Santa Anna rushed from Mexico City to meet Scott's army, taking up a defensive position around Cerro Gordo Mountain. Using artillery on a neighboring hill, the Americans struck on April 17 and then flanked Santa Anna's troops. Stephen S. Tucker, a Little Rock captain in the Mounted Rifles (regulars), wrote of April 18:

“Infantry, artillery, volunteers and rifles—simultaneously! Merciful God, such another shower of metal—iron, lead and copper! The shouting of the Americans, the din of the artillery, the keen crack of the Rifles, the spang of the musket, and bumble-bee buzz of the damned escopet (Mexican carbine) made old mother earth groan as we stamped and raved over her rocky breast.”

Santa Anna escaped, leaving supplies and personal belongings behind, as he prepared to save the capitol.