Battle of Churubusco The Battle of Churubusco took place on August 20 , 1847 , in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras ( Padierna ) during the Mexican - American War . After defeating the Mexican army at Churubusco , the U . S . Army was only 5 miles ( 8 km ) away from Mexico City , the capital of the nation . A month later , the US forces captured Mexico City and the war was over . Background . Following their defeats at Contreras and San Antonio , the Mexicans fell back to the village of Churubusco . During retreat from San Antonio , the Mexican defenders ( part of the 1st Line of Defense ( or sometimes the " Army of the Center " ) with Col . F . Villarreal and about 2 , 000 men : 700 of the " Hidalgo , " 500 of the " Victoria " ( Lt . Col . P . Jorrin ) Natl . Guards Battalions , and 800 others : under Cols . A . Zerecero & J . G . Perdigon Garay ) , were struck in flank by Clarke ' s Brigade of the division of Gen . William J . Worth . The US forces captured about 500 prisoners , including Acting Gen . Perdigon Garay , and five guns . The U . S . forces began to merge with forces coming from Contreras for a further attack . The Mexicans made their stand at the Franciscan convent of Santa María de Churubusco . Although the convent offered no advantage of height over the surrounding terrain , there was a small river , crossed by a bridge , that the U . S . forces had to negotiate first . In addition to the stone walls of the convent , the defenses included a series of incomplete trenches the Mexicans had begun digging prior to the attack . The defenders numbered 1 , 300 men from the " Independencia " and " Bravos " battalions ( 90 % of whom had never seen combat ) and the Saint Patrick ' s Battalion , also called the " San Patricios " . Some elements of the Tlapa and Lagos Battalions arrived as reinforcements . The Mexicans had seven cannons ( Art . Battery - Bn Comdte . J . B . Argulles ( 4 - 8 lbs . guns ) , 1 - 6 lb . gun ( Lt M . Alvarez ) & 2 - 4 lbs . guns ) Three cannon were placed on the right ; two in the center ; and the remaining two on the left . " Independencia " was assigned to defend the upper walls , the right flank leading to the bridge , the unfortified south and north sides , and two adobe huts further forward on the battlefield . The " Bravos " and the " San Patricios " were stationed on the left , behind barricades . In support along the Rio Churubusco was the Perez Brigade : 2 , 500 men ( 11th Line , 1st , 3d & 4th Light Infantry Regiments ) Battle . The first assault , by the 5 , 000 - strong U . S . divisions of William J . Worth and David E . Twiggs , was successfully repulsed . Pedro María Anaya , second in command to General Manuel Rincón , managed to repel a particularly fierce attack on the left flank . Just as the bridge looked likely to fall to the invaders , three small groups of militia arrived to reinforce the defenders . Intense fire continued for three or four hours , until " Independencia " — in spite of a series of urgent messages dispatched behind the lines — ran out of ammunition . This lack of ammunition was because the calibers of ammunition provided were not correct for the rifles used by the defenders . Two of the Mexican cannons had melted and a third had fallen from its mount . Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Peñúñuri of " Independencia " led a handful of men in a bayonet charge and was defeated . He and Captain Luis Martínez de Castro , who had accompanied him , were killed in the battle . Captured at the tete - du - pont ( bridge ) were 192 prisoners , 3 artillery pieces , and 2 flags . Officers from the " Bravos " attempted to raise the white flag over the convent walls on three occasions . They were prevented from doing so , however , by members of the " San Patricios " who feared the fate that awaited them if they were taken prisoner . They were Irish immigrants from the US who had deserted their units in the US Army and joined the Mexicans . Seventy - two men were ultimately captured and court - martialed for desertion , including the leader , John O ' Riley . The brigade of Franklin Pierce crossed the river under fire , followed by Shields ' brigade , and turned the Mexican right flank . On the left , elements of Worth ' s division also succeeded in a river crossing and took the Mexican defenses in the rear . Resistance collapsed except for those inside the convent , who held out for some time before surrendering . U . S . Captain James Milton Smith mounted the convent wall and raised the white flag of surrender . Arriving some minutes later , General Twiggs obtained the surrender of General Anaya . Aftermath . A brigade of volunteers from New York was billeted to the convent , remaining there until September 7 . Following their victory at Churubusco , Scott ' s army was only five miles ( 8 km ) from the capital of Mexico City . A month later , following an abortive ceasefire and failed negotiations , Mexico City fell to U . S . forces . In the arts . Parts of the battle were portrayed in the mini - series " North and South " , as well as the film " One Man ' s Hero " ( 1999 ) .