Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
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Illinois Militia Heads South. In 1846, Illinois was called upon to raise three regiments of volunteer infantry, ten companies of one hundred men per regiment, to assist in the newly declared war with Mexico. At the time, Mexico’s army was considered to be one of the best equipped and trained in the world. Illinois answered this call by mustering in five regiments with 93 men per company. These regiments mustered in in Alton, IL and traveled down the Mississippi River to Texas where they waited for their initial orders.[1] During the course of the war, members of the Illinois regiments would take part in two major engagements; the Battle of Buena Vista and the Battle of Cerro Gordo. It was at this battle that the capture of Santa Anna’s cork leg took place by members of the Third Illinois. In April and May of 1847, the volunteers were authorized to depart Mexico and head home.[2] The soldiers from Illinois returned home to many celebrations to their service. It should also be noted that while the first four regiments were deployed, two more had been raised and sent south to join the war effort. The Fifth and Sixth Illinois Infantry regiments never reached the country in time to serve in any major battles and were discharged in August 1848.[3] The contribution of Illinois in this war would help secure a massive addition to the western united States and would secure America as a power not to be taken lightly.
[1] Daniel Holt, A Political and Military history of Illinois in the Mexican War, (master’s thesis, Emporia State University, 1970) 39 - 45 [2] Ibid, 120 - 122 [3] Ibid, 126-127 |