Siege of Fort Texas
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| Siege of Fort Texas | |||||||
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| Part of Mexican-American War | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
| United States | Mexico | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Jacob Brown † | Francisco Mejia | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| 2 killed 10 wounded |
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| Mexican–American War |
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| Fort Texas – Palo Alto – Resaca de la Palma – Cañoncito – Santa Fe – Monterrey – 1st Tabasco – San Pasqual – El Brazito – Rio San Gabriel – La Mesa – Cañada – Mora – Embudo Pass – Pueblo de Taos – Buena Vista – Sacramento – Veracruz – Cerro Gordo – Tuxpan – 2nd Tabasco – Contreras – Churubusco – Molino del Rey – Chapultepec – Mexico City – Huamantla – Puebla |
The Siege of Fort Texas marked the beginning of active campaigning by the armies of the United States and Mexico during the Mexican-American War. The battle is sometimes called The Siege of Fort Brown, but this is not entirely accurate — the name Fort Brown was taken from the fort's commander, Major Jacob Brown (not to be confused with War of 1812 hero Jacob Brown) who was one of the two Americans killed during the bombardment and had not yet been applied to the fortification.
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[edit] Background
On March 27, 1846, troops under the command of General Zachary Taylor advanced to a north bank of the Rio Grande and began construction of an earthen star fortress that they nicknamed "Fort Texas".
[edit] Siege
On May 3, Mexican artillery based in Matamoros began a week-long bombardment of Fort Texas. Garrison: Major Brown ( 7th Infantry, Capt. Loud's Artillery Co.(4-18 punders) and Lt. Bragg's Light Artillery ( 4 guns). While only two Americans were killed during the attack, the artillery barrage and the arrival of significant Mexican forces preventing reinforcement of the fortress placed the installation under great peril.
General Zachary Taylor came to the aid of the fort's defenders, and the resulting Battle of Palo Alto caused Mexican General Mariano Arista to lift his siege of the fortress and retreat to safety further south of the river.
[edit] References
- Bauer, K. Jack, The Mexican-American War, 1846–1848
- Brooks, N.C. ' ' A Complete History of The Mexican War
- Handbook of Texas Online, Fort Brown, [1]
- National Park Service, Palo Alto Battlefield NHS, [2]
