"SANTA ANNA'S RETREAT FROM BUENA VISTA"
by Stephen Foster
When he died penniless in 1864, Stephen Foster left behind a legacy of 200 songs and one march: "Santa Anna's Retreat From Buena Vista." The Battle of Buena Vista was a land battle of the Mexican-American War fought in 1847 near Monterrey in Mexico. The fighting was hard and at the end of the second day seemed a drawn battle. But on the night of February 23rd the Mexican army led by General Santa Ana withdrew, leaving General Zachary Taylor in control of the north of Mexico. General Taylor's victory at this battle won him national fame, which contributed greatly to his election as president in 1848. "Santa Anna's Retreat From Buena Vista" was written that very year. At the end of the war a large expanse of Mexico's territory was ceded to the United States, including a large area between the Grand Canyon and Gila River that would become Arizona Territory in 1863.