped by the steamers. In the morning of 27, the two bomb ships were towed behind the frigates, close to the reef. The corvette Créole 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 part to the conflict but interested in its outcome, anchored off the scene to observe the events. The maneuvers were observed by the Mexicans, who sent two officers over to further negotiate. At 14:00, Baudin sent them away with a message for General Manuel Rincón: "I have lost all hopes to obtain through pacific means the honourable settlement that I was in charge of proposing to the Mexican cabinet: I find myself in the necessity to open hostilities".

At 14:30, the three frigates opens fire, soon followed by the two bomb ships. Baudin later stated: 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 vivacity. Around 15:30, the Créole, having cruised off the fort by the North, requested authorisation 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, a cannon shot penetrated the prince's cabin and shattered his dish; Joinville then took off his hat and saluted the Mexicans.

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 batteries then greatly diminished. Baudin ordered Gloire and Iphigénie to retreat, and they were taken away in tow by the steamers, the flagship Néréide remained along with the bomb ships. At sunset, only a few of the French guns were still firing, and Baudin ordered a cease-fire at 20:00 to save ammunition.

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 General Rincón. 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 a "honourable capitulation". The defenders had 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 defences 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, Rincón caved and signed the capitulation of the fort and of the city. Commanding General Antonio Gaona surrendered the fort to the French that very 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 strengthening sea rendered the anchorage dangerous. The French had 4 killed and 29 wounded.

Raid on Vera Cruz
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 general Rincón from command, and sent an army of 3200 men, under generals Santa Anna and Arista, to retake Vera Cruz. This army reached Vera Cruz shortly, 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 Vera Cruz. In addition to the garrison and the army freshly arrived, 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 general 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 Vera Cruz; they split into three columns: the two wings escalated the city walls near the strongholds of Santiago and Conception. The Mexicans were taken by surprise, to the point that no shot was fired. The two groups sabotaged the cannons and ran on the wall to reach the opposite side of the city.

The central column, under François de Joinville, was tasked with blowing up the door commanding access to the harbour, storm the city and attack the buildings where the Mexican generals were supposedly hosted. This largely succeeded, as the door was destroyed as planned and the column reached the Mexican headquarter almost unopposed; however, Mexican soldiers then started to react, and Santa Anna managed escape, while Arista was captured. The French retreated with their prisoner, fighting on the way with a group of soldiers stationed in a monastery used as barracks.

Baudin, who had disembarked, declared the mission accomplished and ordered his men to reembark. The two wing columns retreated without difficulties, but as the central column completed its reembarkment, a counter-attack led by Santa Anna struck. The French then opened fire with captured cannons and with the light carronades of the boats, firing grapeshot that killed and maimed the Mexicans; Santa Anna himself had his horse killed under him and was very severely wounded. The French had sustained 8 killed and 56 wounded, mostly from friendly fire in the confusion of the Mexican counter-attack; the Mexicans had 31 killed and 26 wounded, according to the account of Santa Anna. Five bullet impacts were found on Baudin's own boat.

Aftermath
The double defeat in San Juan de Ulua and Vera Cruz 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 Vera Cruz, but it remained under the authority 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 Richard Pakenham 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 promoted to Vice-amiral.

The fall of San Juan de Ulua came as a surprise to the world. Neutral observers, notably from HMS Satellite (1826), under Captain Robb, and USS Levant, reported the effect of the French bombardment. Lord Wellington 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 Paixhans shells; the bomb ships had themselves fired 302 mortar bombs, and were credited with the destruction of the Mexican ammunition depots. The US observer, David Farragut, reported the effects of the shells in the fort.

The fight also served as a confirmation as to the usefulness of steamers to assist traditional warships in their maneuvers. Even though they were fitted only with 100HP 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 Invasion of Algiers in 1830.

In Mexico, the war shook the political landscape. General Santa Anna, who previously had been discredited by the Texas Revolution, was made a hero by his failed attempt at a counter-attack; 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 military honours. 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 Louis-Philippe, who had commanded the Créole 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. Joinville was promoted to capitaine de vaisseau, and to Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honour.

The tactics used by the French squadron, and its use of steam power and shell artillery, were a prelude of the events of the Crimean War.