The Children heroes Were six Mexican children, students in the Military Academy, who died defending the territory of Mexico in the Castle of Chapultepec the day 13 of September of the year of 1847.
These cadets, who were between 12 and 18 years old, defended the territory as it was to be invaded by US forces during the Battle of Chapultepec.
Their courage is remembered as they decided to stay to fight despite being ordered to go home. It is believed that there were about 50 children in total who stayed to defend the castle, but only 6 names are known.
The Heroes Boys are commemorated in Mexico every September 13th.
Context of the story of children heroes
In the battle of Chapultepec, during the Mexican-American War, the protagonists were the six Mexican children who died during the American invasion of 1847.
The whole story can be traced back to the invasion of the US Army to the Mexican nation, under the pretext of violations in Texas , Which at that time belonged to Mexico.
The two troops were found in the hill of Chapultepec, place where the facilities of the Military Academy were located.
This land was the last place of refuge towards Mexico City, where the final battle was carried out that would have as a consequence the loss of the territory of Mexico in favor of the United States.
The castle of Chapultepec was being defended by Mexican troops under the command of Nicholas Bravo, including cadets of the Military Academy.
The number of cadets present has varied according to historical reports, from as low as 47 to a few hundred people.
The defenders were vastly outnumbered and battled General Scott's troops for two hours, before General Bravo ordered the retreat.
However, six cadets refused to surrender and fought to the death. Legend has it that the last of these six cadets, named Juan Escutia, jumped from the castle of Chapultepec wrapped in a Mexican flag to prevent the flag being removed by the enemy.
According to a report by an unidentified and later US officer, close to hundreds of cadets between the ages of 12 and 18 were among the crowds of prisoners taken after the capture of the Castle.
The bodies of the six children were buried around the Chapultepec Park area. On March 5, 1947, a few months before the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Chapultepec, US President Harry S. Truman placed a crown on the monument and stood for a few moments in solemn reverence.
In its beginnings, the defeat of Chapultepec was seen by Mexicans as shameful. But after the year 1872, began to create a great cult and importance to everything related to the battle.
In the year 1947, the remains of the bodies were found and identified; The 27 of September of 1952 were re-buried in the Historical Monument of the cadets in Chapultepec.
At present, in the Castle of the hill of Chapultepec is located the National History Museum; In its surroundings are commemorated with plates the different points where all the children who defended the Mexican territory died.
Biographies
Juan de la Barrera
It was born in the year of 1828 in the city of Mexico. He was the son of Ignacio Mario de la Barrera, a general of the army, and Juana Inzárruaga. He had enlisted at the age of 12 and was admitted to the Academy on November 18, 1843.
During the attack on Chapultepec, he was a lieutenant in the military engineers and died defending a hornabeque at the entrance of the park.
At age 19, he was the eldest of the six children and was also part of the faculty of the school, as he taught in the engineering area.
Juan Escutia
He was born between 1828 and 1832 in Tepic, the capital of the state of Nayarit. Historical documents show that he was admitted to the academy as a cadet on September 8, 1947; However his other documents were lost during the attack. He is believed to be the second lieutenant in the artillery company.
It is said that this cadet also wrapped himself in the Mexican flag and jumped from the ceiling to avoid that the flag was removed by the enemy hands. His body was found on the east side of the hill, along with Francisco Marquez.
A mural painted by the muralist Gabriel Flores represents his jump from the ceiling with the Mexican flag.
Francisco Márquez
He was born in 1834 in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He applied to the military academy on January 14, 1847 and, at the time of the battle, he belonged to the first cadet company. He died at the age of 13, becoming the youngest of the six Hero Boys.
Agustín Melgar
He was born between 1828 and 1832 in Chihuahua, Chihuahua. He was the son of Esteban Melgar, a lieutenant colonel in the army, and Maria de la Luz Seville; Both parents died when he was young, therefore he was in charge of his older sister.
He applied for the academy on November 4, 1846. A note in his personal documents explains that after being alone, he tried to stop the enemy in the north area of the Castle.
Fernando Montes De Oca
He was born between 1828 and 1832 in Azcapotzalco, a city north of Mexico City and one of the jurisdictions of the Federal District.
He applied for the academy on January 24, 1847 and was one of the cadets who remained in the castle. His personal record reads as follows:"he died for his country on September 13, 1847".
Vicente Suárez
He was born in 1833 in Puebla, Puebla. He was the son of Miguel Suarez, a cavalry officer and Maria de la Luz Ortega. He applied for admission to the Academy on October 21, 1845 and during his stay was an official cadet.
References
- Children heroes. Retrieved from wikipedia.org.
- Who threw Juan Escutia? (1998). Recovered from day.unam.mx.
- The mexican war. (1849), 10 Edition. New York, USA. Barnes & Co.
- The true story of the children heroes of Chapultepec (2016) Retrieved from notiamerica.com.