Battle of Palo Alto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Palo Alto |
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| Part of the Mexican–American War | |||||||
 Painting by Carl Nebel |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Mexico |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Zachary Taylor |
Mariano Arista |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 2,288 8 artillery pieces |
3,709 12 artillery pieces |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 9 killed 47 wounded 2 missing |
102 killed 129 wounded 26 missing |
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The Battle of Palo Alto (which means "Tall Stick" in Spanish) was the very first big battle of the Mexican–American War. It happened on May 8, 1846, in an area that both Mexico and the United States claimed as their own. This spot was about five miles (8 km) from where the city of Brownsville, Texas is today.
About 3,700 Mexican soldiers, led by General Mariano Arista, fought against roughly 2,300 American soldiers. The American troops were led by General Zachary Taylor. The battle took place just three days before the United States officially declared war on Mexico. The American side won, mostly because their artillery (cannons) was much better. Their "light" artillery could move faster and shoot more accurately than the Mexican cannons.
Why the Battle Happened
The Mexican–American War was about land. Both the United States and Mexico wanted control of certain areas, especially Texas. After Texas joined the U.S., the border between the two countries became a big problem.
In April 1846, Mexican General Mariano Arista's troops crossed the Rio Grande river. They started to surround an American outpost called Fort Brown (then known as Fort Texas). General Taylor, with his American army, began marching south to help the soldiers stuck in the fort.
When General Arista found out Taylor was coming, he moved many of his soldiers away from the fort to meet Taylor's army. The goal for the Mexican army was to cut off the American supply lines, especially from Point Isabel, which was Taylor's main supply base on the coast.
Taylor had left Fort Brown well-protected and moved his main force to Point Isabel to secure his supplies. He knew the Mexican forces were trying to cut him off. On May 7, Taylor decided to march back towards Fort Brown with supplies and about 2,300 men. On May 8, around noon, Taylor's army met Arista's forces at Palo Alto, and both sides got ready to fight.
The Battle Begins
The battle started around 2 PM. The American army had about 2,300 men and 400 wagons. General Taylor lined up his soldiers behind his cannons. The Mexican artillery began firing first, but their shots often fell short. The American cannons, however, were very effective.
General Arista ordered his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to attack the American right side. But the American soldiers, led by Colonel David E. Twiggs, quickly formed a square shape. This formation helped them defend against the cavalry charge with several rounds of gunfire.
During the fighting, a cannon shot started a fire in the dry grass. The smoke was so thick that it stopped the battle for about an hour. After the smoke cleared, General Arista moved his army back about 1,000 yards. Taylor's army moved forward to keep up the fight.
The American artillery continued to be very important. Major Samuel Ringgold and Captain James Duncan were in charge of what was called "Flying Artillery." This meant their cannons were light and could be moved quickly to different spots on the battlefield. They would fire, then move, then fire again, confusing the enemy. This tactic was a big reason for the American victory.
Another Mexican cavalry charge was stopped by the American cannons. As the sun began to set, the fighting stopped, and both armies camped for the night.
After the Battle
The next morning, the Mexican army slowly started to move south. General Taylor sent a group of 220 men to check on the Mexican positions. This led to another battle the very next day, called the Battle of Resaca de la Palma.
Major Ringgold, who was so important with his "Flying Artillery," was badly wounded by a cannonball during the battle and later died. However, his and Duncan's effective use of artillery helped the Americans win the battle. General Zachary Taylor became a national hero because of his leadership in this war.
Today, the place where the battle happened is a special park called Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. It is looked after by the National Park Service.
Images for kids
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Period map of the battle
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Rancho de Carricitos, the site of the Thornton Affair
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Texas historical marker
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Mexican cannon
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This is a painting of the battle
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Taylor's three brigades camped at Corpus Christi along the Nueces River in 1845 before the march south to the Rio Grande.
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Point Isabel, the site of Taylor's supply base
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Palo Alto para niños
