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The first few months of the Mexican-American War saw impressive American gains in northern Mexico: Major General Zachary Taylor secured control of Texas and northeast Mexico, General Stephen Kearny conquered New Mexico, and with the help of General John C. Fremont, Alta California. Nevertheless, Mexico did not seem willing to capitulate. President James K. Polk contrived a new plan to end the war: invade the Mexican heartland and capture Mexico City. 

As the Commanding General of the U.S. Army, Major General Winfield Scott devised a plan to invade the coastal city of Veracruz. Taking some troops from Taylor’s Army of Occupation, Scott created a new invasion force of 12,000 troops, which, on March 9, 1847, performed the first major American amphibious landing. From the seas, Commodore Matthew C. Perry and the Home Squadron shelled the city. Mexican General Juan Morales defended Veracruz with 3,400 men, but when a bombardment left a thirty-foot gap in the city walls, he was forced to surrender. On March 25, with only 80 casualties, the American forces under Scott marched into Veracruz. Many famous future Civil War generals participated in the siege, including Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, George Meade, James Longstreet, and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. 

Commander of the Mexican Army General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, after crushing a small rebellion in Mexico City, began preparing for an attack against Winfield Scott’s army. Santa Anna thought the mountainous terrain and yellow fever would weaken the Americans, so he set up an ambush at Cerro Gordo and allowed Scott march inland. With 9,000 troops and artillery aimed at the central road, Santa Anna waited for Scott. However, when Scott sent 2,600 dragoons ahead of his main army of 8,500 troops to patrol the road, the Mexicans fired prematurely, revealing their position. Scott decided to avoid the main road and trek over the rough terrain to flank the entrenched Mexicans. Captain Robert E. Lee’s reconnaissance helped them find the perfect positions. On April 18, the Americans attacked the Mexicans, delivering a crushing defeat. Santa Anna suffered over 1,000 casualties and 3,000 captured men, comparing to 400 American casualties. The remaining Mexicans fled.

Continuing along the main road, Winfield Scott’s army reached the city of Puebla on May 1. News of Santa Anna’s defeat at Cerro Gordo travelled fast, demoralizing and scaring Puebla’s inhabitants. Therefore, despite being the second largest in Mexico, the city capitulated with no resistance. Using Puebla as a base and supply depot, Scott would station his troops there for the next few months while he prepared his invasion of Mexico City. Some working-class Mexicans resented the American occupation, often killing stray US troops. On the whole, however, large scale violence was avoided through cooperation by the Americans and the local ruling elite and the Catholic Church. 

Scott’s army started their advance on Mexico City on August 7.  To stop Scott, Santa Anna decided to fortify all southern entrances to the city. He himself fortified El Peñon and ordered General Gabriel Valencia with 7,000 men to guard San Angel at Coyoacan and Churubusco. Valencia, disregarding Santa Anna’s directive, decided to station his troops at Contreras. On August 19, Scott crossed through the lava fields at El Pedregal, a route Valencia thought was untraversable, and flanked Valencia. The next day, the Americans once again defeated the retreating Mexicans at the Battle of Churubusco. Now, Mexico City was left defenseless. 

With peace negotiations once again at an impasse, Scott began the fight to conquer Mexico City. On September 8, just two miles from the city center, the American army attacked Molino del Rey, a supposed armory and weapons factory. General William Worth encountered Brigadier Antonio Leon and captured the mill, despite rather heavy American casualties. Four days later, Winfield Scott attacked Chapultepec Castle, a military academy guarding the city gates. The Castle was defended by General Nicolas Bravo, with 800 men, 200 cadets (mostly teenagers) and only seven guns. After a day of artillery bombardment, American forces stormed Chapultepec Castle on the morning of September 13. Demoralized about 20,000 Mexican soldiers deserted. On September 15, 1847, Winfield Scott and his forces marched into Mexico City.  A desperate attempt by Santa Anna to cut off American supplies by sieging Puebla failed on October 9, when Brigadier General Joseph Lane relieved the city at the battle of Huamantla. Guerilla forces continued attacking the occupation forces in Mexico City, but Winfield Scott, now acting as the military governor, kept them at bay. The Mexican capital was firmly in American hands. 

Losing their capital, the Mexican were forced to negotiate a treaty favorable to the United States in order to end the war. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalope Hidalgo was signed, marking the end of the Mexican-American War. Winfield Scott became a national hero for his capture of Mexico City, even becoming the 1852 Whig presidential nominee. He remained the Commanding General of the U.S. Army until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.