Skip to content
The War AtlasThe · War · Atlas

BATTLE // 8 May 1846

Palo Alto

Texas · 26.021, -97.480

Cartographic map of the Palo Alto
Pi3.124, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

LOADING MAP TELEMETRY…

Overview

The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the Mexican–American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground five miles (8 km) from the modern-day city of Brownsville, Texas. A force of some 3,700 Mexican troops – most of the Army of The North – led by General Mariano Arista engaged a force of approximately 2,300 United States troops – the Army of Occupation led by General Zachary Taylor.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Opening battlefield of the war

Result

U.S. victory

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • United States2,288
    medium
  • Mexico3,709
    medium

Mexico fielded a 1.6 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • Mexique102–129
    medium

Commanders (2)

Mexico

United States

Compare with sibling battle

6 options

Pick a battle to compare side-by-side· same campaign

Related

6 sibling battles · 2 factions

Last verified May 2026
Cite this page →Suggest a correction →