By the close of the battle the opposing battle lines had pivoted nearly perpendicular from where they had started. MAW SCENARIO Fort Texas on the north side of the Rio Grande, across from Matamoras, Mexico. The garrison was left under command of BATTLE OF Maj. Jacob Brown and consisted of the 7th Infantry, a battery of four 18-pounders and four light guns. Taylor then departed and went to pick up the rest of his army and supplies, which PALO ALTO were steadily arriving at Port Isabel, on the Texas coast. May 18, 1846 The U.S. annexation of Texas was not well received in Mexico. President Mariano Paredes directed the army to concentrate at Matamoras and occupy the Nueces Strip. In 1846 the stand- In South Texas in 1836, at a place called Palo Alto (“Tall ing army of Mexico was three times larger than the American Trees”), the forces of two North American republics clashed army. The United States was not a super power in 1846, and in a battle, beginning a war that helped shape the destiny of military observers were expecting a swift Mexican victory. the North American continent. The battle was the result of Therefore, Gen. Mariano Arista, appointed to command the competing border claims to the Nueces Strip, an area of land Mexican army, crossed the Rio Grande with confidence and between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande (Bravo del Norte) laid siege to Fort Texas. River. The disputed border between The Republic of Texas and Mexico was based on the surrender terms of Gen. Santa Anna Taylor marched to relieve Brown. A force of 2,300 U.S. Regular after his defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. The Treaties infantry and artillerymen serving as infantry, supported by a of Velasco stipulated the Mexican army must withdraw south of few dragoons, two batteries of “flying” horse artillery, and a the Rio Grande. The treaty was never formally ratified by the pair of siege guns escorted the supply train of 400 wagons. Mexican government and was the source of Mexican claims to The American light artillery had a decided technological and the Nueces Strip and in fact, all of Texas. tactical advantage, thanks to Maj. Samuel Ringgold. Ringgold When the Republic of Texas accepted the offer from the United had perfected light artillery tactics and schooled his U.S. gun States to become a state, Gen. Zachery Taylor was directed to crews in the use of lightening-fast maneuvers and rapid fire. secure the more favorable Rio Grande boundary. Taylor built The well-trained crews could move and deploy quickly, but 1 300-yards Palo Alto Scenario Map 12”/ 15mm 18”/ 25mm 9”/ 6mm Baggage Train Ker N May E Churchill W S Taylor Ringgold A Duncan 1 Arty 8 Inf 5 Inf 4 Inf 3 Inf Twiggs Chapparal Garland Belknap Resaca Prairie Marsh El Camino(Wet de Weather los Indios Road) Torrejon Garcia La Vega Arista 1&7 Cav Presidials 10 Inf 3 Btry 6 Inf 1 Inf 2 Btry Tampico 2 Lt Inf Sappers 1 Btry 8 Cav 4 Btry of Mex Lt Cav Ampudia Mtd Aux d Norte 4 Inf B even more critical was their ability to get a round downrange guns, while the small contingent of dragoons was held back to in less than a minute. protect the vast supply train. Taylor was within easy marching distance of Fort Texas Arista first sent his cavalry on the left through the chaparral to when he encountered the Mexican army drawn up across the seize the supply train, but they were repulsed by disciplined expansive plain at Palo Alto, a natural battlefield consisting of volleys from U.S. infantry drawn up in squares and supported low-lying, coastal prairie grass and yucca, and spotted with by mobile artillery. As the day wore on the U.S. artillery con- wooded rises. Arista deployed his army in a nearly mile-wide tinued to harass the Mexicans. As casualties mounted, Arista line of battle, with his infantry, artillery and sappers in the cen- was goaded into advancing his infantry on the right. After ter and cavalry covering both flanks. The bulk of his cavalry repulsing the Mexican cavalry, the Americans advanced their blocked the strategic Point Isabel to Matamoros Road near the right wing as well, so by the close of the battle the opposing left of his line. The Mexican Army was experienced and well battle lines were pivoted nearly perpendicular from where they disciplined, but poorly armed with old Brown Bess muskets had started. and Baker rifles. Their cannon were antiquated as well, and The American artillery dominated the battlefield during the drawn mostly by oxen, were far less