February 23rd is the 54th day in the Gregorian Calendar. In 1847, during the Mexican-American War, in the Battle of Buena Vista, American troops defeat Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The American troops, under command of future president General Zachary Taylor, who were mostly volunteers, were outnumbered but their superior artillery allowed them to hold back the Mexican forces. While it is commonly known that the Americans won the battle, the results were actually slightly ambigous, with both sides claiming victory. The Mexican forces withdrew with war trohies and left the battlefield, though American forces expected at least another day of fighting.
