David E Twiggs was an American soldier. He was born in 1790 and died in 1862. He served during the War of 1812. He commanded the right wing at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. He fought at Monterey, and led a brigade at Vera Cruz and a division at the capture of Mexico. He was in command of the Department of Texas in 1861 and surrendered his army and military stores to the Confederate General McCulloch. He was dishonourably dismissed from the US army. Research David Twiggs
Mariano Arista was a Mexican general. He was born in 1802 and died in 1855. In the war with the USA he commanded at Palo Alto and at Resaca de la Palma. He was elected president of Mexico in 1850 but resigned in 1853. Research Mariano Arista
Ulysses Simpson Grant (real name Hiram Ulysses Grant, his later name arose from an error in the registration process for his cadetship) was an American soldier, politician and the eighteenth president of the USA from 1869 to 1877. He was born in 1822 at Point Pleasant, Ohio and died in 1885. He attended and graduated West Point military academy, graduated in 1843 and joined the 4th US Infantry at Jefferson Barracks as a brevet second lieutenant, being commissioned a lieutenant, he fought in the Mexican War, and was present at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma among others, and was brevetted captain in 1847 for conduct at Chapultepec. In 1854 he resigned his commission and engaged in business - first in farming near St Louis and later in the leathertrade with his father at galena, Illinois - until 1861 with the declaration of war when he was chosen captain of a company of volunteers. He was soon after the outbreak of the American Civil War given command of the forces at Cairo, Illinois, and in 1861 seized Paducah. In 1862 he gained possession of Fort Henry and Port Donelson, strongly contested points, the surrender of which was the first brilliant victory of the national arms. For this success he was commissioned major-general. In conjunction with the forces of General Buell he defeated the Confederates at Pittsburg Landing and soon afterward was assigned to command in Tennessee. He defeated General Price in 1863 and succeeded in taking Vicksburg from Pendleton after repeated attacks. Having thus secured the Mississippi, he was appointed major-general in the regular army and placed in command of the Western army.
He gained brilliant victories about Chattanooga and was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to the newly revived rank of lieutenant-general. Leaving Sherman to conduct the chief Western army from Tennessee to the sea, he assumed control of the movements against the Confederates defending Richmond, commanded by General Lee. With dogged persistence and at great sacrifice of life he fought the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor, destroying the railways which brought supplies to the Confederates, taking Petersburg in 1865 and compelling the entire command to surrender on April the 9th at Appomattox Court House, thereby ending the American Civil War.
In the period of reconstruction which followed he played a most honourable part, often being placed in difficult positions by the animosity between President Johnson and Congress. In 1868 he was unanimously nominated for President by the Republicans, was elected and served two terms, from 1868 to 1876. During his administration occurred the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, the funding of the national debt, civil service reform was inaugurated, the Treaty of Washington was negotiated with Great Britain, and specie payment was resumed in 1875. His administration as President was not wholly successful, some of his advisers proving most unworthy. He possessed an unassuming manner, yet was self-reliant and prompt in his decisions, calm and patient in all circumstances, and won the admiration of all by his moral and physical courage. Research Ulysses Simpson Grant
Zachary Taylor (nicknamed Rough amd Ready) was an American soldier and the twelfth president of the USA. He was born in 1784 at Orange County, Virginia and died in 1850. He received an appointment to the US army as first lieutenant in 1808. In 1812 he defended Fort Harrison against the Indians. After the long period of comparative peace he served in the Black Hawk war of 1832 and the Seminole war in Florida from 1836 to 1837, there, in December, 1837, he won the battle of Okeechobee. On the annexation of Texas the then general Taylor marched to Rio Grande, Colorado and gained victories at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. He was made major-general, and stormed Monterey in September 1846. In the following campaign General Taylor, who had been compelled to detach some of his best troops, was attacked by vastly superior forces under Santa Anna, and gained a brilliant victory at Buena Vista, on February the 22nd to 23rd,1847. The following year the Whigs nominated him as candidate for President over such competitors as Clay and Webster, and he was elected and entered on his duties in 1849. The California question complicated with the absorbing slavery topic was the chief matter in President Taylor's administration; he died before the compromise was completed. Research Zachary Taylor
The Battle of Resaca de la Palma, Texas was an American victory over the Mexicans on May the 9th, 1846 during the Mexican War, General Zachary Taylor utterly routed General Arista and drove him from this stronghold, to which the latter had retired after the Battle of Palo Alto. The Mexican artillery, baggage, war material and Arista's private correspondence were captured. Captain May, of Taylor's dragoons, won the day by charging upon and silencing the Mexican guns. General Taylor's army numbered 2000 men; that of Arista 5000 men. Research Battle of Resaca de la Palma
The Mexican War was held between the USA and Mexico from April, 1846, until September, 1847. The excuse for the war was the revolt of Texas from Mexico and the subsequent annexation of that State to the Union in 1845. Not only had Texas revolted, but she claimed and carried into the Union with her a far more extended territory than had been accorded in the original Mexican arrangements. In November of 1845, President Polk sent Slidell, a member of Congress from the South, to Mexico to treat with President Herrera concerning some indemnity for Texas and also to negotiate for California. Slidell was not received, for Paredes, the soldier, had succeeded Herrera. Polk at once ordered General Zachary Taylor, then commanding the army, to advance through the disputed territory and take a position on the left bank of the RioGrande River. Here, near Matamoras, on April the 23rd, 1846, he was attacked by the Mexicans under Arista, and a portion of his forces were captured.
While Taylor struck Mexico General Kearney marched into New Mexico, conquered the whole country, raised the United States flag, and, sending Doniphan to join Wool at Chihuahua, he proceeded to California, which was speedily conquered, chiefly through the efforts of LieutenantFremont. Scott now assumed command of the army in Mexico, but Taylor continued to command in the North. Taylor fortified himself at Corpus Christi for a time in the defence of Texas, but later advanced into the heart of Mexico, leaving a garrison at Fort Brown opposite Matamoras. This place was afterward bravely defended by Major Brown.
The battle of Palo Alto was the first great battle of the war, occurring on May the 8th, 1846. The Mexicans under Ampudia and Arista were defeated. Then followed in quick succession the battles of Resaca de la Palma, Buena Vista and a number of lesser fights, all disastrous to the Mexican cause. Thus Taylor penetrated into northern Mexico.
Then Scott landed at Vera Cruz and marched on the Mexican capital. Santa Anna, the Mexican general, was badly defeated at the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras and Churubusco. Finally, General Scott, after a series of brilliant victories, marched on the city of Mexico, arriving in August, 1847. After detailed operations of siege and bombardment, which terminated in the Mexican defeat at Molino del Rey, on September the 7th and 8th, and a final scathing bombardment, the capital surrendered on September the 14th, thus terminating the war.
The war was plainly one of unjust aggression on a minor power, with the American object being that of winning more territory for new slave States. Research Mexican War
Abbreviations
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