Día de los Niños Héroes in Mexico

The Battle of Chapultepec was an armed conflict that took place on Monday, September 13, 1847 on the hill called Chapultepec, which is located near Mexico City. The armies of the United States and Mexico intervened in the combat. The reason for the battle, and the invasion in general, was that the United States wanted to seize the territory north of the Rio Grande, including Texas, so Mexico fought back.

The first battles in the Valley of Mexico were in Padierna, Churubusco and Molino del Rey, where the Americans were victorious. One of the last bastions that defended the city was the Hill and Castle of Chapultepec where there was a Military College with around 100 students and 800 soldiers from different battalions of the Mexican army. Chapultepec was commanded by General Nicolás Bravo, one of the heroes of independence. Men from the San Blas Battalion were also present under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Santiago Xicoténcatl.

The US Army bombs the defense line throughout September 12. On the 13th they made an assault on the Castle and in this attack nearly 300 Mexican soldiers would die as well as the commander of the San Blas Battalion: Felipe Santiago Xicoténcatl who defended the flag and was wounded, and thus continued fighting and urging his men to continue defending the point, unfortunately a new bullet wounds him seriously and he falls wrapped in the flag of his battalion.