In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ampudia and the second or maternal family name is Grimarest.
Pedro Nolasco Martín José María de la Candelaria Francisco Javier Ampudia y Grimarest (January 30, 1805 – August 7, 1868) was born in Havana, Cuba, and served Mexico as a Northern army officer for most of his life. At various points he was the governor of Tabasco, Yucatán, and Nuevo León. He also served a short term as Secretary of National Defense under President Benito Juárez.
Ampudia began his career in the Spanish army, and emigrated to Mexico following the Mexican War of Independence. In 1836, Ampudia served with the Mexican artillery at the Siege of the Alamo and later saw heavy combat at the Battle of San Jacinto. During border skirmishes with Texas in the early 1840s, Ampudia commanded the 350-man garrison of Ciudad Mier which was attacked on December 26, 1842, by Texan militia. In a bloody two-day battle, over 600 Mexicans were killed but they eventually forced the enemy to surrender, earning the grudging respect of the Texans across the border.
Briefly appointed as commander-in-chief of the Mexican Army of the North in 1846, Ampudia was removed from command following the brutal public execution of a local guerrilla leader on his personal orders. As a conservador (a member of Mexico's conservative faction), Ampudia was quickly relegated to a staff position in favor of his liberal rival, General Mariano Arista. At the Battle of Palo Alto, Ampudia harshly criticized Arista for what he saw as "unacceptable tactical blunders" and continued his criticism at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma – a defeat for which Arista partially blamed him.
During the long retreat south, Ampudia was appointed commander-in-chief of the Army of the North, in time to command Mexican forces at the Battle of Monterrey. Despite orders from Antonio López de Santa Anna that he was to retreat to Saltillo, Ampudia chose to stand at Monterrey instead and informed Santa Anna that:
"The men will brook no further retreat in the face of the enemy."
After a skilled defense of the city, Ampudia found American forces entered from the west and east. Trapped in the city plaza and bombarded by U.S. forces with howitzers, general Ampudia chose to request a flag of truce and retreat his battered army. His arrangement with Zachary Taylor allowed the Army of the North to keep its weapons but march as far south as possible and neglect offensive operations for three months. At Saltillo, Ampudia attempted to throw up a defense similar to that at Monterrey, but the inhabitants of the city would have none of it. His failure to defend that city led to his removal by Santa Anna, and like his former superior, Arista, Ampudia found himself spending most of the rest of the war in administrative duties, though he was in command of portions of the Mexican artillery at the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847.
Despite his controversial retreat at Monterrey, Ampudia remained popular in Mexican folklore as "the only man who could defeat Taylor." After the war, Ampudia's policies became gradually more liberal, so that he supported the government of Benito Juárez during the Maximillian Intervention and served with considerable bravery and skill as commander of the liberal Army of the East, in whose command he was gravely wounded. In 1868, Ampudia died (possibly from complications arising from his wartime injuries) and was buried in the Panteón de San Fernando.
Bauer, K. Jack, "The Mexican–American War, 1846–1848"
Miguel Ángel Peral, ed., "Diccionario Biográfico Mexicano"
External linksedit
Pedro Ampudia at A Continent Divided: The U.S.-Mexico War, Center for Greater Southwestern Studies, the University of Texas at Arlington
January 01, 1970
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This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message In this Spanish name the first or paternal surname is Ampudia and the second or maternal family name is Grimarest Pedro Nolasco Martin Jose Maria de la Candelaria Francisco Javier Ampudia y Grimarest January 30 1805 August 7 1868 was born in Havana Cuba and served Mexico as a Northern army officer for most of his life At various points he was the governor of Tabasco Yucatan and Nuevo Leon He also served a short term as Secretary of National Defense under President Benito Juarez Pedro Ampudia y GrimarestGovernor of TabascoIn office September 1 1843 June 30 1844Preceded byJose Julian DuenasSucceeded byNarciso Santa MariaIn office September 5 1844 January 2 1845Preceded byNarciso Santa MariaSucceeded byJuan de Dios SalazarGovernor of Nuevo LeonIn office September 1 1846 September 20 1846Preceded byJuan Nepomuceno de la Garza y EviaSucceeded byFrancisco de Padua MoralesIn office June 23 1853 October 22 1854Preceded byJuan Nepomuceno de la Garza y EviaSucceeded byMariano MoretGovernor of YucatanIn office February 6 1855 November 24 1855Preceded byJose Cardenas del LlanoSucceeded bySantiago Mendez IbarraSecretary of National DefenseIn office April 29 1860 September 20 1860PresidentBenito JuarezPreceded byJose G de PartearroyoSucceeded byIgnacio de la LlavePersonal detailsBorn 1805 01 30 January 30 1805Havana Captaincy General of Cuba today Cuba DiedAugust 7 1868 1868 08 07 aged 63 Mexico City MexicoProfessionMilitary Ampudia began his career in the Spanish army and emigrated to Mexico following the Mexican War of Independence In 1836 Ampudia served with the Mexican artillery at the Siege of the Alamo and later saw heavy combat at the Battle of San Jacinto During border skirmishes with Texas in the early 1840s Ampudia commanded the 350 man garrison of Ciudad Mier which was attacked on December 26 1842 by Texan militia In a bloody two day battle over 600 Mexicans were killed but they eventually forced the enemy to surrender earning the grudging respect of the Texans across the border Briefly appointed as commander in chief of the Mexican Army of the North in 1846 Ampudia was removed from command following the brutal public execution of a local guerrilla leader on his personal orders As a conservador a member of Mexico s conservative faction Ampudia was quickly relegated to a staff position in favor of his liberal rival General Mariano Arista At the Battle of Palo Alto Ampudia harshly criticized Arista for what he saw as unacceptable tactical blunders and continued his criticism at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma a defeat for which Arista partially blamed him During the long retreat south Ampudia was appointed commander in chief of the Army of the North in time to command Mexican forces at the Battle of Monterrey Despite orders from Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna that he was to retreat to Saltillo Ampudia chose to stand at Monterrey instead and informed Santa Anna that The men will brook no further retreat in the face of the enemy After a skilled defense of the city Ampudia found American forces entered from the west and east Trapped in the city plaza and bombarded by U S forces with howitzers general Ampudia chose to request a flag of truce and retreat his battered army His arrangement with Zachary Taylor allowed the Army of the North to keep its weapons but march as far south as possible and neglect offensive operations for three months At Saltillo Ampudia attempted to throw up a defense similar to that at Monterrey but the inhabitants of the city would have none of it His failure to defend that city led to his removal by Santa Anna and like his former superior Arista Ampudia found himself spending most of the rest of the war in administrative duties though he was in command of portions of the Mexican artillery at the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847 Despite his controversial retreat at Monterrey Ampudia remained popular in Mexican folklore as the only man who could defeat Taylor After the war Ampudia s policies became gradually more liberal so that he supported the government of Benito Juarez during the Maximillian Intervention and served with considerable bravery and skill as commander of the liberal Army of the East in whose command he was gravely wounded In 1868 Ampudia died possibly from complications arising from his wartime injuries and was buried in the Panteon de San Fernando See also editBattles of the Mexican American War History of Mexico History of Nuevo Leon Mexican American WarReferences editBauer K Jack The Mexican American War 1846 1848 Miguel Angel Peral ed Diccionario Biografico Mexicano External links editPedro Ampudia at A Continent Divided The U S Mexico War Center for Greater Southwestern Studies the University of Texas at Arlington Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pedro de Ampudia amp oldid 1222439133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
