1846-1848

Mexican-American War

The war that added Texas, California, and the Southwest to the United States, fought from the Rio Grande to Mexico City.

269 engagements recorded

Featured engagements

Notable Mexican-American War battles

Estanislao's Revolt - Central Valley

Estanislao, baptized as Cucunuchi, was an Indigenous alcalde of Mission San José and member of the L...

Battle of Santa Rita del Cobre

Johnson's Massacre: American and Mexican scalp hunters killed Mimbreño Apache chief Juan José Compá ...

Battle of Monterrey - Fort Teneria

In the Battle of Monterrey (September 21-24, 1846) during the Mexican-American War, General Pedro de...

Battle of Fort Texas Bombardment

The siege of Fort Texas marked the beginning of active campaigning by the armies of the United State...

Battle of Monterrey - House-to-House Fighting

The Battle of Monterrey occurred as part of the United States' invasion of northern Mexico during th...

San Francisco (Yerba Buena) Occupation

Six months before the United States declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846, President James Polk iss...

Battle of El Paso del Norte

In December 1846, Colonel Alexander Doniphan's Missouri volunteers captured El Paso del Norte during...

Battle of Monterrey - Federacion Hill

In the Battle of Monterrey (September 21-24, 1846) during the Mexican-American War, General Pedro de...

Battle of Saltillo occupation

In September 1846, General William J. Worth's division occupied Saltillo, Mexico, following the majo...

Battle of Monterrey approach - Marin

During 1846, General Zachary Taylor's forces engaged in skirmishing near Marín while advancing towar...

Gila River March Skirmishes

General Stephen Kearny's column encountered Maricopa and Yuma tribes while marching down the Gila Ri...

Battle of Monterrey - Assault on Independence Hill

The Battle of Monterrey occurred as part of the Mexican-American War following General Zachary Taylo...

Engagements by state

TX87 CA59 NM46 Mexico42 KS10 Veracruz, Mexico4 Mexico City, Mexico4 Chihuahua, Mexico3 AZ2 FL2 WA2 OK2 MN2 Tabasco, Mexico1 Tlaxcala, Mexico1 WY1 NV1

Estanislao's Revolt - Central Valley

Estanislao, baptized as Cucunuchi, was an Indigenous alcalde of Mission San José and member of the Lakisamni tribe of the Yokuts people of northern California. ...

Battle of Santa Rita del Cobre

Johnson's Massacre: American and Mexican scalp hunters killed Mimbreño Apache chief Juan José Compá and dozens at the copper mines, triggering decades of war.

Battle of Monterrey - Fort Teneria

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 t...

Battle of Fort Texas Bombardment

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 ...

Battle of Monterrey - House-to-House Fighting

The Battle of Monterrey occurred as part of the United States' invasion of northern Mexico during the Mexican-American War. Following the Battle of Resaca de la...

San Francisco (Yerba Buena) Occupation

Six months before the United States declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846, President James Polk issued orders to the U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron to occupy eve...

Battle of El Paso del Norte

In December 1846, Colonel Alexander Doniphan's Missouri volunteers captured El Paso del Norte during the Mexican-American War, securing the strategic El Paso ar...

Battle of Monterrey - Federacion Hill

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 t...

Battle of Saltillo occupation

In September 1846, General William J. Worth's division occupied Saltillo, Mexico, following the major U.S. victory at Monterrey. The occupation secured an impor...

Battle of Monterrey approach - Marin

During 1846, General Zachary Taylor's forces engaged in skirmishing near Marín while advancing toward Monterrey, Mexico. These engagements were part of Taylor's...

Gila River March Skirmishes

General Stephen Kearny's column encountered Maricopa and Yuma tribes while marching down the Gila River in Arizona Territory in 1846 en route to California. The...

Battle of Monterrey - Assault on Independence Hill

The Battle of Monterrey occurred as part of the Mexican-American War following General Zachary Taylor's advance into northern Mexico. After crossing the Rio Gra...

Battle of Santa Barbara (California)

Part of Stockton's systematic seizure of California coastal towns in July-August 1846. Santa Barbara fell without a fight as its tiny garrison withdrew.

Action at Chino Rancho (California)

The Chino Ranch siege was part of the californio uprising that followed the initial easy US occupation. The recapture of American settlers demonstrated that Sou...

Naval Gunboat Operations on the Rio Grande

The Naval Battle of Campeche took place on April 30, 1843, and May 16, 1843. The battle featured the most advanced warships of its day, including the Mexican st...

