Battle of Resaca de la Palma

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The Battle of Resaca de la Palma was a key 1846 engagement in the Mexican–American War in which U.S. forces under General Zachary Taylor defeated Mexican troops near the Rio Grande, helping secure American control of northern Mexico.


Statements (44)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
alsoKnownAs Battle of Resaca de la Guerrero
artilleryRole U.S. artillery played a decisive role
belligerent Mexico
United States
campaign Taylor’s northern Mexico campaign
capturedEquipment Mexican artillery pieces
Mexican baggage and supplies
cause dispute over the Texas–Mexico boundary
combatantCommander Mariano Arista
Zachary Taylor
commander Mariano Arista
Zachary Taylor
conflict Mexican–American War
country Mexico
date 1846-05-09
followedBy U.S. occupation of Matamoros
front Texas–Mexico border front
frontierDispute fought over disputed Texas–Mexico border
historicalSignificance helped secure American control of northern Mexico
one of the opening battles of the Mexican–American War
location Tamaulipas
near Brownsville, Texas
near the Rio Grande
MexicanArmy Army of the North
MexicanCasualties significantly higher than U.S. casualties
MexicanObjective push U.S. forces back from the Rio Grande
notableAction U.S. cavalry charge helped break Mexican lines
notableFeature fought in dense chaparral terrain
partOf Mexican–American War
politicalImpact enhanced Zachary Taylor’s national reputation
precededBy Battle of Palo Alto
result United States victory
river Rio Grande
strategicOutcome secured American control of northern Mexico
subsequentEvent U.S. advance to and occupation of Matamoros
tacticalOutcome Mexican forces routed
theater Northern Mexico theater of the Mexican–American War
USArmyUnit Army of Occupation
USCasualties lower than Mexican casualties
USCommanderRank Brigadier General
USObjective drive Mexican forces south of the Rio Grande
year 1846


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