A conservative victory despite two-to-one odds that reinforced conservative dominance over central Mexico during the Reform War.
Key Facts
- Liberal force strength
- 6,000 men and 29 artillery pieces
- Conservative force strength
- 3,000 men and 19 artillery pieces
- Battle date
- November 13, 1859
- Outcome
- Conservative victory despite being outnumbered 2-to-1
- Cavalry pursuit
- Mejía pursued liberals to the gates of Celaya
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
General Santos Degollado led a liberal army of 6,000 men into the Bajío region, then controlled by conservative forces. General Miguel Miramón concentrated conservative troops from surrounding areas in Querétaro, augmented by General Tomás Mejía's cavalry from the capital and General Adrián Woll's forces from Zacatecas, forming a defending army of roughly 3,000 men.
On November 13, 1859, a pre-battle meeting between Degollado and Miramón failed to produce a political settlement. Degollado ordered a three-line advance through the conservative center, but the death of General Tapia and other officers demoralized the largely inexperienced liberal troops. Miramón's conservative cavalry under Mejía then charged and broke through liberal lines, turning an organized retreat into a rout.
The conservatives inflicted a decisive defeat on the numerically superior liberals, with Mejía pursuing them to the gates of Celaya. Following this victory, Miramón prioritized campaigns against Veracruz and Michoacán. The final months of 1859 were dominated by the conservative faction, which by then controlled approximately half of Mexico.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Santos Degollado, Ignacio de la Llave.
Side B
1 belligerent
Miguel Miramón, Tomás Mejía, Adrián Woll.