Every time the September 13date on which heroes children are commemorated in Mexicothe historical controversy about these characters returns to the conversation.
According to the official version of the History, on September 13, 1847, during the intervention of the United States in Mexico, six young cadets: Agustín Melgar, Fernando Montes de Oca, Francisco Márquez, Juan de la Barrera, Juan Escutia and Vicente Suárez defended Chapultepec Castle when the United States Army tried to take it. At that time, this enclosure was a military school.
According to an article from the Autonomous University of Mexico, in Chapultepec Castle there were approximately 250 men under the command of the general Nicolás Bravoin addition to 50 cadets of the Military College, among whom was Miguel Miramón. Bravo gave the order not to fight.
However, the six young cadets that we already mentioned disobey the orders of General Bravo when they saw the progress of the US army and decided to fight it.
It is here when the story is filled with myths: the most famous, without a doubt, is that of Juan Escutia. It is said that this child hero was launched from the top of the castle wrapped in the flag of Mexico to prevent the United States Army for the Mancillara.
But this information has never been completely verified and is in a thin line between history and myth.
Who was Juan Escutia?
Juan Escutia was a real person. He was born in Nayarit on February 22, 1827, so he would be 20 years old at the time of his death on September 13, 184 at Chapultepec Castle.