mobile. Arista planned on four-hour cannonade. Ringgold, the master artilleryman, fell using his superiority in lance-armed cavalry. Though they are mortally wounded. extremely effective against broken infantry, the lancers were too light to attack formed infantry supported by artillery. The battle ended in a draw. However, Arista decided to fall back during the night to Resaca de la Palma, hoping the cover Taylor reached Palo Alto around midday on May 8th. The afforded by the banks of the old river bed and dense underbrush Mexican guns opened fire as the army deployed into line of would counter the enemy artillery advantage. battle. Taylor’s artillery rolled forward to engage the enemy 2 The Scenario -1 modifier for partial cover when firing at an infantry target in line aligned behind the near embankment of the resaca, or a -2 The scenario covers the entire battle of Palo Alto. It can be for full cover if that target is in extended line. In charge com- played by two or three players on each side, takes three to four bat, defending infantry behind the near embankment receive a hours to play, and requires a 6-ft. by 5-ft. playing area in 15mm +1 modifier for favorable ground. The modifier increases to a scale.. +2 for a strong position if defending behind the resaca. Also, Terrain the cavalry charge modifier is reduced to 0 when charging a defender in or behind the resaca. Terrain should be laid out as shown in the scenario map. The battlefield is level ground except for the resaca, an old riverbed Marshes and Ponds. Areas of marshy ground and ponds do near the west table edge. Rather than raise the entire surface not affect line of sight. Infantry, cavalry and leaders may move to show this narrow drop in elevation, it is easier to represent through a marsh at the rough ground rate. Ponds are a major the resaca with a strip of textured fabric. Terrain effects for the obstacle to movement. To cross, a unit or leader must move scenario are as follows: at the rough ground rate and halt when it enters a pond. In the next maneuver phase the unit or leader may exit the pond mov- Prairie. The prairie is an area of open ground that does not ing at the rough ground rate. A unit forced to retreat through affect line of sight, movement or combat. a pond must lose formation, full retreat a full move broken, Chaparral. Chaparral is a wooded area consisting of brush and does not halt when retreating across a pond. Marshes and and stunted trees that reduce line of sight to 10”. Chaparral is ponds are impassible to artillery. rated broken ground for movement. In fire combat, the firing Marshes and ponds do not provide a cover benefit in fire com- stands suffer a -2 for full cover only when firing at a target bat. In charge combat, a defending unit receives a +2 modifier in extended line located in the chaparral. A target unit in any for favorable position if the attacker charged through a marsh other formation does not receive a cover benefit. Chaparral or pond. does not provide favorable ground in charge combat, however, the cavalry charge modifier is reduced to a +1 for charging Roads. The road that runs along the border between the over broken ground. prairie to the east and chaparral to the west is rated in good condition. Units in march column, limbered guns, and leaders Resaca. The resaca is below-ground level and does not affect may move on this road at the road movement rate. The short line of sight. Movement through the resaca embankments is at stretch of secondary road running near the southwestern edge the rough ground rate. In fire combat, the firing stands suffer a Palo Alto Scenario American Order of Battle Dismounted Cavalry XXXX 1 I I 1,3 I I 1,3 I I 1,3 I I 1,3 (Taylor) (Taylor) (Taylor) (Taylor) US Army Ker Sqdn May Sqdn Ker Sqdn May Sqdn Taylor 2 Drg 2 Drg 2 Drg 2 Drg Gallant Crk 3/-/1 Crk 2/-/1 Crk 3/-/1 C Crk 2/-/1 C X 1,6 I I I 1 .. 1,4 .. 1,4 (Taylor) (Twiggs) (Twiggs) 3 Bde (Twiggs) Left/ C/3 US Right/ C/3 US Twiggs 5 Inf Ringgold Ringgold Able Vet 8/5/3 M Crk flcLG Crk flcLG X 1 I I I 1 I I I 1 .. 1,5 (Taylor) (Garland) 2 Bde (Garland) (Garland) Siege Guns Garland 3 Inf 4 Inf Churchill Able Vet 8/5/3 M Vet 8/5/3 M Vet hcSG X 1 I I I 1 I I I 1,2 .. 1,4 .. 1,4 (Taylor) (Belknap) (Belknap) 1 Bde (Belknap) (Belknap) Left/ A/2 US Right/ A/2 US Belknap 8 Inf 1 Arty Duncan Duncan Able Vet 10/7/4 M Vet 12/8/5 M Crk hlcLG Crk hlcLH Photocopy and cut out labels 3 Palo Alto Scenario XXXX a Mexican Order of Battle I I I a I I a I I a I I I a,b .