Battle of Camargo approach

This 1846 skirmish represented part of General Zachary Taylor's advance toward the Rio Grande and Camargo during the opening phase of the Mexican-American War. ...

Battle of Dominguez Rancho / Battle of Rancho Dominguez

The Battle of Dominguez Rancho, or the Battle of the Old Woman's Gun, was a military engagement of the Mexican-American War that took place on October 8-9, 1846...

Skirmish at Boca Chica

The Battle of Cartagena de Indias occurred during the War of Jenkins' Ear (1739-1748), a conflict rooted in long-standing commercial tensions between Spain and ...

Battle of Brazito

The Battle of El Brazito or Bracito took place on December 25, 1846, between the United States Army and the Mexican Army during the Mexican-American War. In Oc...

USS Cyane at San Diego

The USS Cyane played a significant role in the United States Navy's operations during the Mexican-American War, particularly in the Pacific Theater. The ship ha...

Parras Occupation

In December 1846, General John Wool's column occupied Parras, a strategic junction on the road between Saltillo and Durango in northern Mexico. The unopposed oc...

Battle of Yerba Buena / San Francisco

The Battle of San Francisco, also known as the Battle of Dolores, was a major battle in the Tarapacá Campaign of the War of the Pacific, fought on November 19, ...

Battle of Palo Alto - Artillery Duel Phase

The Battle of Palo Alto (Spanish: Batalla de Palo Alto) was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground...

San Pedro Landing - Stockton's Marine Advance

First US landing near Los Angeles; initiated the sequence of occupation, revolt, and reconquest in southern California

Battle of Santa Fe / Kearny's occupation

The capture of Santa Fe occurred during the Mexican-American War as part of a broader United States strategy to secure territorial control in the Southwest. Gen...

Action at Natividad (California)

One of the few California engagements where californios bested American forces in open terrain. The Natividad fight showed that california ranchers - expert hor...

Battle of Fort Texas

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 ...

Battle of San Pasqual - Second Day (December 7)

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 Valle...

Battle of El Brazito

The Battle of El Brazito or Bracito took place on December 25, 1846, between the United States Army and the Mexican Army during the Mexican-American War. In Oc...

Battle of Natividad

The Battle of the Natividad took place on November 16, 1846, in the Salinas Valley, in present-day Monterey County, California, United States, during the Califo...

Capture of Monterey California

The Battle of Monterey, at Monterey, California, occurred on 7 July 1846, during the Mexican-American War. The United States captured the town unopposed. In Fe...

Siege of Los Angeles

The siege of Los Angeles, was a military response by armed Mexican civilians to the August 1846 occupation of the Pueblo de Los Ángeles by the United States Ma...

Battle of San Pasqual - Pico's Lancer Charge

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 Valle...

Capture of San Diego

The Battle of San Pasqual occurred during the Mexican-American War in December 1846 as part of the broader campaign to secure California for the United States. ...

Mexican-American War - Battle of Palo Alto

The battles of the Mexican-American War include all major engagements and most reported skirmishes, including Thornton's Defeat, the Battle of Palo Alto, and th...

Rancho Dominguez - Battle of the Old Woman's Gun

The Battle of Dominguez Rancho, or the Battle of the Old Woman's Gun, was a military engagement of the Mexican-American War that took place on October 8-9, 1846...

Battle of San Diego Dec 1846

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 Valle...

Skirmish at Rancho de Carricitos

The Thornton Affair occurred in 1846 as tensions escalated between the United States and Mexico over territorial claims. Although the United States had annexed ...

USS Savannah at Monterey

The Battle of Monterey, at Monterey, California, occurred on 7 July 1846, during the Mexican-American War. The United States captured the town unopposed. In Fe...

San Diego Naval Occupation

The Battle of San Pasqual occurred during the Mexican-American War on December 6 and 7, 1846, as part of the broader military campaign to conquer California. Ge...

Battle of San Pasqual (California)

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park honors the soldiers who fought in the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, the bloodiest battle in California during the Mexi...

Brazito - Skirmish on the Rio Brazito

The Battle of El Brazito or Bracito took place on December 25, 1846, between the United States Army and the Mexican Army during the Mexican-American War. In Oc...

Battle of Palo Alto

The Battle of Palo Alto (Spanish: Batalla de Palo Alto) was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground...

Mexican-American War - Battle of San Pasqual

The battles of the Mexican-American War include all major engagements and most reported skirmishes, including Thornton's Defeat, the Battle of Palo Alto, and th...

