📅 On This Day in Military History
1 event across history
Fought the day after Palo Alto in dense chaparral that negated Mexican numerical advantages and neutralized artillery. American forces pushed aggressively through the brush, captured Mexican artillery, and broke the enemy line. Captain Charles May's dragoon charge captured Mexican General Vega. The routed Mexican army fled toward and across the Rio Grande, suffering heavy losses in the crossing.
The twin victories of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma secured the Rio Grande frontier, forced Mexico's Army of the North back across the river, and gave Taylor a strategic springboard for his subsequent invasion of northeastern Mexico. News of the victories electrified the American public and strengthened President Polk's war message to Congress.
Full battle details →