TexasEscapes.comWe Take Texas Personally
A Texas Travel, History & Architecture Magazine
SITE MAP : : NEW : : RESERVATIONS : : TEXAS TOWNS A-Z : : FEATURES : : COLUMNS : ::ARCHITECTURE : : IMAGES
HOME
SEARCH SITE
RESERVATIONS
Hotels
Cars
Air
USA
World
Cruises
TEXAS TRAVEL
TOWNS A to Z
Towns by Region
Ghost Towns
TRIPS :
State Parks
Rivers
Lakes
Drives
Maps
LODGING
TEXAS
FORUM
FEATURES :
Ghosts
People
Historic Trees
Cemeteries
ARCHITECTURE :
Courthouses
Jails
Bridges
Theaters
Churches
Gas Stations
Water Towers
Monuments/Statues
Schoolhouses
Post Offices
Depots
IMAGES :
Old Neon
Murals
Signs
BOOKS
COLUMNS
TE Site
Site Information
Recommend Us
Newsletter
About Us
Contact TE
 
 Texas : Features : Columns : "Texas Tales"
Tres Presidents
by Mike Cox

Mike Cox
In Presidential campaigns, the candidate’s military record always is an issue.

The first Texan to ride military success into high office was Sam Houston, who won the Battle of San Jacinto – not to mention Texas independence from Mexico – on April 21, 1836. That September, the people elected him to serve as first President of the new Republic of Texas.

The man Houston defeated on the battlefield, Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, later managed to become president of Mexico. He, too, capitalized on his military reputation, though opportunism and political acumen also helped.

Of course, every Texan is familiar with Houston and Santa Anna, the Raven and the Eagle. But a decade after the Texas revolution, another battle in Texas featured three future presidents on the same field.

The Battle of Palo Alto occurred May 8, 1846 on the road between Port Isabel (then called Point Isabel) and Matamoras, just north of what is now Brownsville. The Mexican military had besieged the U.S. garrison on the Rio Grande called Fort Texas (later Fort Brown, at Brownsville) and a large U.S. relief expedition was en route when Mexican forces attempted to prevent it from reaching the fort.

Though outnumbered, the U.S. won the battle, and a second engagement the following day, the Battle of Resaca de la Palma.

The American forces were led by Gen. Zachary Taylor. After the war that he played a major role in winning, he succeeded James K. Polk as President.

The next principal in the Palo Alto fight to become the leader of a republic was Gen. Mariano Arista, commander of the Mexican forces defeated by Taylor. But his road to the presidency of Mexico was some rougher than old Rough and Ready’s political path.

Criticized by his subordinates after losing the two battles, Arista handed over his command to Gen. Franciso Mexia. But rather than ride off into the political sunset in disgrace, Arista asked to be court-martialed. In that proceeding, he was exonerated.

Indeed, he probably was a pretty competent general. What really defeated him was what still helps America win wars – superior firepower. Taylor not only had more artillery, he had better artillery. And his men used it against Arista’s troops with devastating results.

By June of 1848, Arista’s reputation had recovered and he ascended to secretary of war. Two-and-a-half years later the Mexican Congress made him President of Mexico. He managed to survive two years of Mexican political intrigue before being forced into exile in Portugal, where he died in 1855.

The third participant of the battle to earn the title of Mr. – or Senior – President had been a young lieutenant fresh out of West Point. He did not move into the White House until 1869, but he established his military credentials in the conflict that came after the fight with Mexico, the Civil War. His name was Ulysses S Grant.

Aside from the three presidents it produced, the Battle of Palo Alto was much more important than casual students of the war may think. Though Arista made it back to Mexico, his papers did not.

As the New York Weekly Tribune reported on June 6, 1846, “The plan of campaign, as developed by Arista’s papers, was for that General, after demolishing the small force under command of Gen.Taylor, to overrun Texas.”

Assuming the “conquest of that revolted province,” another Mexican army would have entered Texas with 5,000 more troops to “secure the fruits of victory.”

In other words, after defeating the U.S. army, Mexico intended to retake Texas. But Mexico had not had control of Texas since 1836, and that was not likely to change, no matter who was in the White House.
© Mike Cox
"Texas Tales" Columns

September 23, 2004
HOME
Privacy Statement | Disclaimer
Website Content Copyright ©1998-2004. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. All Rights Reserved
This page last modified: September 23, 2004