Apache Pass Skirmish - Kearny

The Battle of Apache Pass was fought in 1862 at Apache Pass, Arizona, in the United States, between Apache warriors and the Union volunteers of the California C...

Bear Flag Revolt Skirmishes

In June 1846, thirty-three American immigrants in Alta California who had entered without official permission rebelled against the Mexican department's governme...

Capture of Santa Fe

The Capture of Santa Fe occurred during the Mexican-American War as part of a broader United States strategy to secure territorial control over New Mexico and A...

Battle of Tabasco River - First Expedition Nov 1846

The Second Battle of Tabasco, also known as the Battle of Villahermosa, was fought in June 1847 during the Mexican-American War as part of the U.S. blockade of ...

Kearny's Occupation of Las Vegas NM

Las Vegas, New Mexico held strategic importance during the Mexican-American War as a significant settlement on the Santa Fe Trail and the county seat of San Mig...

Battle of Marin Mexico

The Battle of Monterrey occurred during the Mexican-American War as part of General Zachary Taylor's campaign into northern Mexico following his victory at the ...

Bear Flag Revolt - Sonoma Garrison Fight

In June 1846, thirty-three American immigrants in Alta California who had entered the Mexican department without official permission rebelled against the Mexica...

Bombardment of Matamoros

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. Fort Texas was...

Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe March (Army of the West)

The capture of Santa Fe occurred during the Mexican-American War as part of a broader United States campaign to secure the New Mexico Territory and Alta Califor...

Las Vegas New Mexico Proclamation

Las Vegas was Kearny's first formal annexation ceremony en route to Santa Fe. The proclamation established the template for his governance policy in New Mexico.

Battle of Monterrey approach - China Mex

The Battle of the Monterrey Valley was fought during the Peninsular War outside Monterrei, Orense, in Spain. Resulting in a French victory, it took place in the...

Occupation of Santa Fe / Kearny's Conquest of New Mexico

The Conquest of California was a military campaign during the Mexican-American War conducted by the United States in Alta California from 1846 to 1847. War had ...

Capture of Monterey, California

The Battle of Monterey, at Monterey, California, occurred on 7 July 1846, during the Mexican-American War. The United States captured the town unopposed. In Fe...

Battle of Dominguez Ranch - Detail

The Battle of Dominguez Rancho, or the Battle of the Old Woman's Gun, was a military engagement of the Mexican-American War that took place on October 8-9, 1846...

Mier Occupation

In 1846, U.S. forces occupied Mier on the Rio Grande as part of Taylor's advance during the Mexican-American War. This town held historical significance as the ...

Saltillo Defense - Worth's Occupation

President James K. Polk had devised a strategy to force Mexico to negotiate by invading central Mexico via the Gulf Coast port of Veracruz. As part of this plan...

Engagement at Chino

The Battle of Chino, a skirmish of the Mexican-American War occurred on September 26-27, 1846, during which 24 Americans led by Benjamin D. Wilson, who were hid...

Skirmish at San Pedro

Part of the Californio resistance after the recapture of Los Angeles. Mervine's attempted landing at the main harbor was repulsed before his larger attempt at D...

Las Vegas NM - Kearny's Annexation Address

First formal annexation of a populated Mexican settlement; precedent for civilian governance of occupied territory

Alvarado Expedition - First Attempt Oct 1846

US naval attempt to force the strategically important port of Alvarado on Mexico's Gulf Coast in October 1846. The operation failed when shallow waters and unfa...

San Antonio de Bexar Rallying

San Antonio served as the primary staging and assembly point for American volunteer and regular forces under Generals John Wool and Alexander Doniphan in 1846. ...

Navajo Expedition - Bear Springs Council

First US treaty with Navajo; lasted only until Navajo realized US could not protect them from New Mexican raids

Santa Barbara Mission Area Skirmish

In 1846, a small U.S. detachment garrisoned at Santa Barbara, California, faced minor challenges from local Californio forces but no serious engagement. This si...

Battle of Monterrey - Black Fort

The Battle of Monterrey occurred during the Mexican-American War as part of General Zachary Taylor's campaign into northern Mexico. Following his crossing of th...

Mexican-American War - Battle of El Brazito

The battles of the Mexican-American War include all major engagements and most reported skirmishes, including Thornton's Defeat, the Battle of Palo Alto, and th...

Battle of Santa Barbara Landing

In August 1846, a U.S. naval landing party raised the American flag at Santa Barbara, California, with the small Mexican garrison withdrawing without significan...

