The Mexican American War PDF - Denver Public Schools

The Mexican-American War
Thornton Affair
TEACHER’S COPY
Date of battle: April 25, 1846
Location of the battle: El Rancho de Carricitos, 20 miles from Fort Texas
Who were the principal officers involved
American Officers
Captain Seth Thornton
Battle Summary Worksheet
Page 1 of 23
Mexican Officers
General Mariano Arista
General Anastasio Torrejon
How many men and what kind of troops made up the military detachment for each side
American
Two squadrons of dragoons
Mexican
1,600 calvary and light infantry
What were the casualty statistics following the battle
American
Mexican
Killed Wounded Killed Wounded
14 7 n/a n/a
What was the end-result of the battle
A Mexican patrol defeated the two squadrons of dragoons led by Capt. Thornton. The Mexican
patrol took prisoner 80 American soldiers. When Taylor received word of the defeat and the
capturing of the soldiers, he sent a message to Washington, D.C. In his message he stated that
“hostilities may now be considered as commenced.”
Summary:
This battle occurred before a formal declaration of war. This military action was at Rancho de
Carricitos, about 20 miles from Fort Texas, near Matamoros. End result of the battle included 14
killed and seven wounded. Eighty men were captured by the Mexican patrol, which included
1,600 men, consisting of calvary and light infantry. Upon the report of the capture of the 80
men, Taylor sent a message to Washington, D.C. informing President Polk and General Scott
that “Hostilities may now be considered as commenced.” It took over two weeks for the message
to arrive in Washington, D.C. Finally, on Friday, May 8, Polk received the message from
General Taylor. On Monday, May 11, 1846, President Polk went to Congress with his message
for war. Congress approved the measure later that day and war was officially declared.
El Alma de la Raza Series. © 2000 Denver Public Schools 30