Battle of Palo Alto

The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the Mexican-American
War and was fought on May 8, 1846. A force of some three thousand four
hundred Mexican troops (a portion of the Army of The North) led by General
Mariano Arista were engaged by a force of two thousand four hundred American
troops - the so called US Army of Observation near Palo Alto, Texas.

The battle occurred as a result of Mexican efforts to besiege an American
military installation, Fort Texas, which the Mexicans viewed as having been
built within the boundaries of Mexican Texas.

Before the opening shots of the engagement, many foreign observers were
convinced that Mexico's larger and more professional army would easily
defeat that of the United States. The opposite result, however, proved to be
the case at Palo Alto. Mexican troops were positioned poorly, despite the
orders of General Arista, and America's so called Flying Artillery wrecked
havoc in Mexican lines.

Toward the end of the day, some progress was made by the Mexicans in
advancing against the American line, but as became quite common as the war
dragged on, the Mexicans instead chose to withdraw from the field, somewhat
surprising Zachary Taylor.

The next engagement of the war, the Battle of Resaca de La Palma, was waged
the next day.

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