Resaca de la Palma Battlefield facts for kids
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Resaca de la Palma Battlefield
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Resaca De La Palma Battlefield in 2012
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 Resaca de la Palma Battlefield
Location in Texas
Resaca de la Palma Battlefield
Location in the United States
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| Location | N edge of Brownsville on Parades Line Rd., Brownsville, Texas |
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| Area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000813 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
The Resaca de la Palma Battlefield is a historic place in Brownsville, Texas. It's where an important battle happened on May 9, 1846. American soldiers, led by General Zachary Taylor, fought against Mexican soldiers, led by General Mariano Arista.
Today, a part of this battlefield is protected. It's now part of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. This site was recognized as a special National Historic Landmark in 1960.
What is the Battlefield Like?
The Resaca de la Palma Battlefield is a special section of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. You can find it in northern Brownsville, Texas.
The battlefield is located near a "resaca." A resaca is like a curved lake or channel. It used to be part of the Rio Grande river. The area is mostly natural, with a small parking spot, a walking path, and signs that explain its history.
The Battle of Resaca de la Palma
This battle was part of the Mexican–American War. This war took place between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. The Battle of Resaca de la Palma happened right after another big fight, the Battle of Palo Alto.
The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the war. It happened on May 8, 1846, and the Americans won. After that battle, General Arista's Mexican forces moved back to Resaca de la Palma. They set up a strong defense on the north side of the resaca on May 9.
The Mexican soldiers hid in thick bushes called chaparral. They placed their main cannons near a bridge crossing the resaca. The American soldiers chased them and then attacked this strong position. The Americans pushed the Mexican forces back across the resaca. They even captured General Arista's command post! General Arista himself almost got captured too.
Saving the Battlefield Today
Over the years, many parts of the battlefield were developed. By 1960, when it became a National Historic Landmark, only about 50 acres were still untouched. This area had been used as a citrus farm and a polo field.
At one point, the resaca channel itself was filled in. But later, the channel was dug out again. In 2002, a 34.4-acre part of the battlefield was going to be sold for building. The National Park Service (NPS) wanted to save it. They worked to make it part of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park.
Lawmakers like Solomon Ortiz helped by proposing new laws in 2008 and 2009. These efforts led to the land being included in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. This law passed on March 19, 2009. Finally, the NPS bought the land from the Brownsville Community Foundation in August 2011. This helped protect this important historical site for future generations.
