Mexican-American War Events

1836 May 14 Treaty Of Velasco
The Treaties of Velasco were two documents signed at Velasco, Texas, (which is now Freeport, Texas) on May 14, 1836 between Antonio López de Santa Anna of Mexico and the Republic of Texas...
1845 Mar 1 Texas Is Offered Admission To The United States
Under U.S. President John Tyler, Texas was offered admission to the Union as a state. The bill was signed into law on March 1, 1845. It was ratified by Texas on July 4. Texas became the 2...
1845 Mar 1 Texas Ratifies The Annexation Bill
Under U.S. President John Tyler, Texas was offered admission to the Union as a state. The bill was signed into law on March 1, 1845. It was ratified by Texas on July 4. Texas became the 2...
1845 Jun James K. Polk Sends General Zachary Taylor To Texas
The United States supported Texas when it claimed all land north of the Rio Grande, and this provoked a dispute with Mexico. In June 1845, James K. Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to Tex...
1845 Oct 3,500 Americans Assemble On The Nueces River
The United States supported Texas when it claimed all land north of the Rio Grande, and this provoked a dispute with Mexico. In June 1845, James K. Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to Tex...
1845 Dec John C. Fremont Enters California
Although the United States declared war against Mexico on May 13, 1846, it took almost two months (until the middle of June, 1846) for definite word of war to get to California. American ...
1845 Dec 29 James K. Polk Signs The Texas Annexation Bill
Under U.S. President John Tyler, Texas was offered admission to the Union as a state. The bill was signed into law on March 1, 1845. It was ratified by Texas on July 4. Texas became the 2...
1846 Apr 24 The Mexican-American War Begins
After the election of Polk, but before he took office, Congress approved the annexation of Texas. Polk moved to occupy a portion of Texas which was also claimed by Mexico, paving the way ...
1846 Apr 25 A 2,000-Strong Mexican Cavalry Detachment Attacks A 63-Man U.S. Patrol
On April 25, 1846, a 2,000-strong Mexican cavalry detachment attacked a 63-man U.S. patrol that had been sent into the contested territory north of the Rio Grande and south of the Nueces ...
1846 May 3 The Siege Of Fort Texas Begins
The Siege of Fort Texas began on May 3. Mexican artillery at Matamoros opened fire on Fort Texas, which replied with its own guns. The bombardment continued for 160 hours and expanded as ...
1846 May 8 Victory At Palo Alto
On May 8, 1846, General Zachary Taylor defeated a detachment of the Mexican army in a two-day battle at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. This victory forced Mexican troops across the Rio...
1846 May 9 Battle Of Resaca De La Palma
At the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, one of the early engagements of the Mexican-American War, United States General Zachary Taylor engaged the retreating forces of the Mexican Ejército d...
1846 May 9 The Siege Of Fort Texas Ends
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 ...
1846 May 11 James K. Polk Delivers A Message To Congress
By then, Polk had received word of the Thornton Affair. This, added to the Mexican government's rejection of Slidell, Polk believed, constituted a casus belli (case for war). His message ...
1846 May 18 Occupation Of Matamoros
U.S. troops occupy Matamoros, Tamaulipas, with no resistance. More than 300 sick and wounded Mexicans captured in the hospitals. Also abandoned were 5 spiked guns.
1846 Jun Word Of The Mexican-American War Reaches California
Although the United States declared war against Mexico on May 13, 1846, it took almost two months (until the middle of June, 1846) for definite word of war to get to California. American ...
1846 Jun 15 American Citizens Stage A Revolt
On June 15, 1846, some thirty settlers, mostly American citizens, staged a revolt and seized the small Mexican garrison in Sonoma. They raised the "Bear Flag" of the California Republic o...
1846 Jun 23 John C. Fremont Takes Over The Republic
On June 15, 1846, some thirty settlers, mostly American citizens, staged a revolt and seized the small Mexican garrison in Sonoma. They raised the "Bear Flag" of the California Republic o...
1846 Jul Davis Resigns House Seat and Leads the Mississippi Rifles
The year 1846 saw the beginning of the Mexican-American War. He resigned his House seat in June, and raised a volunteer regiment, the Mississippi Rifles, becoming its colonel. On July 21,...
1846 Jul 7 Battle Of Monterey
The Battle of Monterey, at Monterey, California (sometimes confused with the Battle of Monterrey, in Nuevo León), was waged on July 7, 1846, during the Mexican-American War. United States...
1846 Jul 7 Mexican-American War Is Officially Declared
Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga (circa 7 January 1797 – 7 September 1849) was a conservative Mexican general and president. He took power in a coup d'etat in 1846. He was the president at the...
1846 Jul 14 Occupation of Camargo, Tamaulipas
Camargo is a municipality in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It is located on the US border, across from Rio Grande City, Texas. It has a population of over 16,000 and an international b...
1846 Aug 15 Battle Of Santa Fe
The so-called Battle of Santa Fe (also known as the Battle of Cañoncito) took place, near Santa Fe, New Mexico, during the Mexican-American War on 8 August through 14 August 1846 without ...
1846 Sep 21 Battle Of Monterrey Begins
In the Battle of Monterrey (September 21–24, 1846) during the Mexican-American War, General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexican Army of the North was defeated by U.S. forces under the comman...
1846 Sep 22
to 1846 Sep 30
 Siege Of Los Angeles
The "Siege of Los Angeles" was a military occupation by the United States Marines of the Pueblo de Los Angeles during the Mexican-American war. On August 13, 1846, early in the America...
