Texas Campaign facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Texas Campaign
Part of the Mexican–American War
The Battle of Palo Alto
Date 25 April – 9 May 1846 Location Texas, United States Result American Victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Zachary Taylor Seth Thornton (POW) Jacob Brown  †	Mariano Arista Anastasio Torrejón
Strength
2,400 (May)	4,000 (May)
Casualties and losses
60 killied 149 wounded	335 killed 336 wounded

The Texas Campaign was the first big part of the Mexican–American War. This war was fought between the United States and Mexico. The fighting started with a surprise attack by Mexico near Brownsville.

American soldiers had to give up after fighting for many hours. Because of this, the U.S. President, James K. Polk, officially declared war on Mexico. After some important battles, the Mexican army, led by General Mariano Arista, left Texas.

What Was the Texas Campaign?

The Texas Campaign was the very first set of battles in the Mexican–American War. This war was fought from 1846 to 1848. The campaign took place in the spring of 1846. It happened in the area that is now Texas, which was a new state in the United States.

Why Did the Fighting Start?

The main reason for the war was a disagreement over land. Both the United States and Mexico claimed the same area of land in Texas. Mexico believed the Nueces River was the border. However, the U.S. said the Rio Grande River was the border. This difference in opinion led to a lot of tension.

First Shots Fired

On April 25, 1846, Mexican soldiers crossed the Rio Grande. They attacked a group of U.S. soldiers. This event is sometimes called the Thornton Affair. It was the first time shots were fired in the war. The American soldiers were surrounded and had to surrender.

Key Battles of the Campaign

After the first attack, there were two very important battles. These battles helped decide who would control Texas.

Battle of Palo Alto

The first major battle was the Battle of Palo Alto. It happened on May 8, 1846. U.S. General Zachary Taylor led the American forces. The Mexican army was larger, but the U.S. had better cannons. These cannons were very helpful. They could fire quickly and accurately. The battle lasted for several hours.

How Palo Alto Was Won

The American cannons caused a lot of damage to the Mexican army. The Mexican soldiers found it hard to fight back effectively. By the end of the day, the Mexican forces had to pull back. This was a big victory for the United States.

Battle of Resaca de la Palma

The very next day, on May 9, 1846, another battle took place. This was the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. The Mexican army had retreated to a dry riverbed called a "resaca." This area was full of thick bushes and trees. It was a difficult place to fight.

Fighting in the Thicket

The fighting in Resaca de la Palma was very close and intense. Soldiers fought hand-to-hand in the dense plants. The American forces managed to push through. They captured the Mexican cannons and forced the Mexican army to retreat even further.

Who Was Involved?

Many important people and groups were part of the Texas Campaign.

American Leaders

• Zachary Taylor: He was the main U.S. General. He later became a President of the United States.
• James K. Polk: He was the U.S. President at the time. He declared war on Mexico after the first attack.

Mexican Leaders

• Mariano Arista: He was the main Mexican General. He led the Mexican forces during these battles.

What Was the Result?

The Texas Campaign ended with an American victory. After losing the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, the Mexican army left Texas. This meant the United States had control over the disputed land. This campaign was just the beginning of the larger Mexican-American War.