Hello and welcome to the witness podcast with me Mike Lanchen.

And today we go back to September of 1847

and the end of the war between the United States and Mexico,

a conflict that would change relations between the two countries forever.

Using written testimonies from the time, this is the story of how Mexico City became the first foreign capital to be occupied by the American

Army. It's September of 1847 and after almost two years of fighting and thousands of

casualties on both sides. American soldiers make their triumphant entry into the capital of Mexico.

At daylight, we marched in and took possession of the citadel, our flag waves of the National Palace.

Santa Anna and his army have left the city.

This is from the diary of Israel Unkafa, a corporal in the Army led by General Winfield Scott.

The loss in our regiment is about a hundred killed and wounded.

Twelve men of our company were struck with balls.

Street fighting is not as general as yesterday. Some lances are

fighting yet, but they will be driven out today. The war between Mexico and the United States

was now almost at an end but the uneasy American occupation of the Mexican

capital was just beginning. When they first entered the city they have to clear the

roofs of buildings because there are people taking pot shots at American soldiers.

Dr David Sim is a lecturer in US history at University College London.

That sentiment continues so there are frequent stories about American soldiers being pelted with rocks and rubbish and so on as they go around.

That tells you something about the reception American troops faced.

Mexico and the US had been at war since the spring of 1846, but the roots of the conflict

dated back to the late 1830s and the dispute over Texas.

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