1846 Sep 26
to 1846 Sep 27
 Battle Of Chino
The skirmish known as the 'Battle of Chino' of the Mexican-American War occurred on September 26-27, 1846, during which 24 Americans led by Benjamin D. Wilson, who were hiding in the adob...
1846 Oct 8 Battle Of Dominguez Rancho Begins
Stockton, however, left too small a force in Los Angeles, and the Californios, acting on their own and without help from Mexico, led by José Mariá Flores, forced the American garrison to ...
1846 Oct 24
to 1846 Oct 26
 First Battle Of Tabasco
The First Battle of Tabasco was fought during the Mexican-American War. The battle was part of the U.S. Home Squadron's efforts to blockade the major Mexican ports on the Gulf of Mexico.
1846 Nov 16 Battle Of Natividad
The Battle of the Natividad took place on November 16, 1846, during the Mexican-American War. San Juan Bautista was the marshaling area for Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont’s forces ...
1846 Nov 16 Occupation Of Saltillo, Coahuila
Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. The city is located at 400km south of the U.S. stat...
1846 Dec 6 Battle Of San Pasqual
The Battle of San Pasqual (also spelled San Pascual) was a military encounter that occurred during the Mexican-American War in what is now the San Pasqual Valley community of the city of ...
1846 Dec 25 Battle Of El Brazito
The Battle of El Brazito took place on December 25, 1846, early in the Mexican-American war. In October 1846, Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan of the First Regiment Mounted Missouri Volun...
1847 Jan 8 Battle Of Rio San Gabriel Begins
The Battle of Rio San Gabriel was a decisive action of the California campaign of the Mexican-American War and occurred at the sites of present-day Montebello and Pico Rivera on January 8...
1847 Jan 9 Battle Of La Mesa Begins
Kearny's command was bloodied and in poor condition but pushed on until they had to establish a defensive position on "Mule" Hill near present-day Escondido. The Californios besieged the ...
1847 Jan 13 Treaty Of Cahuenga Is Signed
Kearny's command was bloodied and in poor condition but pushed on until they had to establish a defensive position on "Mule" Hill near present-day Escondido. The Californios besieged the ...
1847 Jan 24 Battle Of Canada
The Battle of Cañada was part of the Taos Revolt, a popular insurrection against the United States by Mexicans. It took place on January 24, 1847, during the Mexican-American War.
1847 Jan 24 First Battle Of Mora
After a failed attack by American Forces led by Israel Hendley on January 24, on February 1 another expedition armed with cannon succeeded in razing the village of Mora in New Mexico.
1847 Jan 29 Battle Of Embudo Pass
The Battle of Embudo Pass was part of the Taos Revolt, a popular insurrection against the United States. It took place on January 29, 1847, during the Mexican-American War, in what now is...
1847 Feb 1 Second Battle Of Mora
On February 1, approximately 200 U.S. troops led by Captain Jesse I. Morin returned to Mora armed with two howitzers. Most of the insurgents fled to the surrounding mountains. Nevertheles...
1847 Feb 3
to 1847 Feb 5
 Siege Of Pueblo De Taos
The Siege of Pueblo de Taos was the final battle of the Taos Revolt, a popular insurrection against the United States during the Mexican-American War. It was also the final engagement bet...
1847 Feb 22 Santa Anna Marches North To Fight Taylor
Eventually, these actions drove and trapped Ampudia's men into the city's central plaza, where howitzer shelling forced Ampudia to negotiate. Taylor agreed to allow the Mexican Army to ev...
1847 Feb 23 Battle of Buena Vista
United States General Zachary Taylor was victorious over Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna in the Battle of Buena Vista on February 23, 1847. Santa Anna's loss at Buena Vista, ...
1847 Feb 28 Battle Of The Sacramento
The Battle of the Sacramento took place on February 28, 1847 during the Mexican-American War. About 25 miles north of Chihuahua at the river Sacramento. In early 1847, Colonel Alexande...
1847 Mar 9
to 1847 Mar 29
 Siege of Veracruz
The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexican seaport of Veracruz, during the Mexican-American War. Lasting from March 9 to March 29, 1847, it began with the first large-sc...
1847 Apr 18 Battle Of Cerro Gordo
The Battle of Cerro Gordo or Sierra Gordo in the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's US troops flank and drive Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position. ...
1847 Apr 18 Battle of Cerro Gordo - Lee Earns Rank of Brevet Major
The Battle of Cerro Gordo or Sierra Gordo[1] in the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's US troops flank and drive Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position.
1847 Apr 18 Battle Of Tuxpan
The Battle of Tuxpan was a battle fought during the Mexican-American War. After the fall of Veracruz, Commodore Matthew C. Perry, commander of the U.S. Home Squadron, decided to move a...
1847 Jun 15
to 1847 Jun 16
 Second Battle Of Tabasco
The Second Battle of Tabasco, also known as the Battle of Villahermosa, was a battle fought in June 1847 during the Mexican-American War as part of the U.S. blockade of Mexican Gulf ports...
1847 Aug 19
to 1847 Aug 20
 Battle of Contreras
The Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place during the August 19–20, 1847, in the final encounters of the Mexican-American War. In the Battle of Churubusco, ...
1847 Aug 20 Battle Of Churubusco
The Battles of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras (Padierna) during the Mexican-American War. The defeat of the Mexican army a...