The Mexican American War PDF - Denver Public Schools

The Mexican-American War
Battle of Palo Alto (continued)
Summary:
TEACHER’S COPY
Battle Summary Worksheet
Page 4 of 23
On May 7, General Taylor was resupplying and reinforcing the fort at Point Isabel. He was able
to hear the beginning of the cannon bombardment of Fort Texas, about 25 miles away. He
decided that priority had to lie in reinforcing Point Isabel. Taylor sent a small detachment, led
by Capt. Sam Walker, to check on the status of Fort Texas and to communicate directly with
Major Brown, the commanding officer. Taylor continued his refortification of Point Isabel
through May 7 and left Point Isabel on May 8. On the road back to Fort Texas, Taylor’s scouts
encountered Arista’s army by the Palo Alto pond. Word quickly went back to Taylor. He had his
troops move from the road and get into skirmish lines. Before long, Arista had his artillery open
fire on the American troops. However, the Mexican artillery shells failed to explode, rendering
them ineffective. The American artillery shells were explosive and shredded the stationary
Mexican forces.
Because of battlefield terrain, Arista sent his calvary, under General Torrejon, into the
battlefield. The American eighth Infantry met the calvary charge and Major Ringgold’s troops
repelled them. Major Ringgold, who commanded the artillery battalion, fired on the oncoming
calvary troops. Arista refused to engage his infantry because he felt that he would lose control of
them in the thick chaparral of the battlefield. Because of their inactivity and the losses they had
endured, the infantry pressured Arista into leaving the battlefield. The battle ended in a minor
victory for Americans. At the end of the day, neither army was effectively pushed off the
battlefield so the battle would eventually continue.
El Alma de la Raza Series. © 2000 Denver Public Schools 33