Mexican American War. Second Battle of Tabasco took place on May 16, 1847, and was a continuation of the First Battle of Tabasco of May 15, 1847. Over 1,000 US Marines invaded the interior from boats towed up the river by the Mosquito fleet's steamboats, and succeeded in temporarily occupying the city of San Juan Bautista (present-day Villahermosa), the capital of the state of Tabasco. Marines remained as a garrison, under Commander Gershom Van Brunt, but yellow fever and Mexican insurgents required their withdrawal on July 22, 1847 (BSLOC_2019_8_42)