Battle of Santa Fe (Kearny's Conquest)

Kearny's Army of the West entered Santa Fe without resistance; New Mexico claimed for US; Governor Armijo fled south

Harney's Transfer - Florida to Mexico

Colonel William S. Harney's transfer from the ongoing Seminole War in Florida to service under General Taylor in Mexico in 1846 exemplifies the military resourc...

Battle at Rancho Guadalupe

This 1846 skirmish near Rancho Guadalupe was part of General Zachary Taylor's operations in South Texas during the early Mexican-American War. The engagement oc...

Battle at China Mexico

Minor cavalry skirmish along General Taylor's advance route toward Monterrey in northern Mexico during 1846. American cavalry encountered light Mexican lancer r...

Siege of Fort Texas / Fort Brown

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 ...

Battle of Monterrey

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 t...

Bear Flag Revolt / Sonoma Seizure

In June 1846, thirty-three American immigrants in Alta California who had entered without official permission rebelled against Mexican departmental authority. T...

Reynosa Occupation

In May 1846, U.S. forces occupied Reynosa on the Rio Grande during Taylor's advance northward toward Camargo. The occupation, achieved with only minor skirmishi...

Battle of Monterrey - Independence Hill

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 t...

Corpus Christi Camp Skirmishes

Staging base for the opening campaign; Taylor's army trained here for six months before war was declared

Battle of Resaca de la Palma

The Battle of Resaca de la Palma was one of the early engagements of the Mexican-American War, where the United States Army under General Zachary Taylor engaged...

Siege of Fort Texas (Full Bombardment)

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 ...

Battle of El Brazito - Detail

The Battle of El Brazito or Bracito took place on December 25, 1846, between the United States Army and the Mexican Army during the Mexican-American War. In Oc...

Naval Bombardment of Tampico

The Battle of Veracruz occurred during a period of severe diplomatic tension between the United States and Mexico, rooted in historical animosity dating back to...

Battle of Palo Alto (Mexican War 1846)

The Battle of Palo Alto (Spanish: Batalla de Palo Alto) was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground...

Apache Canyon Skirmish

The Skirmish in Doubtful Canyon took place on May 3, 1864, between a company of infantry from the California Column and a band of about 100 Apaches. The fightin...

Battle of Dominguez Ranch

The Battle of Dominguez Rancho, or the Battle of the Old Woman's Gun, was a military engagement of the Mexican-American War that took place on October 8-9, 1846...

Siege of Fort Texas / Bombardment of Fort Texas

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 ...

Sacramento Valley Massacres 1846-1852

The Sacramento River massacre occurred within the broader context of American expansionism in the 1840s, driven by the doctrine of Manifest Destiny-a concept po...

Battle of Dominguez Rancho / Natividad

The Battle of the Natividad occurred on November 16, 1846, during the California Campaign of the Mexican-American War, as United States forces sought to suppres...

Battle of Resaca de la Palma - Dragoon Charge

The Battle of Resaca de la Palma was one of the early engagements of the Mexican-American War, where the United States Army under General Zachary Taylor engaged...

Battle of Cerralvo

Following the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, General Zachary Taylor crossed the Rio Grande on May 18, 1846, and advanced into northern Mexico. The Mexican comman...

Battle at Seralvo Mexico

Minor skirmish during General Zachary Taylor's advance into northern Mexico in 1846 as part of the Mexican-American War. This engagement occurred during Taylor'...

Camargo Garrison Skirmishes

During 1846, Taylor's staging base at Camargo on the Rio Grande faced harassment from Mexican cavalry probes and was significantly impacted by disease among his...

Battle of Monterrey - Federation Hill

The Battle of Monterrey occurred as part of the Mexican-American War during the United States Army's campaign into northern Mexico. Following his victory at the...

Skirmish at Brazito

The following are synopsis of the campaigns of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The Mexican-American War (1846-48) was the U.S. Army's first experience wa...

Thornton Affair

The Thornton Affair occurred in 1846 as tensions escalated between the United States and Mexico over territorial claims. Although the United States had annexed ...

Battle of Natividad - Detail

The Battle of the Natividad took place on November 16, 1846, in the Salinas Valley, in present-day Monterey County, California, United States, during the Califo...

Brazos Island Landing

Critical logistical foothold; all supplies for Taylor's northern Mexico campaign passed through Brazos Island

Battle of Monterrey - Bishop's Palace

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 t...

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