title: First Battle of Tuxpan
text: # First Battle of Tuxpan
  
  The First Battle of Tuxpan was the only major battle fought during the Mexican–American War at Tuxpan, $Mexico.^{:337}$
  
  ## Background
  
  Commodore Matthew C. Perry's Home Squadron extended its blockade of Mexico's eastern ports to include Tuxpan and Tabasco, more commonly known as $Villahermosa.^{:337}$ Perry's Mosquito Fleet carrying a landing force of 1,519 men and four pieces of artillery, reached the mouth of the Tuxpan River on 17 April. The Mexicans had five batteries with eight guns each, and about 400 men under the command of General Martin Perfecto de Cos, along the six mile approach to the $town.^{:337}$
  
  ## Battle
  
  On 18 April, Perry's crafts towed 30 barges upriver, and secured two downriver fortifications and those at the edge of town by 3 $PM.^{:337}$ The town surrendered by 4 PM, when Perry removed the guns and destroyed the fortifications before evacuating the town on 22 April, keeping a pair of craft to blockade the $river.^{:337}$
  
  