1847 Quitman Map of U.S. Army Maneuvers Near Mexico City, Mexico

This is an 1847 map of The Battle of Chapultepec and the fall of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War. The map depicts the region from just west and southwest of Chapultepec Castle, which guards the western approaches of Mexico City to Mexico City itself and from Mexico City south along Piedad Road and Antonio Road and south of Chapultepec to the Headquarters of General Winfield Scott, who commanded American forces in central Mexico. Twenty different locations are labeled numerically and alphabetically. Several other locations are labeled, such as the Headquarters of General Worth, the Headquarters of General Scott, the Bishop's Palace, and the Headquarters of General Quitman around Chapultepec and the Alameda, the Grand Plaza, the Cathedral, and the Palacio in Mexico City. The routes taken by the divisions led by Generals Quitman, Pillow, and Worth are illustrated by red (Quitman), blue (Pillow), and green (Worth) colored notations, while positions held by Mexican troops are shaded yellow.

The Battle for Mexico City took place between September 8 and 15, 1847, included the major engagements at the Battle of Molino del Rey and Chaputepec, and culminated in the fall of Mexico City. On September 13th, General Quitman led the 4th Division against Chapultepec Castle from the south, while several other forces moved in from the east and center. After an hour of fighting, Chaputepec had fallen. By 7 a.m. the following morning, General Santa Ana had ordered a withdrawal from Mexico City and it was occupied by the Americans. Several low-ranking officers who were present at the Battle for Mexico City would go on to become generals during the American Civil War, including Ulysses S. Grant, George Pickett, James Longstreet, Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, and Robert E. Lee.

Though undated, we believe this map to have been created for a report to Congress in 1847.