Resaca de la Palma Battlefield

The Battle of Resaca de la Palma was one of only two important battles of the Mexican War fought on what is now American soil. Following the Mexican retreat from the Battle of Palo Alto on May 8, General Zachery Taylor and his army followed them to the Resaca de la Palma, where fighting resumed. Deploying his infantry through the high chaparral and sending his cavalry in a sudden charge down the road, Taylor captured enemy artillery and caused the foot soldiers to withdraw. With heavy losses in artillery and personnel, the Mexican army retreated across the Rio Grande. These events led to the successful invasion of Mexico, demonstrating the superiority of American arms which gained the United States new prestige at home and abroad.

HISTORY

Early in 1846, General Zachary Taylor received orders to take possession of the territory lying between the Nueces and the Rio Grande Rivers. Accordingly, he started southward with a part of his force from Corpus Christi overland, sending his supplies and munitions by boat. After a difficult march across the vast territory, the Army encamped on March 24, 1846, near Los Fresnos, ten miles north of the present Brownsville, remaining four days while supplies were brought from Point Isabel. On March 28 they reached the Rio Grande where they began construction of earthworks directly on the banks of the river. The post was first known as Fort Taylor but was renamed Fort Brown in honor of Major Jacob Brown who was fatally wounded on May 9 when the fort was besieged by Mexican troops from Matamoros.

The movement of the American army south from Corpus Christi had been the signal for the concentration of Mexican troops at Matamoros. General Arista was appointed Mexican Commander-in-Chief to supersede General Pedro Ampudia, with a total of 5,200 regulars and 26 pieces of artillery.

General Arista moved the concentration of the Mexican cavalry to Rancho Solisefto, 26 miles west of Matamoros with a view of cutting off Taylor's supplies. He crossed from Soliseno on April 24 and took a position on the Point Isabel road near Loma Alta, 9 miles north of Brownsville. Upon hearing of the move, Taylor, with his entire force except for some 50 men remaining at Fort Brown, left on May 1 for the coast, arriving at Point Isabel on May 5. Believing that Taylor was about to withdraw entirely, the Mexicans crossed from Longoreno on May 1 in pursuit of Taylor, leaving a force to besiege the fort.

Taylor, having received news of the Mexican movement, departed from Point Isabel on May 7. On the following day, the Americans and Mexicans confronted each other on the Battlefield of Palo Alto.

After each army was unable to advance, the Mexicans retired southward during the early hours of May 9 and made a stand at Resaca Guerrero, since known as Resaca de la Palma. Here they planted three cannons and the greater part of their infantry on the north bank of the Resaca. Supporting these were four cannons on the south side of the Resaca, distributed on each side of the road from Point Isabel, with the remainder of the infantry planted on the bank of the Resaca. The cavalry was distributed along the western turn of the Resaca and a body called "Defensores de Tampico" was hidden in the woods west of the old road which ran south from the Resaca Rancho Viejo in the direction of Brownsville. In front and to the north of the position taken by the Mexicans there was a prairie about three miles in length, thickly covered with sacahuiste or wire grass. To the west, along the road on both sides, there was also a dense growth of ebony, mesquite, and another native cover. The artillery, which had been so effective the previous day, was greatly impeded in its progress by the wire grass.

Realizing that artillery alone could not dislodge the enemy, General Taylor ordered Captain May of the Dragoons to charge the position. This was done successfully and the Mexican army quickly retreated. General Arista narrowly escaped capture, his tent and all his personal effects falling into the hands of the Americans. His forces fled toward the Rio Grande while all the Mexican artillery and supplies fell into the hands of the victorious Americans.